SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Navy is poised to bolster its aerial arsenal with indigenous fifth-generation fighter jets, currently under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). According to a report by ANI Media, the upcoming Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) is likely to serve as the naval counterpart to the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a stealth fighter being crafted for the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
While official confirmation remains pending—idrw.org notes that no formal statement has been issued—this development hints at a significant evolution in the TEDBF program, potentially elevating it from a 4.5-generation platform to a full-fledged fifth-generation stealth jet.
ADA is currently deep into the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase of the TEDBF, targeted for completion by early 2025. Yet, it remains unclear whether this CDR incorporates stealth and IWB modifications. “The shift to fifth-generation specs would demand significant redesign—intakes, fuselage shaping, and weapons integration,” a defence analyst Ranesh Rajan noted. “It’s ambitious, but not impossible with AMCA tech already in play.” The TEDBF’s timeline—rollout by 2030, first flight in 2032, and induction by 2036—suggests a tight schedule, hinging on CCS funding expected in 2026, as per idrw.org sources.
The Navy’s push for an indigenous fifth-generation jet reflects strategic imperatives. With China’s J-35 and the U.S.’s F-35B/C dominating carrier-based stealth aviation, India seeks parity in the Indian Ocean Region. The TEDBF, powered initially by GE F414 engines (with a potential shift to a 110kN indigenous engine akin to AMCA Mk2), could offer a 1,000-km combat radius, Mach 1.6 speed, and multirole versatility—air supremacy, ground attack, and anti-ship missions—all enhanced by stealth. An IWB would allow it to carry precision-guided munitions like the Astra Mk3 or Rudram series covertly, amplifying its lethality.
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