New Delhi: India has inked a deal with General Electric (GE) to purchase 113 engines for an advanced variant of its homegrown Tejas fighter jets, signaling improving ties with the United States after months of trade-related tensions.
The Tejas Mk-1A jets are vital for India to modernize its air force, replace aging fighter squadrons, and counter regional threats, including China’s growing military presence and support for Pakistan.
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Delays in the rollout of Tejas jets have been attributed to slow deliveries of engines from GE. Of 99 engines ordered in 2021, only four have been delivered so far, with GE citing COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions.
This new order is a follow-on purchase to equip additional fighters, with deliveries expected over five years starting in 2027, according to Indian state-owned aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The move also reflects a thaw in U.S.-India relations, which had been strained after former President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in August 2025 over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. Subsequent reductions in Russian oil imports by India have paved the way for renewed defense trade discussions.
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President Trump recently indicated that trade negotiations with India were progressing and hinted at a potential visit to India next year, coinciding with the rescheduled Quad summit, now expected in early 2026.