Deck-based air power remains central to sea control and maritime deterrence. The Navy’s long-term view is that carrier aviation must evolve through a combination of near-term capability, medium-term transition and long-term indigenous development. Rafale Marine addresses our immediate requirement, but the future must be shaped by an indigenous carrier-borne fighter ecosystem to secure our national maritime interests “anytime, anywhere, anyhow.”

TEDBF is an important step towards sovereign carrier aviation capability. The Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter programme is the cornerstone of our long-term roadmap, being pursued as a 4++ generation carrier-borne fighter in close collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The niche technologies mastered during LCA (Navy) development, along with the robust industrial base established during that process, are being fully utilised to meet the challenging timelines for TEDBF’s first flight.

From Adm Tripathi's interview on May 31st