Opinion How TEDBF Program's Continued Delays Justify IAF's Rejection of Air Force Variant, Prioritizing AMCA and Tejas Mk2

How TEDBF Program's Continued Delays Justify IAF's Rejection of Air Force Variant, Prioritizing AMCA and Tejas Mk2


The Indian Air Force (IAF) was correct in its decision to not pursue a variant of the Navy's Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program, according to prominent defence analysts.

The TEDBF, a 4.5++ generation fighter intended for aircraft carrier operations, has faced significant developmental delays, making it unsuitable for the IAF's modernization plans, which are now focused on the Tejas Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The TEDBF program, managed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in cooperation with the Indian Navy, was originally conceived as a twin-engine, multi-role fighter to replace the Navy's MiG-29K aircraft currently operating from the INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.

Initial plans were ambitious, targeting a first flight by 2026 and operational capability by 2029, pending approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) by late 2023. At one point, a potential Air Force variant of the TEDBF was considered to promote shared development costs and component commonality.

However, the program has encountered numerous setbacks. Design modifications required to meet the demanding requirements of carrier-based operations—including a folding wing design, an improved thrust-to-weight ratio, and catapult-assisted take-off systems—have pushed back critical milestones.

The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR) have been postponed, and CCS approval is now not expected before 2027-28. As a result, the TEDBF's first flight is now projected for 2030, with induction into service pushed back to 2038 – almost a full decade later than first planned.

Defence analysts now believe that the IAF's decision to withdraw from consideration of a TEDBF variant was prudent. The original timeline, which suggested a first flight in 2026 and induction in 2029, initially made a potential Air Force version of the TEDBF seem plausible.

A twin-engine fighter with advanced avionics, AESA radar, and supercruise capabilities could have potentially filled a capability gap between the IAF's existing fleet and the forthcoming 5th-generation AMCA. However, the revised induction date of 2038 makes the TEDBF largely irrelevant to the IAF's immediate needs.

By the late 2030s, the IAF plans to begin retiring its older 4th-generation aircraft, such as the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29. Concurrently, it plans to integrate the 4.5-generation Tejas Mk2 and the 5th-generation AMCA into its fleet.

Introducing another 4.5++ generation platform like the TEDBF at that time would be counterproductive, placing the IAF a generation behind its strategic goals while other nations move towards 6th-generation fighter technology. This simply does not fit within the IAF's established modernization strategy.

The Tejas Mk2 and the AMCA programs, are better aligned with the IAF's needs and technological goals. The Tejas Mk2 is designed to address capability gaps in the early 2030s, and the AMCA will provide a state-of-the-art, 5th-generation capability by the mid-2030s.

The TEDBF, with a projected arrival of 2038, would be redundant and would not support the IAF's strategy for potential conflicts with Pakistan and China.

The delays in the TEDBF program are partially attributed to the specific requirements of the Indian Navy, which significantly differ from those of the IAF. Carrier operations necessitate a heavier airframe, strengthened landing gear, and compatibility with catapult launch and arrested recovery systems. These features increase both complexity and expense.

The IAF, which primarily operates from land bases and prioritizes rapid deployment, has no need for these naval adaptations. A substantial redesign would have been necessary to create an Air Force version of the TEDBF, undermining any potential cost savings from shared development.

Furthermore, the Navy's relatively small projected fleet size of 45-50 TEDBFs limits the benefits of economies of scale when compared to the IAF's larger procurement needs. The IAF requires a larger number of aircraft and advanced technology, rather than a specialized naval fighter adapted to its requirements.

Analysts recommend that the IAF focus on speeding up the development of both the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA programs. It is suggested that the government expedite the full-scale development of the AMCA and ensure that HAL adheres to the established timelines for the Mk2.

Additionally, leveraging force multipliers, such as Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and aerial refueling tankers, can extend the operational life of the current fleet, thereby freeing up resources for these key modernization priorities.
 
If this aircraft will be ready only in 2038, please, it would be better for India to back out of this project. After 2035, when all countries will advance to sixth-generation aircraft, it is wrong for us to take fourth-generation aircraft back to production in 2040. Sixth-generation aircraft pose a great threat to fourth-generation aircraft. In return, we should give priority to the Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA and bring them into production quickly.

It is better to focus on sixth-generation aircraft design instead of TEDEF.

Similarly, it would be better to discontinue the IMRH helicopter project and instead design a next-generation jet engine-powered helicopter.
 
If this aircraft will be ready only in 2038, please, it would be better for India to back out of this project. After 2035, when all countries will advance to sixth-generation aircraft, it is wrong for us to take fourth-generation aircraft back to production in 2040. Sixth-generation aircraft pose a great threat to fourth-generation aircraft. In return, we should give priority to the Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA and bring them into production quickly.
We will be lucky if this gets inducted in 2040. More like 2050. Tejas Mk2 won't be ready by 2040.
 
Re-engineer this product for a pluggable engine module, even if it is a little inefficient and may carry less weight. But it will be available and will be supply chain headache-free; make it up in other areas, like avionics and numbers.
 
We will be lucky if this gets inducted in 2040. More like 2050. Tejas Mk2 won't be ready by 2040.
Rafale M mil gaya na. Khush raho.

Let the CCS first sanction TEDBF. Everything is contingent on that. It might not even happen. Fact remains that if IAF joins, then things will be easier and faster. Without IAF, feasibility of TEDBF is indeed in question. IAF's procurement failures are well known.
 
Spend 3-4 billion on desi engines and get nothing delivered in next 40 years as well !!
Frenchie meltdown. Fully understand how F35, Su57 and Tejas Mk2 has lit the fire under below.

Investment on Kaveri is a separate thread. Not investing in Kaveri is the single biggest bad decision of the Govt and IAF in our aviation history. Sooner we fix it, better it is. We might be ready for F404 substitute during the next overhaul of MK1/MK1A.
 
Frenchie meltdown. Fully understand how F35, Su57 and Tejas Mk2 has lit the fire under below.

Investment on Kaveri is a separate thread. Not investing in Kaveri is the single biggest bad decision of the Govt and IAF in our aviation history. Sooner we fix it, better it is. We might be ready for F404 substitute during the next overhaul of MK1/MK1A.
They are still refining and researching on the engine. We are making a dry Kaveri and a marine Kaveri engine as well. So it’s not going to waste.
 
This delay isn’t good at all for the navy as there is a large requirement for these jets. We need to start replacing the Mig 29K jets starting from 2035 onwards and it’s possible that we might need to upgrade its technology and lifespan by another decade if there is further delays to the TEDBF program.

The air force can always buy these jets if there is an urgent need to strengthen our twin engine capability. I’m sure they can make some minor modifications and they can make 2-4 squadrons for the air force once they develop the TEDBF jet.
 

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