SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Navy is close to finalizing a deal for the purchase of 26 Dassault Rafale M (Marine) aircraft to address its operational requirements for carrier-based operations. This acquisition is critical to bolstering the Navy’s capabilities aboard its aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, both of which currently operate the MiG-29K, a platform increasingly viewed as insufficient to meet modern naval aviation demands.
However, the move raises questions about the future of the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program, an indigenous project aimed at developing a near 5th generation (termed “5-minus”) carrier-capable fighter jet.
The TEDBF program, spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), was envisioned as a successor to the MiG-29K and a key step toward self-reliance in advanced fighter technologies. The jet was expected to have its first flight by 2026 and enter service by 2032. However, the program has faced significant delays, with its Critical Design Review (CDR) still incomplete.
These delays cast doubt on whether the program can meet its initial timeline. The protracted development raises concerns that the Indian Navy may eventually lose patience with the indigenous effort, as it did with the LCA Navy MkII program, which was shelved after its design phase without producing a single prototype.
The Rafale M, currently in service with the French Navy, represents a proven and immediately available solution. The aircraft demonstrated its carrier-operability during trials aboard the INS Vikrant, including compatibility with the ski-jump configuration of Indian carriers.
The potential for additional Rafale M orders beyond the initial 26 aircraft looms large, especially if the TEDBF program continues to face delays. This could lead to a scenario where the Navy opts for incremental purchases of Rafale M to fill the operational gap, effectively sidelining the indigenous program.
The Indian Navy has historically prioritized proven solutions to meet immediate operational needs, as seen with the acquisition of the MiG-29K and Sea Harrier in the past. A similar path could result in the TEDBF program being abandoned, akin to the LCA Navy MkII.
Abandoning the TEDBF program would be a setback for India’s indigenous defense manufacturing goals, contradicting the push for Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Moreover, over-reliance on foreign platforms like the Rafale M could expose the Navy to supply chain vulnerabilities and cost escalations in the long run.