Now that MoU is signed this news piece details the next steps.. Interestingly they talk about a "family of engines" and GE's collaboration on Mk2 engine.
Deal is one of big highlights of PM Modi's visit to the US. While India & other countries manufacture their own fighter aircraft, only a select few make jet engines.
theprint.in
..an actual deal will be signed once both sides thrash out the nitty gritties and the deal goes through the US Congress, the permission of which will be required.
The clearance from the US Congress is a 30-day process.
..Once cleared, HAL will carry out the work at its Engine Division facility in Bengaluru and the co-production will not be through a joint venture, the sources said.
..Asked about how much of transfer of technology (ToT) is involved given the fact that some reports have put the value at 80 per cent, sources refused to get into the details saying that everything is still under discussion and finer details are yet to be firmed up.
“The level of ToT and the engine manufacturing work done in India will be very significant. This is not an assembly, but joint production that will take place,” a source said.
..Sources said that the road taken for partnership could eventually lead to joint design, development, and manufacture of more powerful engines. As per the schedule plan, the process will involve first making components for the engines in phases before actually moving to the full step up which will take at least a decade, the sources said.
..“It puts the company in a strong position to create a family of products in India, including the F404 engine that currently powers the LCA Mk1 and LCA Mk1A aircraft and GE Aerospace’s selection for the prototype development, testing and certification of the AMCA programme with our F414-INS6 engine,” the statement said.
It further said that GE will continue to collaborate with the Indian government on the AMCA Mk2 engine programme.