India's Defence Budget Prioritizes TEDBF and Ghatak UCAV Programs Amidst China's Growing Presence in IOR

India's latest defence budget has allocated significant funding for the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program and the development of the Remotely Stealthy Powered Autonomous Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (RSPA UCAV), also known as Ghatak.

This investment underscores India's commitment to modernizing its naval aviation capabilities and bolstering its presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in the face of China's growing influence.

The budget statement explicitly mentions that "some major acquisitions planned in the next year, such as Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft of High and Medium Altitude and Stage Payment of Deck-Based Aircraft, will be funded out of this allocation." This confirms that both the TEDBF and Ghatak programs are being prioritized for development and acquisition.

The Ghatak UCAV program has already achieved significant progress, with scaled model testing completed and the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) commencing fabrication of the first prototype.

This unmanned combat aircraft will be powered by a derivative of the indigenous Kaveri engine, generating 46kN of thrust. With a maximum takeoff weight of nearly 13 tons, it will be comparable in size to the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet.

Meanwhile, the TEDBF is poised to become the Indian Navy's next-generation carrier-based fighter, replacing the aging MiG-29K fleet. The allocation of funds for project clearance and subsequent development ensures that India continues its strides towards self-reliance in naval aviation.

This development also indicates that the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the TEDBF program is nearing completion and will soon be presented to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for project funding.

Both the TEDBF and Ghatak are crucial to India's strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific region, where maintaining maritime and aerial dominance is paramount.

These projects will significantly enhance India's operational reach and combat effectiveness, allowing the nation to project power and safeguard its interests in the IOR and beyond.

The development of these advanced aircraft comes at a time when China is increasing its naval presence in the Indian Ocean, underscoring the importance of India's investment in its own defence capabilities.

 

[R. Singh]

Keeping two front war in mind allocate funds to ADA+HAL to make ORCA incorporating Rafale F-4 tech, as well as buy 44+ Rafale F-4 through G2G route !

 

[sanket]

That's a full stop about TEDBF. That means all planned fighter jets will roll out, no more imports or substitutes/options even if there is a delay in engine supply. IN & IAF full support to indigenous fighter jet projects. 26 Rafale M will be the last fighter jets that will be imported for the Navy. Bad time for naysayers & comedians.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

We take lot of time in design, it's reviews and approvals. This cycle should shorten.

 

[swatkats_razor]

"stage payment of Deck-Based Aircraft" could also point to Rafele-M's acquisition.
Can't it?

 

[Rinku Pandey]

I congratulate Sitha Tayi for a great budget. But our defence budget keeps on decreasing yoy as % of our gdp. It is the lowest since 1961. It should be above 2% min.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

Defence budget is reducing at a constant rate. Pre-Covid it was 2.45% of GDP. Now it is 1.91% of GDP. Only 1.80 lac cr for capital expenditure. It's nothing. India has to tackle a 3-front war situation, but the Govt doesn't care. India needs a 100 billion dollar defence budget. China has a defence budget of more than 400 billion dollars. The USA spends nearly a trillion dollars. Even war-hit Russia spends more than 80 billion dollars, but India is reducing it year by year.

 

[Enforcer]

TEDBF is a waste of money.

 

[मित्र]

I congratulate Sitha Tayi for a great budget. But our defence budget keeps on decreasing yoy as % of our gdp. It is the lowest since 1961. It should be above 2% min.

In peacetime, it should be sufficient. Even most of the western countries are around 1% except few.
Also in future pension budget gonna reduce, which will ease things.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

In peacetime, it should be sufficient. Even most of the western countries are around 1% except few.
Also in future pension budget gonna reduce, which will ease things.

Name one western country which has hostile neighbors.

 

[SURESH RAO]

That's a full stop about TEDBF. That means all planned fighter jets will roll out, no more imports or substitutes/options even if there is a delay in engine supply. IN & IAF full support to indigenous fighter jet projects. 26 Rafale M will be the last fighter jets that will be imported for the Navy. Bad time for naysayers & comedians.

Thats 100% true

 

[Anant]

Defence budget is reducing at a constant rate. Pre-Covid it was 2.45% of GDP. Now it is 1.91% of GDP. Only 1.80 lac cr for capital expenditure. It's nothing. India has to tackle a 3-front war situation, but the Govt doesn't care. India needs a 100 billion dollar defence budget. China has a defence budget of more than 400 billion dollars. The USA spends nearly a trillion dollars. Even war-hit Russia spends more than 80 billion dollars, but India is reducing it year by year.

Do you realise why India's defence budget is shrinking as a share of GDP? Or are you just looking at a number and speaking about it?

India's GDP is increasing at a faster pace as compared to the government's revenue, and therefore the government's expenditure. That means that unless you spend a larger share of the budget on defence, the defence budget will shrink as a percentage of the GDP.

