In September 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inducted India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier into the Navy. This achievement made India one of only six countries in the world capable of building aircraft carriers.
The TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter) is an advanced fighter jet being developed for the Indian Navy. As the name suggests, it is designed specifically for aircraft carriers and will be powered by two engines. Amitabh Saraf, the project director, shared key details about it in an exclusive interview with News18. He mentioned that the TEDBF will be entirely made with indigenous technology. Currently, it is in the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase, and the primary design is expected to be completed by June. After that, the team will work on the Critical Design Review (CDR).
Right now, wind tunnel testing is in progress to analyze the aerodynamics. Once the aerodynamic data is ready, it will undergo further testing and simulation to ensure the design is fully optimized.
Saraf also explained that the Indian Navy initially started with the LCA Navy, which is a single-engine fighter. However, to match up against advanced Chinese aircraft, India needed a more powerful and sophisticated jet. Based on the Navy’s specific requirements, the TEDBF is being developed to fill that gap.
A powerful multi-tasking fighter jet
The TEDBF fighter jet will be a multi-role aircraft with a total weight of 26 tons. It can carry more fuel and more weapons, making it highly capable for long-range operations. It will have a combat range of 800-900 km over the sea in a single mission.
This aircraft will have 3 to 4 fuel tanks, allowing it to carry up to 7,000 kg of fuel. It will also support mid-air refueling, meaning one TEDBF can act as a tanker and refuel 4 to 5 other TEDBFs in the air.
With 12 hardpoints, it will be heavily armed with weapons like BrahMos missiles and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles. While it will be a 5th-generation fighter, it will not have full stealth technology. The plan is to conduct its first flight by 2028, and the aircraft is expected to be delivered to the Navy within 4-5 years, meaning it could be operational by 2035.
Why the Indian navy needs a twin-engine fighter
On September 2, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inducted India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier into the Navy. This achievement made India one of only six countries in the world capable of building aircraft carriers.
Now, the focus is on deploying indigenous fighter jets from these carriers. The LCA Navy, which was originally developed for this role, has a single engine and is relatively heavy, making it less than ideal. Hence, a new, more advanced twin-engine fighter is being developed to meet the Navy’s needs.
China has also developed the J-35, a 5th-generation fighter designed specifically for aircraft carriers. The U.S. has a carrier-based version of the F-35 as well. Since aircraft carriers increase a country’s attack range and strategic capabilities, India’s naval strength will see a significant boost with the introduction of TEDBF.
