TEDBF Program: Indian Navy's Modernization Drive Advances Despite Delays

The Indian Navy's pursuit of a modern, indigenous carrier-borne fighter jet is advancing with the development of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF).

Spearheaded by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the TEDBF aims to replace the aging MiG-29K fleet currently serving on the aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.

Critical Design Review and Timeline Adjustments​

The ADA is making strides towards completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) for all TEDBF systems by early 2025.

The CDR marks a pivotal phase, ensuring that all systems meet the Indian Navy's stringent performance requirements and are ready for seamless integration.

Following an initial evaluation of two design proposals, the Indian Navy has selected a preferred design that ADA will refine for the CDR process.

Once the CDR is successfully completed, the TEDBF program will receive final approval from the Indian Navy and proceed to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for funding clearance.

After CCS authorization, the timeline anticipates the TEDBF's first rollout within four years, with the jet entering service by 2034. Although the original goal aimed for a first flight by 2026, it appears likely to be revised to late 2029 or the early 2030s.

Procurement Plans and Engine Development​

The Indian Navy plans to procure the TEDBF in two batches of 45 units each.

While initial prototypes will likely employ GE-F414 engines, the production version, especially the second batch, could feature a more powerful 110kN engine currently under development for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk-II program.

To support the ambitious TEDBF project, the ADA is seeking approximately ₹13,000 crores in funding. This substantial investment highlights the importance of this program to bolster the Indian Navy's maritime security capabilities.

Significance of the TEDBF​

The TEDBF program represents a critical step in enhancing the Indian Navy's operational readiness and self-reliance. It will address the urgent need to replace the aging MiG-29K jets.

A successful outcome will provide the Indian Navy with a modern and capable carrier-based fighter jet developed within the country.

This achievement will not only increase India's naval prowess but will also be a testament to its growing technological maturity in the defence sector.

 

[Anant]

I think we should shelve the TEDBF project so as to concentrate only on TejasMk2 & AMCA and develop deck based AMCA as a supplementary parallelly since the requirement for deck based fighters will be 50max.

Not quite. It has already been found that navalising AMCA won't give a particularly good fighter.

As for numbers, if you include the Rafale M in one air wing, you'd need about 100 or so TEDBFs, and if you excluded them, you'd need atleast 120 TEDBFs. That is a fairly good production number.

 

[Itachi]

Why not 4.5 genaration version amca like Koreans did with there kf21 ... Usa did same thing with there f35 expact both iaf and navy version are 5th gen .. why indian navy have to choose brand new design?
Look like new scam just like few navy officers did in 2011 (russia) ..

 

[Ashutosh]

I wouldn't even consider MRFA until it actually happens.

Well then let MRFA be replaced by ORCA but ek single engine ORCA hona bahut jaruri hai
F16 aur J10 dono backbone hai.
Apne pas iss class ka kuch hona jaruri hai

 

[Anant]

India should have gone with just one 5th generation fighter with two variants, AMCA-IAF and AMCA-IN with at least about 80% commonality like Rafale and Rafale-M does.

Too many programs and too much resources, and too many human resources allocation will lead to too many failures for sure.
USA utilizes F/A-18 for USNavy and USAirForce/Marines, and National guards of states.

Too unwieldy to proceed with so many programs at the same time.

Boss, wasn't it found some time back that navalising AMCA would not be particularly effective?

 

[Anant]

Actually India is going 26+114 =140 Rafale bcoz they want some Tech & consultant for AMCA & TEDBF. SoTEDBF may b Inducted over 100 . if Rafale Marine were brought in Excess of 50 . There was less chance to go with Indigenous Naval Fighter project.

Let them finalise MRFA first.

 

[Ashutosh]

Why not 4.5 genaration version amca like Koreans did with there kf21 ... Usa did same thing with there f35 expact both iaf and navy version are 5th gen .. why indian navy have to choose brand new design?
Look like new scam just like few navy officers did in 2011 (russia) ..

AMCA heavy hai , keeping Vikrant and IAC2 in mind.

 

[Anant]

Why not 4.5 genaration version amca like Koreans did with there kf21 ... Usa did same thing with there f35 expact both iaf and navy version are 5th gen .. why indian navy have to choose brand new design?
Look like new scam just like few navy officers did in 2011 (russia) ..

Because it has been found that navalising AMCA will not be effective given it's weight.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Well then let MRFA be replaced by ORCA but ek single engine ORCA hona bahut jaruri hai
F16 aur J10 dono backbone hai.
Apne pas iss class ka kuch hona jaruri hai

Tejas Mk1A hai na, single engine. Chota sa, nanhaa sa, munna sa, pyaara sa, phaiter jatt.

 

[Ashutosh]

Navy plans to have 4 Aircraft carriers so that 3 of them can be operational at any given moment.

TEDBF would easily cross 150+ mark and might reach 200 given IAC 3 would be a large carrier( Geral Ford Class)

IAC 2 would be Vikrant class

 

[NSR]

Boss, wasn't it found some time back that navalising AMCA would not be particularly effective?

Anant, do not know why that would be so?
F/A-18 and Rafale are two examples of commonality fighters between airforces and navies.

First of all why develop 4th generation naval fighter over a decade and plus when India needs a fifth generation naval fighter soon.

Perhaps, IN should make it a 5th generation fighter and then IAF modify it for its requirements.

Developing a 4th generation naval fighter really going backwards. My opinion.

