TEDBF Program: Indian Navy's Modernization Drive Advances Despite Delays

The Indian Navy's pursuit of a modern, indigenous carrier-borne fighter jet is advancing with the development of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF).

Spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the TEDBF aims to replace the aging MiG-29K fleet currently serving on the aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.

Critical Design Review and Timeline Adjustments​

The ADA is making strides towards completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) for all TEDBF systems by early 2025.

The CDR marks a pivotal phase, ensuring that all systems meet the Indian Navy's stringent performance requirements and are ready for seamless integration.

Following an initial evaluation of two design proposals, the Indian Navy has selected a preferred design that ADA will refine for the CDR process.

Once the CDR is successfully completed, the TEDBF program will receive final approval from the Indian Navy and proceed to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for funding clearance.

After CCS authorization, the timeline anticipates the TEDBF's first rollout within four years, with the jet entering service by 2034. Although the original goal aimed for a first flight by 2026, it appears likely to be revised to late 2029 or the early 2030s.

Procurement Plans and Engine Development​

The Indian Navy plans to procure the TEDBF in two batches of 45 units each.

While initial prototypes will likely employ GE-F414 engines, the production version, especially the second batch, could feature a more powerful 110kN engine currently under development for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk-II program.

To support the ambitious TEDBF project, the ADA is seeking approximately ₹13,000 crores in funding. This substantial investment highlights the importance of this program to bolster the Indian Navy's maritime security capabilities.

Significance of the TEDBF​

The TEDBF program represents a critical step in enhancing the Indian Navy's operational readiness and self-reliance. It will address the urgent need to replace the aging MiG-29K jets.

A successful outcome will provide the Indian Navy with a modern and capable carrier-based fighter jet developed within the country.

This achievement will not only increase India's naval prowess but will also be a testament to its growing technological maturity in the defence sector.

 

[NSR]

India should have gone with just one 5th generation fighter with two variants, AMCA-IAF and AMCA-IN with at least about 80% commonality like Rafale and Rafale-M does.

Too many programs and too much resources, and too many human resources allocation will lead to too many failures for sure.
USA utilizes F/A-18 for USNavy and USAirForce/Marines, and National guards of states.

Too unwieldy to proceed with so many programs at the same time.

 

[Satya Dev]

I think we should shelve the TEDBF project so as to concentrate only on TejasMk2 & AMCA and develop deck based AMCA as a supplementary parallelly since the requirement for deck based fighters will be 50max.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Single Engine are cheaper Than Twin , for Twin Engine IAF is going for MRFA...............................No need of ORCA.

MRFA? That Birbal's khichdii?
Who knows when that deal will ripen.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Tejas mk2 is optimised for Airforce, after MRFA with operational Su 30s serving till 2055 + AMCA ( mk1 and mk2) twin engine fighters would be too much

Tejas mk2 can serve as backbone just like F16- cost effective yet lethal

I wouldn't even consider MRFA until it actually happens.

 

[Anant]

90 aircraft may not be sufficient. Vikramaditya and Vikrant can each hold 26 aircraft apiece, and this number can be increased to 30 if need be. Now, IAC-II, even if it were a copy of Vikrant, that is another 22-26 aircraft (removing aircraft for drones). That adds up to some 78-90 aircraft.

It doesn't end there, however. IAC-III is expected to be 65,000-75,000 tons, and so she may be capable of carrying 32-36 fighters. Since she replaces Vikramaditya, the number now goes up to 84-96 aircraft.

That said, you would also need attrition replacements, aircraft for shore stations, etc. All in all, a production run of some 120 aircraft would be far more sensible.

That said, however, the numbers above will not hold if the Navy decides to retain one carrier wing with Rafale Ms exclusively even after the TEDBF enters service. Not sure how sensible it would be to have two carriers flying the TEDBF and one carrier flying the Rafale M, however. It would make far more sense for the Navy to then relegate the Rafales to shore stations.

If the Navy were relegating the Rafale Ms to shore stations once the TEDBF was produced in sufficient numbers you'd need a production run of 120 or so aircraft, at the least. If this relegation was not being done, you'd need about 100 aircraft. Either way, 90 is too few.

 

[Anant]

I think we should shelve the TEDBF project so as to concentrate only on TejasMk2 & AMCA and develop deck based AMCA as a supplementary parallelly since the requirement for deck based fighters will be 50max.

Not quite. It has already been found that navalising AMCA won't give a particularly good fighter.

As for numbers, if you include the Rafale M in one air wing, you'd need about 100 or so TEDBFs, and if you excluded them, you'd need atleast 120 TEDBFs. That is a fairly good production number.

