The aerospace division of the US group General Electric announced today that it has signed an agreement with the Indian State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which specializes in aircraft construction, to build engines for fighter jets in India for use in the fleet of the Indian Air Force. 

The partnership between the two companies in the aeronautical sector began in 1986, the year in which for the first time they entered into an agreement to support the development of the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), with the supply of Ge F404 engines built in the USA. 

The renewed agreement instead provides for the joint production of F414 engines in India, which will be used on Hal-Tejas fighters. The news comes just as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on an official state visit to Washington, welcomed by President Joe Biden, with whom he will discuss various dossiers in the defense and trade sector.