Article Posted on : - Dec 15, 2009

A file photo of Tejas LCA.

NEW DELHI (BNS): The Defence Ministry has shortlisted two global firms to supply the engine for the Mark-II version of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

“Request for Proposal (RFP) for procuring 99 engines has been sent to two short-listed engine manufacturers, namely GE F414 from General Electric Aviation, USA and EJ200 from Eurojet Germany,” Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha Monday.

“Both the suppliers have responded to the RPF. Both commercial and technical responses have been received for procurement of 99 engines along with Transfer of Technology,” he said.

Earlier, the LCA was to be fitted with home-built Kaveri engines. However, delay in the development of the engine led to procurement of GE engines from the US.

Incidentally, two global fighter aircraft – America’s F/A-18 and Eurofighter – which are contending for the big ticket MMRCA deal India is going to finalise, have been fitted with the GE F-414 INS5 and EJ-200 engines.

Tejas is slated to replace Indian Air Force's aging MiG-21 fleet by 2015. DRDO's Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited are jointly developing the supersonic combat aircraft.