Navy TEDBF TO be on time for the third aircraft Carrier with Stealth Characterstics
DRDO is working on Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) to replace the carrier Based Fighter MiG-29K which continue to provide the Indian Navy with potent strike capability. However with three aircraft carriers by 2032 the g Navy requires new fighter jets to replace its existing fleets.
TEDBF has been derived from the Naval Tejas and is thus going to be a delta wing aircraft but these wings can also be foldable, so that it can fit in the hangar and lift of Indian aircraft carriers.
From the design it can seen that the Aeronautical Development Agency is trying to incorporate stealth characteristics in the frontal fuselage of the aircraft. This means the aircraft is going to have a very low Radar Cross Section (RCS) from front.
TEDBF is going to have a maximum take of weight (MTOW) of 26 tons. Though the exact MTOW to achieved while taking off from STOBAR carrier deck will have to be seen at the trial stage. The Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) is likely to take its first flight by 2026 and projected date for this the fighter aircraft to enter into the service of Indian Navy, will be somewhere around 2029-30. This is also the time frame when the third aircraft Carrier should be about to join the Indian Navy.
During 21st Dr. Srinivasan Memorial Lecture – 2021, organized by Aeronautical Society of India in Association with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy gave out some of the above important details about the upcoming TEDBF aircraft for Navy.
In the preliminary design given out, one can clearly see a canards integration with aircraft. These canards will help in generating more lift for the aircraft while launching from aircrafts carrier.
By next year INS VIKRANT should be joining the Indian Navy. Together the two aircraft carriers have the capacity to operate around 50 fixed wing fighters.
The third aircraft carrier should be carrying around 48 fighters thus bringing the total to 98 fighters. Then we do need a few trainers and an exclusive Naval fighter squadron for the defence of Naval base at Karwar.
The Navy thus needs to plan for 7 fighter Squadrons comprising 126 fighters and 14 trainers. Out of this we do have two squadrons of Mig 29 and they should be providing effective service even beyond 2035. So what we need to plan is for 5 squadrons of new fighters.
So keeping everything in mind, the CCS must give immediate clearance for two squadrons of Naval Tejas. These 40 fighters will not only provide the much needed muscle to the Indian Navy but also be of immense help in making the TEDBF naval fighter a truly world class fighter. There will be then no need to import any naval fighters from anywhere as the first squadron of TEDBF will be there to greet the third aircraft Carrier.