A better comparison would be to look at defence spending as a share of the expenditure budget. In this case, it has constantly been between 12 to 14% for years, with this year's figure being about 13.45%. We physically cannot spend more on defence due to other spending commitments.

The only way to organically increase the defence budget is through increasing the government's revenues.

 

[Rajsn]

In peacetime, it should be sufficient. Even most of the western countries are around 1% except few.
Also in future pension budget gonna reduce, which will ease things.

We are not competing with western countries. Our problem is China and Pakistan. Current budget is completely inadequate, plus most of it goes in pensions and salaries.

 

[Anant]

I congratulate Sitha Tayi for a great budget. But our defence budget keeps on decreasing yoy as % of our gdp. It is the lowest since 1961. It should be above 2% min.

That is happening becuase the GDP is growing faster than the government's revenue is. That means that for a given share of government expenditure being on defence, the share of defence spending to GDP will shrink.

However, if you look at the share of defence spending compared to overall spending, it has consistently hovered between 12-14%, with this year's figure being just short of 13.45%.

 

[Anant]

TEDBF is a waste of money.

And what should we fly off the carriers then? Paper planes?

 

[Ysmir Rewari]

ADA started work on Tejas Mk2 prototype in 2021 as well. Poor thing is still being screwed in, HAL and ADA doesn't compromise on quality.

 

[Shiva]

We take lot of time in design, it's reviews and approvals. This cycle should shorten.

Shortening time without any type of compromise on the certainty of efficiency parameters.

Unfortunately, it is not.

We still depend on our design on robust MKC methods where all parameters are unknown at the beginning and only in steps, they get it for each substructure. The algorithms are time-consuming. Maybe they will use GPUs to reduce it a little, but I think it is unavoidable with current methodologies.

 

[Shiva]

Thats 100% true

Definitely not 100% sure
More work is going on in hypersonic with bulk production capabilities and there are uncertain pressure points arose.
Not sure, what kind of new technology we may need to import

 

[Sandeep]

The TEDBF and the stealth UCAV Ghatak drone are very important projects. While the TEDBF jet is mainly developed for our carrier there’s also a good chance that we can manufacture another variant for our air force.

This jet has used a lot of ideas, shape or technology from the Rafale jet but we have improved and increased our weapon carrying load and capability. If the air force want more 4.5th generation jets that is better than the Tejas MK2 then they should manufacture more TEDBF jets. This would be the best option while they can manufacture more AMCA jets and increase our squadron strength.

The stealth UCAV Ghatak is another crucial drone that we need to develop and manufacture very quickly. It can also be used as a mini bomber and can be used on critical strike missions and with its stealth capabilities it has a higher chance of success and it saves our pilots valuable life by not placing them at risk.

Once we manufacture a lot of stealth AMCA jets, stealth UCAV Ghatak and the stealth CATS drones then it will make our air force very strong and become prepared to carry out large strikes or defence operations. This will allow us to win any type of wars and place our air force strength in the top five rank in the world and slowly increase that position even more.

 

[Enforcer]

And what should we fly off the carriers then? Paper planes?

Just buy Rafale M. Lets be honest here for a sec, when do you honestly think TEDBS will be ready?? 2040? maybe 2050? A fourth gen jet in 2040 is useless. If you are flying old generation jet then don't even get a aircraft carrier. Do you think a subsonic harrier would make any difference in war today? USA used em in yemen recently. But you think it would work against pakistan or china?

 

[War is good for business]

Name one western country which has hostile neighbors.

Look at Chinese defence budget as percentage of GDP.

 

[beencensured]

Just buy Rafale M. Lets be honest here for a sec, when do you honestly think TEDBS will be ready?? 2040? maybe 2050? A fourth gen jet in 2040 is useless. If you are flying old generation jet then don't even get a aircraft carrier. Do you think a subsonic harrier would make any difference in war today? USA used em in yemen recently. But you think it would work against pakistan or china?

Bigger question when will India get its rafale 2035?2040??Keep dreaming of forth generational planes.

 

[Enforcer]

Bigger question when will India get its rafale 2035?2040??Keep dreaming of forth generational planes.

Its a simple answer. Yes they will. they will get it by 2030 if you order them now. But I dont even like rafale deal. Its too late for 4th gen. I would rather buy F-35C

 

[Ben]

I congratulate Sitha Tayi for a great budget. But our defence budget keeps on decreasing yoy as % of our gdp. It is the lowest since 1961. It should be above 2% min.

That's because the Indian economy is growing at a faster pace !

 

[Arin Kumar]

The TEDBF and the stealth UCAV Ghatak drone are very important projects. While the TEDBF jet is mainly developed for our carrier there’s also a good chance that we can manufacture another variant for our air force.

With the current decrease of defence budget in R&D and defence production, i think TEDBF and AMCA is out of the window.

UCAV Ghatak with indigenous dry Kaveri engine appears to be feasible - even with defence budget cuts.

Even that will also be a crowning acheivement for Indian defence manufacturing industry.