During their bilateral discussions, US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are anticipated to make significant progress on the GE jet engine deal and civil nuclear technology, according to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who was quoted by Reuters. An agreement to jointly produce engines in India to power fighter jets for the Indian Air Force was announced earlier this year by US General Electric (US GE) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the government’s aerospace and defense manufacturing company.
Biden departed from Andrew’s air base on Thursday for the 18th G20 Summit to be held at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
Before boarding the flight for India, Biden posted on his social media account X, “I’m headed to the G20 – the premier forum for international economic cooperation – focused on making progress on Americans’ priorities, delivering for developing nations, and showing our commitment to the G20 as a forum that can deliver.”
US-based company GE opened its gates for the transfer of technology to India for the indigenous manufacture of jet engines in April this year.
The agreement covers the potential joint manufacturing of F414 engines from GE Aerospace in India. The Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 program of the Indian Air Force includes the effort. As part of the LCA Mk2 program, the agreement will advance GE Aerospace’s earlier promise to construct 99 engines for the Indian Air Force. Additionally, GE and the Indian government will keep working together on the AMCA Mk2 engine project.