Landmark deal

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a landmark state visit in the US today, there is intense anticipation surrounding a potential deal to facilitate the transfer of critical engine technology manufactured by General Electric to India. General Electric may produce the GE-F414 jet engine in India, in a multi-million-dollar deal with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).Jet engine technology is widely considered the holy grail of aviation tech – everyone wants it, but very few countries have it. Manufacturing these engines in India will be transformational for the Indian airspace.The GE-F414 is a cutting-edge jet engine that powers the F/A-18 Hornet, the US Navy’s go-to fighter. Reports suggest America is willing to transfer key technology worth up to 80 per cent of the value of the deal – it would power the LCA-Mark2, an advanced variant of the made-in-India Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).