The Indian Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has started testing one of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) concepts for the Indian Navy’s next-generation deck-based fighter jet requirement, a scale model of the concept jet for the wind tunnel studies is created, so that the design can be further refined and that will eventually shape the final design of the aircraft.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) is a program to develop a twin-engine, carrier based, multirole combat aircraft. It is under development by ADA, HAL and DRDO for the Indian Navy. It is a canard-equipped, twin-engine variant of HAL Tejas with higher thrust and payload capacity and will be comparable to the Rafale-M. The TEDBF is expected to replace the MiG-29K in Indian Navy service onboard the INS Vikramaditya and the upcoming INS Vikrant.
The program was introduced after naval variants of HAL Tejas and HAL Tejas Mk2 were determined to be inadequate and rejected by the navy. A model of the aircraft was displayed at Aero India 2021. The first flight is expected in 2026 with induction into the forces by 2032. The TEDBF is expected to perform multiple roles like combat air patrol, air-to-air combat, anti-ship strike and buddy refueling.
The design’s twin-engines are expected to give shorter take-off performance from the Indian Navy’s Short Take-off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) aircraft carriers.As a dedicated deck-based fighter, it will feature folding wings for storage. The TEDBF will predominantly be equipped with indigenous weapons.
The ongoing wind tunnel testing also marks the progress of the concept from computer-based design, towards further refinement in the wind tunnel and later to the final design freeze.