 

[bonito]

Its stop gap arrangements Bhai.Availibility Rate may 75% , which very High in recent article on this forum F-35 Marine was having only 15.5%. Rafale can perform 5 sortie a day.

But given the order book of Dassault the stop gap arrangement will arrive only after a decade.

 

[bonito]

Given the order book of Dassault both the Rafael M and TEDBF will be here only after a decade

 

[Ashutosh]

Tejas Mk1A hai na, single engine. Chota sa, nanhaa sa, munna sa, pyaara sa, phaiter jatt.

ORCA nhi haina vo, 2 DT lagadiya to BVR bacha nhi 4 BVR laga Diya to CAP kar nhi payege.

Tejas mk2 3 DT lagane baad bhi 6 BVR 2 WVR carry karega

 

[Ashutosh]

Anant, do not know why that would be so?
F/A-18 and Rafale are two examples of commonality fighters between airforces and navies.

First of all why develop 4th generation naval fighter over a decade and plus when India needs a fifth generation naval fighter soon.

Perhaps, IN should make it a 5th generation fighter and then IAF modify it for its requirements.

Developing a 4th generation naval fighter really going backwards. My opinion.

Navy doesn't actually need stealth, they want a maintenance friendly , cost effective and high payload fighter
TEDBF is aimed to be a -5 gen fighter- i.e. everything of a 5th gen but stealth.

Maintenance of 5th gen fighters doesn't actually need an explanation, same goes for cost and 4 th gen carry h
Much high effective payload

 

[Itachi]

AMCA heavy hai , keeping Vikrant and IAC2 in mind.

Kya bol rehe bhai without researching?? Amca 25 tonne, tedbf 26 tonne ...
They already buying 4.5 gen rafale then why new design 4.5 gen fighter jet again?

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

Even for stop gap, does 26 sound enough?

When India acquired INS Vikramaditya, it ordered a fleet of 45 Mig-29 K to go with it, accounting for availability in case of attrition and maintenance.

How will they make do with just 26 Rafales for INS Vikrant.

Probably not, but migs will work till 2040.till then navy will do its work with less no.

 

[Ashutosh]

Kya bol rehe bhai without researching?? Amca 25 tonne, tedbf 26 tonne ...
They already buying 4.5 gen rafale then why new design 4.5 gen fighter jet again?

Bro ye data kaha se Mila aapko, AMCA is heavier

 

[Hari Sud]

MIG-29k is not old but the Indian Navy does not like it.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Bro ye data kaha se Mila aapko, AMCA is heavier

Yeh Anna-data ka data hai.

Phasal ugne sei pahle MSP nikaal lete hain yeh log.

I mean, even protypes dont exit of either AMCA nor TED-BF. But weight mei TEDBF is heaver than AMCA, iss baat ka confidence inn ko HAL sei bhi jyada hai 😉

 

[Ramsses CDXX]

• 45 aircrafts❗....... What a loss making proposition. The program cost will alone be like initial Eurofighters. Export prospects will sink to 🌊 for 🐊 to feed on.
• All 3-Indian Navy ACs are and will be of Vikrant-size tonnage. Hence not more than 30 aircrafts (20 fixed-wing + 10 rotary). So 20 × 3= 60±6. So what's the rationale of creating a new jet for paltry 40?
• Terminate the program (like Tapas-BH), end the variegated 🇷🇺-🇫🇷 spare supply-chain & relieve taxpayers' suffering.
• Buy Rafale instead. Doosra koi vikalp ya raasta hai hi nahi. Wahi raam-baan hai 🏹 🫤😑

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

MRFA? That Birbal's khichdii?
Who knows when that deal will ripen.

Ah I see what you did there with 'ripen'

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

I think the timeline for TEDBF got messed up because of prioritising AMCA. Tejas mk2 and tedbf, both have seen delays but amca is still on track. I guess its ok, since rafale marine order is finalised. So we wont need tedbf until 3rd carrier gets operational.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

TED-BF should have been the natural progression for ADA/HAL from Tejas Mk-1A and before AMCA MK-1.
Something tells me, AMCA Mk-1 isn't going to be a massive upgrade over a non-naval version of TED-BF (ORCA maybe).
The honor for a true blue 5th Gen aircraft would be AMCA Mk-2.
With that, I don't know where Tejas Mk-2 would fit in.
Honestly speaking, I think the time for single-engined Tejas-Mk2 had come and gone.

After, Tejas, ADA/HAL should have shifted gear to twin-engined aircrafts based on GE F-414 engines.

Tejas Mk2 is going to be workhorse of air force, since it is cheaper. Just as F-16 is workhorse for USAF. Super sukhois will serve like F-15. Amca is going to be like F22, few numbers but very high performance. I dont think there are plans for IAF to go for tedbf variant yet. Maybe they would go for it to replace aeging sukhois.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Navy plans to have 4 Aircraft carriers so that 3 of them can be operational at any given moment.

TEDBF would easily cross 150+ mark and might reach 200 given IAC 3 would be a large carrier( Geral Ford Class)

IAC 2 would be Vikrant class

Firstly, IAC wont be gerald ford class. It wont be nuclear powered and it would be in queen elizabeth class or the charles de gaulle class, 65000ton.

And your numbers for tedbf are too high. 1 carrier has around 30 fighters. And we also have order of 26-28 rafale marine

 

[Avada kedavra]

Its really shocking that an institution can indefinitely keep delaying again and again and get away with it.
Such a pathetic state of affairs.
U try this in any private corporate environment u will get the boot.