Why HAL Proposed LCA Naval Variant Lost to ADA's TEDBF in the Race for India's Naval Fighter Jet

In 2019, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) proposed a twin-engine fighter jet design based on the LCA-Tejas platform, aiming to fulfill the Indian Navy's specific requirements. This proposal emerged amidst ongoing discussions regarding the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) program led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

Sources indicate that HAL's proposal aimed to pre-empt the TEDBF program, leveraging their experience with the single-engine Naval LCA technology demonstrator. Initially, the ADA proposed a 16.5-ton single-engine Naval LCA Mk2 with upgraded F-414 engines. However, safety concerns associated with single-engine operations on aircraft carriers led to its rejection.

HAL addressed these concerns by incorporating twin engines into their design, utilizing the existing LCA platform to expedite development. While specifics remain undisclosed, the proposed fighter was estimated to be heavier than the rejected Naval LCA Mk2, potentially reaching 25 tons.

The initial variant was likely to be powered by F-414 engines, currently used in the Tejas MkII, with a long-term goal of utilizing indigenously developed engines derived from technology for the AMCA MkII, India's next-generation 5th generation fighter jet. This approach sought to combine foreign expertise with domestic engine development capabilities.

In contrast, the ADA's TEDBF program proposed a completely new twin-engine design, envisioned as a heavier 26-ton platform with a potentially longer development timeline due to its fresh design approach.

Ultimately, the Indian Navy determined that the TEDBF program better aligned with its requirements. While HAL's proposal offered a potentially faster development cycle based on existing experience, the ADA's TEDBF program promised a more advanced, purpose-built design.

 

[Anant]

TEDBF is just a reference to specific fighter aircrafts profiling. Just like multi role fighter, air superiority fighter and reconnaissance and so on. The naming of the fighter will come in the later stages just like Tejas, Falcon, Eagle, Rapptor, Tomcat and so on. But we haven't even got off from drawing board yet still haggling on the design and engine type to be used. The way I look at the progress and time lines given and revised to often tells me the Tejas Mk2 is not any soon take flight. Because Tejas Mk1A is held up for more technical details involved. So I can imagine the dateline for AMCA and TEDBF. Therfore I personally think in my opinion, the best solution to beef up the numbers of fighters air aircraft squadrons to 42 square is to go for 114 MRFA while allowing Tejas Mk2, AMCA and TEDBF take all the time they need to make it become a reality.

Agreed. I have been saying for a very long time that MRFA is a quantitative necessity, and despite the cost, this is a bullet we have to bite.

 

[Sumit Verma]

All the new 4th gen/+ programs needs to be scrapped. Unnecessarily wasting money on 40 years old tech will not take us anywhere.

 

[Benith Israel]

Hal is wasting time and resources. Just shoot some of its Id1ots( or smacked them around till they have sense) , and make HAL act in national interest. Hardly HAL can make trainer then wants to make forth plus generation plane. It ambition to compete with reputable companies for scarce funs, and do no fundamental development. HAL think listening abject third class mental menial regressive who have no brain like trying for all metal design for a trainer so cheaper to produce then put more powerful engine then tejas because too heavy, is example of its confused regressive behavior that rejects higher composites which lowers vibration and so cost of operation and maintenance, but by acting in behest of very corrupt force that wants to keep India from trying to be best but going for lowest hung fruit. They shameless show their corrupt c0ngres British azz having third class coolie subservient dreams that say why try to make the best., when It is Hindu education that developed mathematic, whose history came scientific evolution, whose cosmology shows the only close agreement with modern science Carl Sagan "Cosmos", who talks of time dilation(day of Brahma), and invented surgery , from procession of equinox, to modern world Jagadish Bose discovery of semiconductor and doing first signal processing and many great scientist. These third class shameless people need a machine gun treatment that made honor the British who made India poor, famine stricken and illiterate country forgetting India's great contribution to the world.

IF these shameless people of HAL loved this country they would be designing MTA, HEavy lift aircraft, Heavy lift helicopter, and give up their shameless immoral perverted mental coolie.

HAL is a far more agile than of its competition such as ADA or NAL. If tedbf was HAL project atleast a full scale prototype might have been out unlike Ada which just sits around waiting for free funds from GOI to waste

 

[Benith Israel]

Agreed. I have been saying for a very long time that MRFA is a quantitative necessity, and despite the cost, this is a bullet we have to bite.

Why waste money on tedbf? Use it to buy 50 more rafale M

 

[Anant]

Why waste money on tedbf? Use it to buy 50 more rafale M

Two reasons. Firstly, an indigenous naval aircraft is needed in the long run, especially once India brings more carriers in. Secondly, the best case scenario is that we can get 10-12 Rafale Ms for the price of the TEDBF program (not the cost of production aircraft, mind you), which isn't sustainable in the long run.