Eurojet's EJ200 engine in contention for the LCA Tejas programme
22 Jul 2009
Hallbergmoos, The Netherlands: Eurojet Turbo GmbH, a leading European military engine consortium, said it has received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Indian Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), to offer its EJ200 engine as a potential alternative power source for the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme.
Eurojet said it is now working on the response and will submit it to ADA over the next 12 weeks.
The consortium also said that the suitability of the EJ200 for the LCA was confirmed by Eurojet and ADA after a joint comprehensive feasibility study conducted in 2008.
American GE, with its F-414 and Eurojet's EJ200 are in the race to power the Indian LCA fighter. Their proposals, in response to the RFP, will be due by October.
Indian attempts to indigenously develop the Kaveri fighter engine have not been entirely successful. The Indian Air Force is now keen to push ahead with the programme with an imported engine. Former air force chief, ACM Fali Homi Major said early this year: ''We need five squadrons of the MK2 LCAs. When integrated with the new engines, the LCA MK2 should fly in 2013.''
India's latest attempt to co-develop an engine also came to nought with the IAF turning down a proposal from Snecma. Earlier, Russian engine major Saturn NPO was rejected as a potential partner.
