HAL TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter)
India's indigenous carrier-borne fighter under development to operate from INS Vikrant and future Indian aircraft carriers — filling the critical naval aviation gap created by the limited service life of the MiG-29K fleet. The TEDBF is based heavily on the Tejas Mk2 airframe but features twin engines (2x GE F414), reinforced landing gear for carrier arrested recovery, tailhook, nose wheel catapult attachment, folding wings for compact carrier storage, and corrosion-resistant maritime materials throughout. The twin-engine configuration provides the thrust-to-weight ratio and safety margins essential for carrier operations, addressing the IAF's historical reluctance to adopt single-engine fighters for carrier duty. Expected to feature AESA radar, advanced avionics with datalink for network-centric operations, BVR and close-combat air-to-air capability, anti-ship missiles, and precision-guided munitions. Target first flight by 2026 with operational deployment around 2032. Indian Navy plans approximately 45-50 TEDBF aircraft to equip 2-3 carrier air wings.
- First indigenous carrier-capable fighter — eliminates MiG-29K dependency
- Twin-engine design provides critical reliability for overwater carrier operations
- Designed for INS Vikrant ski-jump deck from inception
- Builds on Tejas Mk2 technology base reducing risk
- Very early development — first flight not before 2030s
- India has no prior experience designing carrier-based fighter aircraft
- GE F414 engine creates US supply chain dependency
- IOC timeline highly ambitious given Indian aerospace development track record
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