By Staff Correspondent
GE Aviation, a leading American multinational aerospace company, is set to support the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative through its manufacturing facilities in the country. The company has been working in the aerospace sector for over a century and has been collaborating with the Indian Armed Forces for more than three decades.
In a recent interview, Youngje Kim, Vice President Indo-Pacific Region at GE Aviation, spoke about the company’s plan for aero-engine development in India, particularly regarding the LCA Tejas MK2. He even highlighted the company’s potential to support certain requirements for the upcoming indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Kim shared that GE Aviation is already manufacturing in India through its multi-nodal facility, which is continuously producing a lot of aerospace parts. Additionally, the company has over ten suppliers in the country supplying parts to GE that are being used in other manufacturing hubs worldwide. GE Aviation plans to support the “Make in India” initiative by forging meaningful partnerships with Indian entities.
The company recently submitted proposals to the United States government to support the LCA MK2 program and is looking to manufacture a significant portion of the engine in India. Furthermore, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) will also be done in the country.
GE Aviation has been working with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to support the integration of the GE 404 engine into the LCA MK1. The company signed a big contract two years ago to deliver 99 engines to support the serial production of the LCA Tejas MK1A. Kim notes that integrating the engine into the aircraft is challenging as one has to design the aircraft around it.
However, GE Aviation has demonstrated expertise and experience in doing so, having integrated its engines with more than 20 different platforms around the world. Kim states that GE Aviation has the expertise to support upcoming fighter-developing programs like LCA Tejas MK2 and the AMCA in India.
Regarding the LCA Tejas MK2 program, Kim says that GE Aviation has already been selected to develop the 414 INS 6 engine specifically for it. The development of the engine is complete, and the company plans to manufacture it in India. Kim notes that the engine not only suffices for the LCA Tejas MK2 but also satisfies requirements for future applicants like the AMCA.
GE Aviation’s commitment is to support “Make in India” and manufacture engines in the country for India. The company has an engineering centre in Bengaluru, with nearly 1,000 aerospace engineers capable of designing the latest and greatest aircraft engines in India.
In addition to the LCA Tejas program, GE Aviation is also participating in potential shipbuilding programs requiring gas turbines. The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to provide a smaller gas turbine LM500 as a generator set, possibly on a smaller shipbuilding program.
HAL is already doing assembly inspection tests of GE Aviation’s gas turbines LM2500, and the company plans to have the same process for smaller gas turbines LM500. GE Aviation is committed to supporting the Indian Navy with its shipbuilding programs, Kim highlighted before signing off.
