The MoD is expected to send out an RFP to Honeywell this month for the F125 IN turbofan engine for the IAF's Jaguar fleet, IAF Chief N.A.K. Browne has revealed. The F125 IN engine emerged last year as the only suitable powerplant to re-engine the Jaguar and replace its Rolls-Royce Adour Mk811 turbofans.

In February last year, Rolls-Royce pulled out of a two-way competition after the IAF insisted that the competition was to replace the Jaguar's engines and not merely upgrade them. Rolls-Royce had offered (and indeed, continues to offer) a comprehensive 'low-risk optimised' upgrade involving the Adour Mk821 engine. Sources indicate that the Honeywell engine had an edge from the start, considering it was lighter and had proven to require less modifications for integration. Last year, it had been conjectured that the competition would be refloated. However, after a study found that no engines in the global market would suit the Jaguar other than the two that competed, the IAF recommended that it go with the Honeywell offering, as a direct purchase.

The F125 after-burning version powers the Taiwan Indigenous Defense Fighter and the non-afterburning version, the F124, powers the Czech fighter and the M346. "As an 'off-the-shelf' engine solution, the F125IN is designed to drop-fit into existing Jaguar airframes, resulting in an enhanced aircraft with superior mission capabilities, improved pilot safety, and outstanding reliability, with a projected life-cycle savings of over   7,000 crore ($1.5 billion). F125IN will transform the IAF Jaguar and power India into the future," says Honeywell.