| Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter | |
|---|---|
 HAL TEDBF design for Aero India 2025 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Carrier-based multirole combat aircraft |
| National origin | India |
| Manufacturer | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| Designer | Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) |
| Status | Under development |
| Primary user | Indian Navy (intended) |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 2035 (expected) |
| First flight | 2028 (expected) |
| Developed from | HAL Tejas |
| Variants | HAL ORCA (proposed Air Force variant) |
The HAL Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) is a canard delta wing, twin-engine, carrier-based, multirole combat aircraft currently under development for the Indian Navy. The TEDBF is being designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).[1]
As a maritime multirole fighter, the aircraft would be capable of missions like combat air patrol (CAP), air supremacy, interception, ground attack, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), reconnaissance, electronic warfare (EW) and buddy-buddy refuelling. The TEDBF is expected to replace the Mikoyan MiG-29K of the Indian Naval Air Arm to operate from the Navy's STOBAR aircraft carriers. For ease of storage and operations from such platforms, the aircraft design will incorporate features including folding wings and arresting hook.[1][2][3]
The programme was officially initiated in 2019-20, after the Indian Navy's dissatisfaction in operating a single-engine carrier-based fighter based on the HAL Tejas, and its eventual withdrawal from the naval LCA programme in 2016.[4]
As of 2025, the preliminary design phase is to end soon and would be followed by first flight in 2028 and induction by 2035.[5]
- ^ a b Sutton, H. I. (17 March 2021). "India's New Aircraft Carrier, Vikrant, May Get 5th-Generation Fighter". Naval News. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "MiG-29K Aircraft Replacement, Indian TEDBF Breaks Cover at Aero India 2021". www.defenseworld.net. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "DRDO's Light Tank Will Be Power Pack As "The Highest Altitude Operable Tank In The Globe": G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO". BW Businessworld. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
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