No more US engines for Tejas Mark 2? India may opt for French parts as talks with America fail to gain pace

Group 1 - India is considering French-made engines from Safran SA for its fighter jets due to slow progress in joint manufacturing talks with the US [1][2] - The Tejas Mark-2 fighter jet was initially planned to be powered by the US-made GE F-414 engine, with ongoing negotiations for joint manufacturing in India [2][4] - India aims to produce nearly 200 advanced jets to replace aging British-made Jaguars and French-made Mirage-2000s, driven by recent military tensions with Pakistan [3][4] Group 2 - India is facing a shortage of fighter jets and is looking to enhance production through partnerships with global defense manufacturers, as it is the world's second-largest arms importer [4] - The Indian government has recently allowed domestic private firms to design and develop advanced warplanes, marking a significant shift in defense manufacturing policy [5] - Despite challenges in India-US relations, defense engagements have continued, with recent negotiations for a $4 billion sale of surveillance aircraft involving Boeing [6]