Eurojet, GE submit offset offers for Tejas LCA engine

Bangalore: Eurofighter engine manufacturing consortium, Eurojet and American aerospace giant General Electric have submitted offset proposals for their bids for as many as 99 engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. According to reports, the bids were submitted to the ministry of defence on Friday, a day before expiry of the deadline on 12 December.

Since the military industrial offset programme requires transfer of key technologies, both the aerospace companies would need to secure clearances from their respective governments or policy making bodies, as in the case of Eurojet.

Apparently, as is being given to understand, Eurojet has received clearance from the Eurofighter consortium as well as the Tornado Management Agency (Netma) for the transfer of "key technology" under the offset programme. Eurojet has offered its engine, the EJ200, for the Tejas.

Indian MoD sources have let it be known that the Eurojet proposal has accepted transfer of key technologies, along with the willingness to discuss transfer of other technologies as well.

Eurojet has also said it would form a joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd or a private company to fulfil its offset obligations.

GE, which is looking to supply its F-414 engine, an advance over the F-404 engine that currently powers the Tejas prototypes, is also said to have acquired necessary approval of the US government for technology transfer for the LCA programme.

The 99-engine order for the Tejas is likely to be valued at $750 million.