New Delhi: The Indian Navy’s Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) project is reportedly approaching a critical milestone, with the aircraft now nearing final government approval. The 4.5++ generation fighter is being developed specifically for carrier operations, aimed at enhancing India’s naval aviation capabilities.
The TEDBF has progressed through advanced design phases, including preliminary studies, technology validation, and subsystem integration. According to the Navy Chief, the design team has resolved major technical challenges related to carrier-borne operations, such as reinforced airframes, advanced arrestor hooks, and carrier-specific avionics, making it ready for the next stage.
Once approved, the project will move into the prototyping phase, allowing defence industry partners to build full-scale aircraft for shore-based testing, followed by rigorous sea trials aboard aircraft carriers to validate operational readiness. The TEDBF is expected to eventually complement and replace the Navy’s ageing MiG-29K fleet, offering improvements in range, payload, stealth, and multi-role capabilities including air superiority, strike, and reconnaissance missions.
Developed indigenously with contributions from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the project aligns with India’s ‘Make in India’ defence initiative, enhancing domestic aerospace capabilities while strengthening self-reliance in maritime air power. Advanced systems such as next-generation propulsion, electronic warfare suites, and radar technologies are being integrated into the fighter.
The TEDBF also holds strategic significance, bolstering India’s deterrence and carrier strike capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Following approval, the aircraft will undergo extensive testing aboard carriers like INS Vikramaditya and eventually be deployed on the indigenous INS Vikrant, supporting India’s long-term naval aviation plans.
The TEDBF program represents a major technological and strategic leap for Indian naval aviation, reflecting the country’s commitment to developing cutting-edge indigenous platforms that enhance operational capability while strengthening the national defence industrial base.
