TWIN-ENGINE DECK BASED FIGHTER (TEDBF)
The Twin-Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) is being developed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. It will be a single-seater, twin-engine, compound tailless delta wing with close-coupled canards.
The TEDBF will be a Carrier-based aircraft. It’s first flight is planned in the year 2026.
Features:-
- LEX: Leading-Edge Extension (LEX) a small extension to an aircraft frontal Fuselage Boundary. A leading-edge extension is designed for the same purpose to create a strong vortex that increases the stall angle of a wing. TEDBF features a Leading Edge Extensions (LEX) below the canopy blended back into the wing.
- Canards: A small wing like projection attached to an aircraft forward of the main wing to provide extra stability or control. TEDBF has canards to provide longitudinal stability and control for the aircraft. TEDBF has adapted close-coupled canards configuration from the Tejas Mk-2 aircraft.
- DSI Intakes: A Diverterless Supersonic Inlet (DSI) compared to a conventional intake decreases the inlet weight, since the structure becomes less complex and it has no movable parts, therefore, requiring less maintenance and also increases the performance of a fighter aircraft.
- 3D Bump: Bump near DSI intakes is used to improve the negative effects caused by the bends of the duct.
- Stealth optimized Radome Frontal Section: TEDBF design comes with a Stealth optimized Radome Frontal Section inspired from the AMCA fighter program to have reduced cross-section (RCS).
- Wing folding Mechanism: TEDBF will feature a Wing folding Mechanism that will be used when for storage in the hangar or when the aircraft requires repairs. The wing folding Mechanism also helps aircraft on the decks to be parked neatly and save space for more aircraft.
- Tail hook: TEDBF is seen with a tail hook attached to the empennage (rear) of the fuselage for rapid deceleration during routine landings aboard aircraft carrier flight decks.
- Larger fuselage fuel tanks: TEDBF features a fixed upper fuselage fuel tank on either side of its central spine that will play the role of conformal fuel tanks (CFT). But unlike CFT that can be removed after mission by the ground crews, this will be part of the fuselage. It will add range, decreases drag and also decreases the overall signature of the TEDBF jet.
Roles:-
- Combat Air Patrol
- Deck launch interception
- Air-to-air combat
- Anti-ship strike
- Maritime strike
- Land attack strike
- Escort jamming
- Buddy Refueling
Specifications:-
- Length: 16.3 m
- Wingspan: 11.2 m(unfloded); 7.6 m(floded)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26 ton
- Speed: Mach 1.6
- Service Ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m)
- ‘g’ limits: +8/-3
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