In the midst of Trump Tariff Row, India is likely to sign with the US firm by September with the US firm: report

India is close to signing an agreement worth approximately one billion dollars with the US firm GE to provide $ 113 more GE-404 engines for the indigenous combat aircraft, said the news agency Ani, who quoted unnamed officials. This agreement comes amid new tariff measures by the US on India which will come into effect on Wednesday, August 27, increasing the total tariff burden on Indian goods to nearly 50 percent. Indian state-owned firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has already entered into an agreement for 99 GE-404 engines at the US firm for the initial 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force, and this 113 would be the news. The agreement comes shortly after the center cleared a £ 62,000 crore agreement to buy 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter aircraft. Defense officials told Ani that the negotiations to buy 113 more GE-404 engines from the US firm for the 97 LCAs are almost final. The agreement is likely to be finalized by September this year. The agreement is expected to help Hal get its full requirement of 212 GE-404 engines in continuity, and avoid any types of delays in engine supplies. The Hal is working to provide the first 83 aircraft by the end of 2029-30 and the next group of 97 LCA Mark 1As by 2033-34, they said. The US GE GE is expected to provide two engines a month from now on to fulfill its dedication to the Indian program. The HAL also negotiates an agreement with GE for buying its GE-414 engines with 80 percent transfer of technology. The Indian side needs 200 GE-414 engines for its LCA Mark 2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The transaction of approximately $ 1.5 billion is likely to be signed within the next few months, and negotiations for this have been going on for some time, officials said. The Indian side requires 162 engines for the LCA Mark 2 aircraft and 10 others for the five prototypes of the AMCA. The program will help the IAF replace its fleet of MIG-21s, which is eventually phased out by the government within the next few weeks. The indigenous fighter project is becoming a major boost for the promotion of initiation ‘, and the Ministry of Defense, and the headquarters of the air, will be a major boost to promote indigenous, as well as important issues to the small and medium businesses involved in the country’s defensive companies, defenses said. India is already working on an indigenous fighter engine project and is working with French firm Safran. India aims to make confidence in the defense sector through indigenous people and is also gaining technology from different world resources. The indigenous fighter project is fully supported by the Ministry of Defense, which is a major boost to the promotion of indigenous. A day before additional rates of 25 percent from the United States, and the import duty on India effectively increased, Premier Narendra Modi on August 26 used ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Make in India’ approach. (With ani inputs)