SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
In a recent interview with idrw.org, prominent defence analyst Ranesh Rajan weighed in on the evolving timeline of the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program for the Indian Navy, arguing that the Indian Air Force (IAF) was justified in distancing itself from the project. The TEDBF, designed to meet the Navy’s need for a carrier-capable 4.5++ generation fighter, has seen its development schedule slip significantly, with the first flight now projected for 2030 and induction delayed to 2038.
Rajan contends that these delays render the program irrelevant for the IAF, which is better served focusing on the Tejas MkII and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) to meet its future combat needs.
The TEDBF program, spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with the Indian Navy, was initially envisioned as a twin-engine, multi-role fighter to replace the Navy’s ageing MiG-29K fleet aboard its aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Early projections had promised an ambitious timeline: a first flight by 2026 and operational induction by 2029, contingent on Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval by late 2023. At that stage, there was talk of developing an Air Force variant of the TEDBF, leveraging economies of scale and commonality to benefit both services.
However, design changes, including refinements to meet the Navy’s stringent carrier-borne requirements—such as a folding wing mechanism, enhanced thrust-to-weight ratio, and catapult-assisted take-off capability—have pushed back key milestones. The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR) have been deferred, and Rajan notes that even CCS clearance is unlikely before 2027-28. This has shifted the TEDBF’s first flight to 2030, with induction now slated for 2038—nearly a decade later than originally planned.
Rajan argues that the IAF’s decision to opt out of the TEDBF program was prescient. “When ADA promised a first flight in 2026 and induction in 2029, it made sense to consider an Air Force version of the TEDBF,” he told idrw.org. “A 4.5++ generation twin-engine fighter with advanced avionics, AESA radar, and supercruise capability could have bridged the gap between the IAF’s current fleet and the 5th-generation AMCA.” However, with induction now pegged for 2038, the TEDBF would arrive too late to meet the IAF’s pressing needs.
By the late 2030s, the IAF expects to be phasing out its 4th-generation fighters like the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29, while integrating the 4.5-generation Tejas MkII and the 5th-generation AMCA. Inducting a 4.5++ generation TEDBF at that juncture would be anachronistic, Rajan asserts. “The IAF would be committing to a platform that’s already a generation behind its primary focus—AMCA—while the rest of the world moves toward 6th-generation fighters,” he said. “It simply doesn’t align with the IAF’s modernization roadmap.”
Rajan emphasizes that these programs better address the IAF’s operational urgency and technological aspirations. “The Tejas MkII fills the gap in the early 2030s, while the AMCA delivers a cutting-edge capability by the mid-2030s,” he said. “The TEDBF, arriving in 2038, would be redundant and misaligned with the IAF’s two-front war strategy against Pakistan and China.”
The TEDBF’s delays stem partly from the Navy’s specialized requirements, which differ starkly from the IAF’s. Carrier operations demand a heavier airframe, reinforced landing gear, and compatibility with catapult and arrestor systems—features that add complexity and cost. The IAF, focused on land-based operations and rapid deployment, has little use for such adaptations. Rajan notes that an Air Force variant of the TEDBF would have required significant redesign anyway, negating the cost-sharing benefits initially envisioned.
Moreover, the Navy’s smaller fleet size—aiming for 45-50 TEDBFs—limits economies of scale compared to the IAF’s larger procurement plans. “The IAF needs numbers and next-gen tech, not a niche naval fighter stretched to fit its needs,” Rajan argued.
Rajan suggests the IAF double down on accelerating the Tejas MkII and AMCA. “The Centre should fast-track AMCA’s full-scale development and ensure HAL meets MkII deadlines,” he said. “Force multipliers like AWACS and tankers can further stretch the current fleet’s capabilities, freeing resources for these priorities.”
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