GE reportedly plans to produce jet engines for Indian aircraft

General Electric reportedly plans to produce jet engines for Indian military aircraft. The deal will be signed and announced by the Biden administration when President Joe Biden hosts Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit on June 22.

Reuters reported that White House had said in January that it received an application to jointly produce the engines in India. GE has also not commented on the same.

The US is trying to deepen ties with India to counter China's dominance in the region. In a recent op-ed in state mouthpiece The Global Times, China had called on India to be vigilant about the West, especially the US exploitation of the country, and the pitting of India against China. It said that the Dragon-Elephant rivalry is a concoction of the West and that they have perpetuated a sinister psychological manipulation between the two countries.

state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. HAL had previously said it plans to use GE-manufactured 414 engine on a second generation of light-combat aircraft and said it was in talks over domestic production of those engines. GE has offered some transfer of technology to HAL to produce the engines as HAL's licenced manufacturer, India, is pushing for more technology to be shared. The deal has not been finalised and requisitions notification to the US Congress.

HAL is using a lighter engine GE engine for the 83 light combat aircraft it is manufacturing for the Indian air force. However, India plans 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.

A joint venture between the US and India was announced earlier this year to encourage companies from both countries to collaborate, particularly on military equipment and advanced technology.

India is the biggest arms importer, relying on Russia for nearly half its supplies. Over the past few decades, India has acquired fighter jets, tanks, nuclear submarines and an aircraft carrier. India's war has resulted in a significant shortage of Russian spares that are crucial for the nation to maintain its tank and fighter jet fleets. In April this year, both defence ministers of the countries, Rajnath Singh and Sergei Shoigu, held talks on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO and agreed to strengthen their defence partnership.