GE Aviation Reaffirms Commitment to F414 Engines; Rejects Eurojet Claims as Poin

[Deletedid1]

Yesterday, DRDO announced that the Price Negotiating Committee had chosen GE Aviation's F414 engines to power the HAL Tejas Mark II fighters. Based on DRDO's statements to the press, one could infer that GE Aviation would deliver 20 engines starting in 2014 and would partner with Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to produce more engines.

This announcement came as a surprise to many as the Eurojet EJ-200 was the favorite for this deal.

Shortly after the DRDO announcement, Eurojet made this comment:
WE RESPECT THE DECISION TAKEN BY THE PRICE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE. HOWEVER, WE REGRET THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED AGAINST THE MOST CAPABLE & LATEST GENERATION ENGINE ON OFFER FOR THE LCA-TEJAS. TOGETHER WITH OUR CONSORTIUM PARTNER COMPANIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS WE WILL CAREFULLY STUDY THE DECISION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS. WE EXPECT FURTHER DETAILS FROM INDIAN AUTHORITIES AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS LEADING TO THE ANNOUNCED SELECTION.

The underlined portion of this statement directly implied that the EJ-200 engines were superior to the GE F414s.

GE Aviation's response to these unusually strong statements by their European competitors:
...AS FOR THE EUROJET CLAIM OF HAVING A BETTER ENGINE, IT IS A POINTLESS ARGUMENT OF WORDS. THE F414 IS VERY SUCCESSFULLY POWERING THE F/A-18 SUPER HORNETS AND LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, THE F404 ENGINE, THE F414 WILL BE A PROMINENT FIGHTER JET ENGINE IN ITS THRUST CLASS FOR MANY DECADES TO COME. IN ADDITION, THE F414 WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY INFUSIONS DEVELOPED BY GE AVIATION, WHICH SPENDS $1 BILLION (U.S.) IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EACH YEAR...

GE Aviation refused to comment on the deal itself and termed the situation "premature" as the specifics of this deal are still to be worked out. "GE Aviation is very hopeful that the decision will be to power the HAL Tejas with the F414." GE Aviation told India Defence (india-defence.com).

The choice of engines to power the HAL Tejas is likely to have a bearing on the USD $10 billion Indian Air Force Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) deal. GE F414's for the HAL Tejas will greatly boost the chances of the fighter jets already powered by GE F414 i.e. Boeing F/A-18 and SAAB Gripen being picked for the Air Force MRCA deal.

[banti321]

mama mana vallu tayarchesina scram jet export ki ready ayyinda sCo_hmmthink