New Delhi: India’s Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) programme could take a major step forward once it receives approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Former Tejas chief designer Prof. Kota Harinarayana has said the indigenous naval fighter could make its first flight within about five years of approval, while the Indian Navy’s long-term requirement may eventually cross 120 aircraft. The government has officially confirmed that the TEDBF is being developed as the Navy’s future indigenous carrier-borne fighter.
What is the Latest Update on the TEDBF programme
Speaking at the R Defence Forces First Conclave 2026, Prof. Kota Harinarayana said the TEDBF’s design work is largely complete and the programme is awaiting CCS clearance.
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He said that after CCS approval, the programme could move into full-scale development. If development proceeds as planned, the first prototype could fly in around five years.
Harinarayana also indicated that the fighter could enter Indian Navy service roughly eight years after approval. That would put its possible induction in the early 2030s, depending on when approval is granted and how development progresses.
Importantly, these timelines are projections stated by Harinarayana and should not be treated as an officially announced government schedule.
What is TEDBF Programme
The Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter, or TEDBF, is an indigenous fighter aircraft being developed for operations from Indian Navy aircraft carriers.
Official government information confirms that the Indian Navy, in coordination with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), has been pursuing the indigenous development and acquisition of TEDBF.
The Ministry of Defence has also described TEDBF as a 4++ generation future deck-borne fighter designed by ADA. A TEDBF model was displayed at Aero India 2025 as part of the Navy’s push towards self-reliance in naval aviation.
Indian Navy could Eventually Require Over 120 TEDBF Jets
One of the biggest claims from Harinarayana’s address concerns the possible size of the future TEDBF fleet. According to the report, he indicated that the Indian Navy’s long-term operational requirement could exceed 120 aircraft, compared with earlier estimates of around 88 fighters.
A fleet of this size could support carrier operations while also providing aircraft for training, maintenance and operational reserves.
However, an official Indian Navy or Ministry of Defence order for more than 120 TEDBF aircraft has not been announced. The figure should therefore be viewed as a projected long-term requirement rather than a confirmed procurement quantity.
Why TEDBF Programme is Important for the Indian Navy
India currently operates MiG-29K fighters for carrier-based combat operations. TEDBF is being developed as an indigenous platform designed specifically for the Navy’s future carrier aviation requirements.
The project also builds on important technologies demonstrated through the Naval LCA programme. In January 2020, the Naval LCA successfully completed an arrested landing and ski-jump take-off from INS Vikramaditya. The Ministry of Defence said these demonstrations proved important indigenous technologies needed for deck-based fighter operations and would help pave the way for TEDBF.
The Naval LCA later landed aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The government described the aircraft as a technology demonstrator and a lead-in to the TEDBF programme.
TEDBF Designed Specifically for Aircraft Carriers
Unlike a conventional land-based fighter, TEDBF is being designed for the difficult environment of aircraft carrier operations.
Carrier fighters must handle demanding ski-jump launches, arrested landings and repeated operations in a corrosive maritime environment. The reported design therefore includes features such as strengthened landing gear, a robust airframe and folding wings to reduce the space required when the aircraft is stored aboard a carrier.
Official sources have repeatedly presented TEDBF as a major part of India’s future naval aviation ecosystem and its broader push for indigenous defence technology.
TEDBF Builds on India’s Indigenous Fighter Ecosystem
TEDBF is not being developed in isolation. India is simultaneously working on programmes including the LCA Mk2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The government has previously confirmed that ADA and HAL are involved in designing advanced indigenous combat aircraft, including TEDBF for the Indian Navy, while DRDO laboratories and other institutions are developing important supporting technologies.
This wider ecosystem could help India reuse technologies, engineering experience and systems developed across different fighter programmes.
How TEDBF Fits Alongside Rafale Marine
TEDBF is intended to provide India with a long-term indigenous carrier fighter capability. In the near term, the Navy is strengthening its carrier aviation fleet with Rafale Marine fighters. TEDBF, meanwhile, represents the domestic programme aimed at meeting longer-term requirements. This approach gives India a bridge between its current carrier fighters and a future largely indigenous naval combat aviation fleet.
Why the TEDBF programme Matters for India
A successful TEDBF programme could significantly reduce India’s dependence on imported carrier-based fighter aircraft. It could also give the country greater control over upgrades, weapons integration, maintenance and future development throughout the aircraft’s service life.
India has already demonstrated important carrier aviation technologies through the Naval LCA. The government says these achievements have helped create the technological foundation needed for the TEDBF programme.
If the programme receives CCS approval and meets the development timeline outlined by Harinarayana, TEDBF could become one of the most important indigenous combat aircraft programmes for the Indian Navy in the 2030s.
