Amid tariff tensions, India set to sign $1 billion fighter jet engine deal with US firm

India is on the verge of finalising a $1 billion agreement with US-based General Electric (GE) to procure an additional 113 GE-404 engines for its indigenously developed combat aircraft, NDTV has reported. This will be the second major defence deal since trade tensions flared with the Donald Trump administration. Earlier, New Delhi approved a ₹62,000 crore contract for the purchase of 97 more LCA Tejas Mark 1A fighter aircraft. The state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had previously signed a deal with GE to supply 99 GE-404 engines for the 83 LCA Tejas Mark 1A jets already ordered by the Indian Air Force. The proposed fresh agreement is for an additional 113 engines, further boosting India’s indigenous fighter jet programme.