US, India seal groundbreaking deal on jet engines during PM Modi’s state visit

The Biden administration is about to sign a deal that would allow General Electric Co to produce jet engines for Indian military aircraft in that country, according to three people briefed on the decision.

A deal finalizing joint production of the engines is expected to be signed and announced by the time President Joe Biden hosts Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit on June 22, the people said on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been made. made public.

The White House, which said in January it had received the request to jointly produce the engines in India, declined to comment. GE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Washington is working to deepen ties with the world’s largest democracy and sees deeper technological and military ties with the South Asian country as a key counterbalance to China’s dominance in the region.

India, the world’s biggest arms importer, depends on Russia for nearly half its military supplies and has bought fighter jets, tanks, nuclear submarines and an aircraft carrier for decades.

New Delhi has frustrated Washington by engaging in military exercises with Russia and increasing purchases of the country’s crude, a key source of funding for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) had earlier said it planned to use the GE-made 414 engine in a second generation of light combat aircraft and was in talks about domestic production of those engines.

The deal is not finalized and also requires notification to the US Congress, according to two of the people briefed on the deal.

Washington maintains strict controls on what domestic military technology can be shared or sold to other countries.

A broader US-India joint partnership announced earlier this year is designed to encourage companies from both countries to collaborate, especially on military equipment and cutting-edge technology.

While GE has offered some technology transfer to HAL, which will produce the motors as a licensed manufacturer, India is pushing for more technology sharing, according to one of the people with knowledge of the talks.

India is eager to get the know-how to make aircraft engines. Although it can manufacture fighter jets domestically, it lacks the ability to produce engines to power them.

HAL is using a lighter GE engine for the 83 light fighter jet it is building for the Indian air force. However, India intends to produce more than 350 fighter jets for its air force and navy over the next two decades, which could be powered by the GE 414.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed: Reuters)