HAL TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter)

HAL TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter)

Type: fighter

Domain: air

Country of Origin: India

Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

Overview

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.

Technical Specifications

crew1
typeTwin-Engine Carrier-Capable Multirole Fighter
engine2x GE F414
statusIn development — first flight not before early 2030s
carrierINS Vikrant (ski-jump STOBAR deck)
max_speedMach 1.6+ (estimated)
combat_radius~500 km (estimated)

Operators

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