Rafale or F-18 will be used as an interim fighter, TEDBF will be used in the future, and the Mig-29k will be retired, said Indian Navy official.
For its aircraft carrier operations, the Navy needed fighter jets, and in preparation for those activities, it has conducted tests with both the French Rafale and the American F-18 aircraft. The Navy Vice Chief Admiral SN Ghormade stated, during a press conference on indigenisation in the Navy, that trials of American and French aircraft have been done to determine their capability for aircraft carrier operations. These trials were conducted by the Navy.
The Rafale and the Boeing F-18 have both been put through tests to demonstrate that they are capable of taking off and landing from aircraft carriers. Our aim is indigenisation. The development of our Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) aircraft will take some time but the plan is already in place. “By the time that homegrown project is finished, we are planning to look into purchasing aeroplanes from elsewhere in accordance with an intergovernmental agreement,” he explained.
Rafale or F 18.
Thought process is to go for Buy and Make 54 in the initial lot for IAF. Follow on orders will be given to Indian joint venture. Rafale makes sense considering numbers.
Navy likely to go for 26 fighters independent of IAF contracthttps://t.co/baNC8gnw7W— Air Power Asia (@AirPowerAsia) June 6, 2022
The Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) is a developmental programme that is being carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organization. It is intended to be the improved version of the Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which goes by the name Tejas.
In the past, the Navy intended to purchase 57 fighters as part of the programme to acquire aircraft from outside suppliers; however, the scope of this demand has been reduced by more than half as of recent.
In response to a question from a member of the audience asking when the Navy would be able to produce conventional submarines on its own, the Chief of the Navy stated, “We want to foster indigenization here.” The plan is for us to construct some capabilities for indigenization here, so that we can use such capabilities in the future.
Read more: Pakistan’s J-10C vs India’s Rafale: A comparison
In response to a question about the current standing of Project 75 India, Vice Chief Admiral SN Ghormade stated, “We are proceeding with Project 75 India.”
Under the auspices of Project 75 India, which would cost a total of 60,000 crore, the Indian Navy intends to construct six cutting-edge conventional submarines.