TEDBF or ORCA Updates

[Trololo]

A stealthier TEDBF with internal weapons should only be for a large CATOBAR carrier. Not the current STOBARs. VKD and VKN should only have the current TEDBFs.

 

[Trololo]

For some reason, folks here keep bringing that up. Stealth is not the answer to everything! If anything it is an aerodynamic compromise for being low observable. TEDBF is best the way it is because no one knows their requirements better than IN!

If you really start thinking stealth TEDBF:

1. Are you OK with the low pressure recovery, and hence low power output with serpentine intakes?
2. Are you OK with low weapons load take off from carrier deck? How many missions can you fulfill with a light load?
3. Is TEDBF to take out enemy planes in the air, or to also target their vessels? What is the weight/size of anti ship missiles vs A2A missiles? Again are you willing to compromise on take-off weight + safety margin on an air strip which is itself bobbing about on the sea?
4. What about operating costs? The cost of flying stealth is an order of magnitude more expensive.
5. What about maintenance costs? Especially in harsh marine environs?

..there may be many more

This assumes that the stealthy TEDBF is being launched from a CATOBAR carrier. Not our STOBARs. Engine power will be bumped up anyway since the F414s are a stopgap solution until the 110KN class engine comes along. For anti ship missions there are ship based AshMs. For airborne anti ship missions there is no missile that can fit in the IWB as of now. If national defence budget can support the operating costs 15 years from now, then why not? Same for maintenance costs.

 

[Ar.gaurav28]

Yeah IN can order 120!
80 mk1 & 40 mk2 with internal weapons bay!!
would love to see that happen...

 

[MonaLazy]

stealthy TEDBF is being launched from a CATOBAR

Assume we have both a STOBAR launched TEDBF and a CATOBAR launched F-35C and both have the same task- to sink an enemy ship (part of carrier flotilla) about a thousand kms out in the sea. Which would you prefer?

Now F-35C is stealthy so while it is harder to see, It's IWB eats into fuel space- so it has less range. Even the missiles it carries in a cramped IWB are smaller and have lesser range, so it has to go closer to the enemy to launch. Since the missile warhead is also small it may have to launch 3-4 missiles to sink the same ship where 1-2 giant AshM may have done the trick by delivering the same explosive power.

With an optimised for stealth F-35C, it has to:
- Go farther from own base to launch smaller ranged missiles it can carry internally
- Has lesser range itself because of IWB eating into fuel capacity- this conflicts with above requirement
- Since it releases its weapons from much closer to the enemy, chances of it being shot down also increase (can't disregard anti-stealth radars mounted on the enemy CBG)

OTOH, with an optimised for lift & range TEDBF, it can carry bigger missiles farther from home ACC because of no range penalty & no lift penalty. It can deliver a more punishing hit with say just 1 or 2 externally mounted longer ranged+heavier warhead missiles and launch from a higher distance safety margin.

Same dis/advantage also applies if you have to bomb a vital land target near the coast from hundreds of kms away with a heavy LACM. Since seas are huge & space is no problem, they give you safety with distance provided you can operate far away from enemy land/ships and still be effective. I'd pick the fighter that can go farther and shoot missiles that can go even farther so as to keep my own CBG as far away from enemy missiles as possible. Only if the queen of the CBG, the carrier survives then you can launch plane after plane, and win the war even after attrition.

 

[Trololo]

Assume we have both a STOBAR launched TEDBF and a CATOBAR launched F-35C and both have the same task- to sink an enemy ship (part of carrier flotilla) about a thousand kms out in the sea. Which would you prefer?

Now F-35C is stealthy so while it is harder to see, It's IWB eats into fuel space- so it has less range. Even the missiles it carries in a cramped IWB are smaller and have lesser range, so it has to go closer to the enemy to launch. Since the missile warhead is also small it may have to launch 3-4 missiles to sink the same ship where 1-2 giant AshM may have done the trick by delivering the same explosive power.

With an optimised for stealth F-35C, it has to:
- Go farther from own base to launch smaller ranged missiles it can carry internally
- Has lesser range itself because of IWB eating into fuel capacity- this conflicts with above requirement
- Since it releases its weapons from much closer to the enemy, chances of it being shot down also increase (can't disregard anti-stealth radars mounted on the enemy CBG)

OTOH, with an optimised for lift TEDBF, it can carry bigger missiles farther from home ACC because of no stealth penalty, no range penalty, no lift penalty. It can deliver a more punishing hit with say just 1 or 2 externally mounted longer ranged+heavier warhead missiles and launch from a higher distance safety margin.

