What’s new in TEDBF 2.0: LEX, Canards, DSI, Folding Wings, Stealthy Nose

IMAGE COPYRIGHT : Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review and IDRW State-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will be showcasing a scale model of the carrier-based Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) under development for the Indian Navy and as per images provided by the Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review, TEDBF shows some of the new design changes and other major improvements that were not in the initial concept design of the aircraft revealed last year. TEDBF program was only cleared by the Government of India sometime last year and the final design will be frozen by end of this year after getting approval from the Indian Navy, so some more changes can be expected till the time design team is still working on the two design configuration, one above is the second one that is inching towards final acceptance stage. Some of the design changes seen in TEDBF 2.0 aka Second Design configuration 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 seen above features a Leading Edge Extensions (LEX) below the canopy blended back into the wing. LEX is seen for the first time on the TEDBF design configuration. Canards: a small wing like projection attached to an aircraft forward of the main wing to provide extra stability or control. TEDBF’s first configuration too was sported Canards that was done to provide longitudinal stability and control for the aircraft. LCA MK2 fighter will feature close-coupled canard configuration and same as been also adapted for the TEDBF. 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. The DSI is a new design principle that was mastered by ADA until recently and will be the first to be seen in TEDBF and AMCA fighter programs. 3D Bump: Bump near DSI intakes is used to improve the negative effects caused by the bends of the duct, for example, to decrease the flow separation thus creating a more uniform pressure. 3D Bump with DSI intakes will feature in TEDBF and AMCA fighter jet program that was also in the first design configuration of the TEDBF. Stealth optimized Radome Frontal Section: Second TEDBF design configuration seen above comes with a Stealth optimized Radome Frontal Section inspired from the AMCA fighter program to have reduced cross-section (RCS). TEDBF is not a Pure stealth design but it will be closer to the stealthiness of a 5th generation. Wing folding Mechanism: Seen in both the design configurations, 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. ADA Chief had identified Wing folding Mechanism as one of the major challenges for his developmental team since ADA has never worked on it previously as LCA-Navy Mk1 didn’t have a Wing folding Mechanism. 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. LCA-Navy Mk1 has demonstrated takeoffs and arrested landing using tail hook on an aircraft carrier, so experienced gained from the Mk1 will be used to develop a new Tail hook for the TEDBF program by HAL. Larger fuselage fuel tanks: TEDBF 2.0 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. Defense analysts Ranesh Rajan believes that it will add range, decreases drag and also decreases the overall signature of the TEDBF jet. NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copyright strikes