With DSI Intakes, 5th-Gen Tech and Cost Efficiency, Homegrown TEDBF Poised to Rival Rafale M for Indian Aircraft Carriers

India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is developing the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), a promising new naval fighter designed to operate from the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers.

While drawing inspiration from the formidable Dassault Rafale M, the TEDBF incorporates several key distinctions that position it as a unique and potentially superior platform.

Visually, the TEDBF shares a similar frontal shape and canopy layout with the Rafale M, but a closer look reveals significant differences. One standout feature is the TEDBF's Diverterless Supersonic Intakes (DSI). Unlike the Rafale M, the TEDBF utilizes these innovative intakes to reduce drag and radar cross-section, enhancing stealth capabilities crucial for operating in radar-heavy maritime environments. DSIs also offer easier maintenance and contribute to overall weight reduction.

Cost efficiency is another major advantage for the TEDBF. While a single Rafale M can exceed $110 million, the projected cost of a TEDBF unit is less than $70 million. This allows for a larger fleet size and reduces India's reliance on foreign suppliers, aligning with the nation's push for self-reliance in defense.

The TEDBF is also leaps ahead in technological integration. Designed with fifth-generation technologies in mind, it will feature Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars for superior target detection and tracking, advanced stealth features, cutting-edge avionics, and robust electronic countermeasures. These advancements give the TEDBF a potential edge over the Rafale M in electronic warfare and survivability.

Furthermore, the TEDBF boasts reinforced landing gear specifically designed to withstand the rigors of carrier landings. Optimized for short take-off and landing operations, the landing gear incorporates advanced materials to handle the stress of repeated high-impact landings on carrier decks.

Unlike the Rafale M's fixed wings, the TEDBF will have foldable wings, a crucial feature for maximizing limited space on aircraft carriers. This design choice enhances storage efficiency and allows for greater flexibility in carrier operations.

Additionally, the TEDBF's compatibility with both ski-jump ramps and catapult-assisted take-off systems (CATOBAR) makes it adaptable to a wider range of carriers, including India's current and future vessels.

While the TEDBF and Rafale M share some aesthetic similarities, the Indian fighter is a distinct platform built upon indigenous innovation and tailored to the specific requirements of the Indian Navy. With its advanced capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and operational flexibility, the TEDBF is poised to become a cornerstone of India's maritime power projection and a testament to its growing self-reliance in defense technology.

 

[captsai]

While the article is at best imaginative, it is an extrapolation of proven operational Radale-M arcraft in comparison to projections of future TEDBF that is in pre-design stage and has a long way to go before actually finalising the specifications & meeting the projections at best a decade after it is sanctioned.

The twin engines for TEDBF, Mk2 etc are still conceptualised on the US GE414 engine, which is already phased out at US in 2008 apart from the unreliability of US sanctions or known past arm twisting taken into account. HAL not in present sanctioned list is not guarantee for future and has the most DANGEROUS threat of GROUNDING the complete fleet of IAF & IN if fighting assets like aircrafts are compromised on a yet to be designed & proven platform. Thats LOGICAL & CRITICAL for any armed force.

Needless to say that *ALL* *present think tanks* would advocate caution and *prioratise* to keep the fighting arms of our country well equipped & effectively maintaining to meet & sustain best required capability expanded into ranges envisaged in the threat perceptions to be effective & have sustained ops with minimum 2 aircraft carriers to meet any requirement from Indian ocean, Arabian sea, Bay of Bengal, Srilanka and South China sea.

The LCA programne since 1982 over the past 4 decades has some *FANTASTIC ACIEVEMENTS in many aspects* with numerous in-house FACILITIES like IRONBIRD, Composite AF & Canopy manufacturing, MMR untegration, Cause & Effect systems and simulators includi g flight simulator, Telemetry system & test engineering etc (established as part of LCA funding thru many DRDO / LABS since 1982) also through consultation with domain experts of different countries, numerous labs of DRDO/ Pvt & Other manufacturers. Kaveri engine development for LCA was not successful despite several important learnings. Aircraft Engine technology and SELF RELIANCE remains the most important need to be any where near indigenous aircraft claim as is obvious. The Nation's THRUST & in particular ADA, HAL & DRDO must remain focussed on proving an indigenous engine, weapons integrations & at least 80% self reliability without disturbing the IAF, IN or any Defence force unless a proven aircraft after IOC (mutually agreed) is ready for further specific clearance & induction.

 

[Pr K Singh]

India should meet its security challenges by enhancing and relying on its own capabilities.TEDBF should be designed and delivered within a fixed time frame. America and Western countries see India's poor security situation more of an business opportunity.The Chinese have done it that way and are improving their fighters continuously.