 

[Itachi]

Why not 4.5 genaration version amca like Koreans did with there kf21 ... Usa did same thing with there f35 expact both iaf and navy version are 5th gen .. why indian navy have to choose brand new design?
Look like new scam just like few navy officers did in 2011 (russia) ..

 

[Ashutosh]

I wouldn't even consider MRFA until it actually happens.

Well then let MRFA be replaced by ORCA but ek single engine ORCA hona bahut jaruri hai
F16 aur J10 dono backbone hai.
Apne pas iss class ka kuch hona jaruri hai

 

[Anant]

India should have gone with just one 5th generation fighter with two variants, AMCA-IAF and AMCA-IN with at least about 80% commonality like Rafale and Rafale-M does.

Too many programs and too much resources, and too many human resources allocation will lead to too many failures for sure.
USA utilizes F/A-18 for USNavy and USAirForce/Marines, and National guards of states.

Too unwieldy to proceed with so many programs at the same time.

Boss, wasn't it found some time back that navalising AMCA would not be particularly effective?

 

[Anant]

Actually India is going 26+114 =140 Rafale bcoz they want some Tech & consultant for AMCA & TEDBF. SoTEDBF may b Inducted over 100 . if Rafale Marine were brought in Excess of 50 . There was less chance to go with Indigenous Naval Fighter project.

Let them finalise MRFA first.

 

[Ashutosh]

Why not 4.5 genaration version amca like Koreans did with there kf21 ... Usa did same thing with there f35 expact both iaf and navy version are 5th gen .. why indian navy have to choose brand new design?
Look like new scam just like few navy officers did in 2011 (russia) ..

AMCA heavy hai , keeping Vikrant and IAC2 in mind.

 

[Anant]

Why not 4.5 genaration version amca like Koreans did with there kf21 ... Usa did same thing with there f35 expact both iaf and navy version are 5th gen .. why indian navy have to choose brand new design?
Look like new scam just like few navy officers did in 2011 (russia) ..

Because it has been found that navalising AMCA will not be effective given it's weight.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Well then let MRFA be replaced by ORCA but ek single engine ORCA hona bahut jaruri hai
F16 aur J10 dono backbone hai.
Apne pas iss class ka kuch hona jaruri hai

Tejas Mk1A hai na, single engine. Chota sa, nanhaa sa, munna sa, pyaara sa, phaiter jatt.

 

[Ashutosh]

Navy plans to have 4 Aircraft carriers so that 3 of them can be operational at any given moment.

TEDBF would easily cross 150+ mark and might reach 200 given IAC 3 would be a large carrier( Geral Ford Class)

IAC 2 would be Vikrant class

 

[NSR]

Boss, wasn't it found some time back that navalising AMCA would not be particularly effective?

Anant, do not know why that would be so?
F/A-18 and Rafale are two examples of commonality fighters between airforces and navies.

First of all why develop 4th generation naval fighter over a decade and plus when India needs a fifth generation naval fighter soon.

Perhaps, IN should make it a 5th generation fighter and then IAF modify it for its requirements.

Developing a 4th generation naval fighter really going backwards. My opinion.

 

[bonito]

Its stop gap arrangements Bhai.Availibility Rate may 75% , which very High in recent article on this forum F-35 Marine was having only 15.5%. Rafale can perform 5 sortie a day.

But given the order book of Dassault the stop gap arrangement will arrive only after a decade.

 

[bonito]

Given the order book of Dassault both the Rafael M and TEDBF will be here only after a decade

 

[Ashutosh]

Tejas Mk1A hai na, single engine. Chota sa, nanhaa sa, munna sa, pyaara sa, phaiter jatt.

ORCA nhi haina vo, 2 DT lagadiya to BVR bacha nhi 4 BVR laga Diya to CAP kar nhi payege.

Tejas mk2 3 DT lagane baad bhi 6 BVR 2 WVR carry karega

 

[Ashutosh]

Anant, do not know why that would be so?
F/A-18 and Rafale are two examples of commonality fighters between airforces and navies.

First of all why develop 4th generation naval fighter over a decade and plus when India needs a fifth generation naval fighter soon.

Perhaps, IN should make it a 5th generation fighter and then IAF modify it for its requirements.

Developing a 4th generation naval fighter really going backwards. My opinion.

Navy doesn't actually need stealth, they want a maintenance friendly , cost effective and high payload fighter
TEDBF is aimed to be a -5 gen fighter- i.e. everything of a 5th gen but stealth.

Maintenance of 5th gen fighters doesn't actually need an explanation, same goes for cost and 4 th gen carry h
Much high effective payload

 

[Itachi]

AMCA heavy hai , keeping Vikrant and IAC2 in mind.

Kya bol rehe bhai without researching?? Amca 25 tonne, tedbf 26 tonne ...
They already buying 4.5 gen rafale then why new design 4.5 gen fighter jet again?