US defence giant GE Aerospace has delivered a fresh batch of three F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), providing a crucial boost to the country’s domestic Tejas Mk1A fighter jet programme. The F404 engines are being supplied under a 2021 contract between HAL and GE Aerospace for 99 power plants intended to equip the initial fleet of Tejas Mk1A jets. The programme has grappled with years of delivery bottlenecks stemming from international supply chain constraints, which previously left completed airframes waiting on engine integration.