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| Edited By: Priyanka Golikeri |Source: DNA |Updated: Mar 18, 2018, 03:47 AM IST
GE Aviation, the US-based $17.6 billion aircraft engine manufacturer, is optimistic about getting more contracts for supplying to the Indian military.
Bansi Phansalkar, general manager, India Engineering Operations, GE Aviation, said the firm has technologies for the military sector.
“We have technologies like F 414, P8 which are suited for the Indian military. Unlike the US where we supply extensively to both military and commercial aircraft, in India though we have been supplying to the military aircraft, it’s more on the commercial aircraft side where we have a large presence,” said Phansalkar.
According to Nalin Jain, vice-president, GE Aviation, South Asia, currently majority of the firm’s revenues from India come from the civil sector with good growth expected from the defence segment in future.
“The defence business is presently more at the orders stage, while the civil business is at the delivery stage. We expect this proportion to change as defence deliveries start kicking in.”
According to an expert connected with the aircraft industry, in the coming years the firm’s India business might see a shift in favour of the military segment. “More than half the business comes from the commercial supplies at present and this might change in favour of the military supplies in future.”
On the civil side, GE supplies to airlines like Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir and SpiceJet, with roughly 450-500 engines made by GE and CFM powering these airlines. CFM is an equal stake joint venture between GE and French aircraft engine manufacturer Snecma.
On the military side, the company currently has an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the supply of LM2500 gas turbines for India Navy’s stealth frigates such as INS Shivalik, INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri.
It has also won contracts for supplying 99 F414 INS6 engines for the Mk II version of the Indian Air Force’s light combat aircraft Tejas.
In the past it had supplied F 404 engines for the Mk I version of Tejas.
