The World - News from Sept. 30, 1986

India indicated it is prepared to use General Electric engines in the development of its new generation combat aircraft, the Washington Post reported, citing informed sources in New Delhi. It would be India’s first major purchase of military equipment from the United States in years. India has depended on the Soviet Union for much of its modern weaponry. The light combat aircraft, as the plane is being described during its design phase, is intended to be India’s first locally produced major warplane and would come into service in the mid-1990s. The powerful F404 engine is used in the F-18 Hornet and in Northrop’s F-20.