TEDBF: Configuration finalized
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) & Navy has defined the Preliminary Service Quality Requirements out of which two configurations for the upcoming indigenous Twin Engine Carrier Based Deck Fighter TEDBF had emerged and now it has been confirmed that the Navy has settled for the Scale model that was displayed at the Aero India 2021 for which Wind tunnel studies also have been concluded. The design of TEDBF is presently going through further improvements and optimization before the “design is frozen after consultation with Navy.
The progress of the program is on track and with major
challenges being identified that includes a wing folding mechanism that needs
to be developed along with a new landing gear system that can handle 26 tons
deck based takeoff and landings for which teams had worked for the LCA Navy
along with HAL engineers have been engaged for their development.
ADA & Navy has planned a rollout of TEDBF sometime in the
later part of 2025 and the first flight of the same has been planned in 2026.
TEDBF will have two IOC configuration jets that will be carrying out the major
part of its developmental flights from the Shore Based Test Facility at Goa
before it commences deck-based trials at the last phase. TEDBF production has
been planned from 2030 onwards and the first batch of the jet will be IOC
configured jets that will allow the Navy to start replacing Russian MiG-29K
from 2034 onwards.
HAL will be the main integrator of the TEDBF program with
plans in place to have Tier II and Tier III private sector suppliers that will
be in charge of providing a wide range of systems and subsystems including
fuselage while public undertaking companies will be in charge of supplying
other critical equipment like avionics, sensors, and radars that were developed
for the LCA-AF-Mk2 and AMCA Program.
China’s New BVR Missile Attached To J-20 Stealth Jets
Promises To End US Air Dominance
For years, the US made AIM-120 has remained one of the most
potent modern air to air missiles. Now, China has unveiled the latest version
of its “most advanced” PL-15 missile, which according to some analysts, can
pose a significant challenge to American airpower.
PL-15 is an super sophisticated long range beyond visual
range (BVR) air to air missile.
The PL-15 is an upgrade of the PL-12 and has been redesigned
with cropped main and tail control fins, with a smaller wingspan. This was done
to fit into the internal weapons bay of the next generation J-20 ‘Mighty
Dragon’ and FC-31 fighters.
The PL-15E has the ability to attack manned aircraft,
unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles and other targets located more than 145 kilometers
away.
The medium to long range missile can travel at four times the
speed of sound. It is powered by a dual pulse rocket motor and is equipped with
a two-way data link for dynamic retargeting in the air.
The missile’s active seeker uses an AESA aperture which gives
the PL -15 robust Electronic Counter Measures.
India & Sri Lanka to begin joint military exercise from
today, counter terror operations on agenda
India and Sri Lanka will carry out a 12-day military exercise
from Monday with a focus on improving counter insurgency and counter terror
cooperation. The defence ministry has said that an all arms contingent of 120
personnel of the Indian Army will participate in the exercise along with a
battalion strength contingent of the Sri Lankan Army.
The aim of the exercise is to promote close relations between
armies of both countries and enhance inter-operability and sharing best
practices in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations.
The eighth edition of the Mitra Shakti exercise will be
conducted at Combat Training School in Sri Lanka’s Ampara from October 4-15.
The Indian Army contingent reached Sri Lanka on Sunday to participate in the
Mitra Shakti exercise.
The joint exercise is designed for incorporating the current
dynamics of United Nations peacekeeping operations through tactical exercises
and practical discussions. The ministry informed that the exercise will involve
tactical level operations at the sub unit level in an international counter insurgency
and counter terrorism environment and will go a long way in further
strengthening the relationship between both nations. It will act as a catalyst
in bringing synergy and cooperation at the grass root level between both armies.
How Rocket force could build up India’s conventional missile
inventory
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat recently said that
India is “looking at creating a rocket force” as part of efforts to step up on
enhancing its military capabilities. Rocket force might become 4th service of
the Indian military services alongside the three conventional ones of the Army,
Air force, and Navy. Rocket force might be in charge of managing and operating
both land based conventional and nuclear missiles.
India started inducting Ballistic missiles in the early Eighties
and since then gradually it had added Ballistic missiles that can now hit
targets as far as 5000 kilometers but most of these missiles remain under the
Strategic Forces Command that is responsible for the management and administration
of the country’s tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile, thus in a
way ensuring it is limited to their usage for the nuclear deterrence rather for
precision conventional strikes in fear of being misjudged as a nuclear attack.
India is planning to start replacing its old Prithvi Ballistic
missiles with newer short range tactical battlefield Ballistic missiles like
Prahaar (150 kilometers) and Pralay (350 to 500kilometers) that largely will
cater to carrying out precision conventional missile strikes rather than being
used for nuclear strikes. India is also planning to induct longer range Ballistic
missiles like Agni 1P that are easy to manufacture and are highly mobile so
that can be deployed on the battlefield if and when required to take out the
critical infrastructure of the enemy.
Rocket force also aims to break the slow production rate of
some of the Indian Ballistic missiles since they were largely limited to the
nuclear deterrence role. Rocket force will also be in charge of supersonic and
sub sonic cruise missile inventory that could further bump India’s ability to
carry out conventional strikes. Rocket force if it becomes the fourth service
of the Indian military then it will also eliminate the need for Army, Air
force, and Navy to have its separate Ballistic missile arsenal.