Same dis/advantage also applies if you have to bomb a vital land target near the coast from hundreds of kms away with a heavy LACM. Since seas are huge & space is no problem, they give you safety with distance provided you can operate far away from enemy land/ships and still be effective. I'd pick the fighter that can go farther and shoot missiles that can go even farther so as to keep my own CBG as far away from enemy missiles as possible. Only if the queen of the CBG, the carrier survives then you can launch plane after plane, and win the war even after attrition.

Fair point, but tell me your position if I say that we should invest in ship launched AShMs so that we don't have to launch a plane to sink a ship. Here is a scenario:
You have an enemy destroyer within range of a Brahmos. Then why send a plane aloft?
Similarly, should we send a plane to hit a ship like a destroyer or carrier if it cannot be offered protection from the CBG's AD bubble?
IMO in anti shipping role the plane's job is to act as a range extender for the missile. So for Anti ship role I feel we should invest in ship to ship missile tech more.

 

[MonaLazy]

we don't have to launch a plane to sink a ship... cannot be offered protection from the CBG's AD bubble.. in anti shipping role the plane's job is to act as a range extender for the missile

I think you have kind of answered your own question. I will only challenge your protection from enemy's AD bubble hypothesis. The air-launch gives you tremendous safety and range. Like in the previous post I will pick the option that allows safer launch from a longer distance. Enemy CBG will have their own eyes and ears in the air and sub surface. The closer you approach to it, the higher your chances of perishing.

Numbers are just indicative, but range of TEDBF (say 1000 kms in and 1000 back) + 400 kms range of air launched (extended by launching the missile at a higher plane speed) vs 300 kms range of ship launched missile which is longer and heavier because it has a booster penalty to give it some elevation and speed. It can never match the close to ideal launch position provided by a plane.

1400 >> 300!

A ship launched missile will first endanger the vessel's own safety and ships are not very maneuverable to be able to resist counter missile barrage from the enemy which will surely come. Loss of own ship for enemy's is a draw, not victory.

 

[MonaLazy]

can never match the close to ideal launch position provided by a plane

Why do you think they mounted Brahmos-A on Su30MKIs and based them in Thanjavur?

 

[MonaLazy]

One more point I forgot to make earlier, distance to horizon!

One of the funniest things about the ocean is the fact that its surface is curved. We tend to think about water forming large flat sheets, but the surface of a large body of water is not actually flat at all -- it follows the curvature of the Earth.

Distances involved being large, if you can fly close to the sea (both plane & missile after launch)- you can surprise the enemy by being over the horizon for the longest possible & sneak up on him- that is natural stealth afforded by the ocean and in this scenario also long legs will serve better than shaping.

 

[Kchontha]

Will tedbf be able to superceuise?..... Gurus pls illuminate.

 

[Lonewolf]

Will tedbf be able to superceuise?..... Gurus pls illuminate.

Awashya ,but it don't matter as in loadout condition drag will limit the speed

 

[Kchontha]

Awashya ,but it don't matter as in loadout condition drag will limit the speed

It means that tedf will have limited supercruising capability just like rafale, it is more than f35.

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

Will tedbf be able to superceuise?..... Gurus pls illuminate.

Posssible with the new 110 KN engine in developement.
Not possible with GE-414.

 

[Bleh]

Teddy biggg...

 

[Blank]

 

[Nationalist Manasvi Papa]

View attachment 111904

Good render but there's no way TEDBF will have that weak nose undercarriage.

 

[Bleh]

Good render but there's no way TEDBF will have that weak nose undercarriage.

Yes long a fpbit flimsy, now that you've made me notice it

 

[Super Flanker]

TE in TEDBF stands for twin engine.............

Yes TE stands for "Twin Engine" TEDBF stands for Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter. It will be basically used by the Indian Navy only I guess from my Personal Perspective. If I am not wrong here(I could be wrong here, so you can Correct me) ORCA was basically Supposed to be a TEDBF for the Indian Airforce? Was it? I believe that the ORCA project is effectively dead, I don't hear any more updates with regards to ORCA, so I guess it's a cancelled project and Instead of it , indian Airforce is going for Tejas Mk2 if I am not wrong here.

 

[Super Flanker]

 

[Super Flanker]

Good render but there's no way TEDBF will have that weak nose undercarriage.

Yes You are right ,Carrier Based Fighters always need a stronger undercarriage as compared to their Airforce Counterparts in General and for good reasons. Carrier based landings turn out to be hard in the Sense that the Jet hits the Deck with a Bang, over-all Carrier Based operations demand hard under Carriages overall.

 

[Super Flanker]

Hey guys. I have a question.
What is this projection on this TEDBF model which was showcased at Aero India 2021?
Is it a Mid Air Refuelling Probe? Looks too Small to be a Mid Air Refuelling Probe to me atleast.

It's on either sides of the nose though: