The navy is being practical and grounded in reality. The TEDBF do not have space for a main internal weapon bay without sacrificing space for fuel or internal avionics.
Agreed, today we have space issues & T/W constraints but after 10 years with production model we may not or should not.
There is no harm in talking, exploring the theories, posibilities in future.
My 1st comment in this forum said we should choose 1 of the 2 CG models & produce them, & further clarified that they should be developed FURTHER. Evolution cannot be stopped. When will it happen & who takes the lead are the real questions.
10 years is a lot of time, it is not necessary that exhibition/protoype model can't/won't evolve till induction. I have given examples of X-35 Vs F-35 & YF-22 Vs F-22. But if we follow Russian model where they don't modify the airframe size, volume, from 1st prototype to induction then discussion is over. They used basic Su-27 airframe & dragged it till Su-35 & then finally they made the Su-57. But both Sukhoi & MiG used common airframe for AF & Navy.
Space is dependant on T/W ratio, especially for naval jets.
I already showed calculation
If empty weight can be reduced to 11 tons or 24,250 lbs without IWB & weight due to IWB is considered 20%, that's 11Tx1.2=13.2 tons = 29,100 lbs
Weight of IWB = 2.2 tons
Let's consider Max. T/o weight = 25+2.2=27.2 tons = 60,000 lbs
Thrust/weight ratio becomes 0.44 dry, 0.73 with AB.
F-35C: Thrust/weight ratio with IWB = 0.46 dry, 0.71 with AB.
A side internal weapon bay that can carry ccms or short range missiles is also of no use. A standard A2A loadout will have 2 BVRs and 2 CCMs. Even if side internal weapons bay can carry 1 CCM each, the larger BVRs like Astra2, upcoming SFDR and Rudrams have to be carried in external pylons-stealth is already compromised. Then whats the use of CCMs in internal weapons bay? Its better that that space is useful for something else.
Else for a TEDBF with main, Internal bays and still considerable fuel for a Naval fighter with all the weight constraints for a heavier landing gear and underbodyframe, the GEF414 are grossly inadequate. AL31 are another size class engine for Su-27 family sized jets.
Only the main weapon bay is useful for a fighter. It is large enough to carry multiple BVRAAMs and other A2G and AShM missiles. Side weapons bay is useful if there is already a main weapon bay as it can complement latter by moving CCMs out of it.
By this logic F-35C would have never come to existence.
Newer gen jets require newer gen weapons also. For example in the age of GPS guided bombs, LGBs, some with gliding capability with folding wings/fins, etc, we don't justify plain gravity unguided bombs used by 3rd & 2nd gen jets.
Future missiles will also use multi-spectral sensors, in RF & IR/UV bands to increase Pk (Probability of kill). Example - RIM-116 who's HAS upgrade enables to engage Helicopter Aircraft Surface. National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) have both AMRAAM & AIM-9X as SAMs.
The combination of AIM-9X-2 and OFS 8.3 makes an AIM-9X Block II missile which can hit both aircrafts & ground targets. So Sidewinder has demonstrated AAM, AGM, SAM capabilities.
Hence a future missile could be used not only both as CCM & BVRAAM but also AAM & AGM.
Some people are talking about longer missiles while some are talking about shorter missiles like SACM/CUDA. It wil decrease missile range but with multi-spectral sensor may drastically increase Pk & doubles the # of missiles.
The following CG pic of Checkmate shows the side bays can carry both the CCM & BVRAAM.
Just imagine a modified version of this CG pic as future version of TEDBF - V-tail replaced by 1 vertical tail, wing moved back, canards added, main gear & side bays will also move back a bit & fuselage width increased due to twin engines.
Side bays can also be part of wing root like in Su-57, not necessarily part of fuselage.
It is speculated that AMCA will have folding-fin version of all A2A & A2G weapons being developed, then that can be applied to TEDBF future iteration too.
Today we can have current TEDBF MK1 TD prototype without IWB
then MK2 TD protoype with only main IWB, no SWB
then MK3 TD prototype with MWB & SWB
If the cancelled N-LCA with LEVCON can be researched (we all know all the reasons) & there are CG model of N-LCA MK2 also, then why can't we make TEDBF MK2 with same GE F414 engines & later the MK3 with newer more powerful engines?
This space constraint is also the reason why IAF opted out of side weapon bays for AMCA. 2 BVR and 2 CCMs can be comfortabily carried in the main weapon bay.
On the +ve side at least they implemented main IWB. There were people skeptical about it in beginning & just wanted an inflated LCA as MWF, that's all. So imagine if all this AMCA plan never existed.
Hence similarly, today we have to start talking about a future concept then only it will be prototyped after few years, researched & then produced with better engines, etc as technology with time progresses.
Moreover again, we have T/W constraint today but may not be after 10 years & AMCA also has so many design iterations
The 1st protoype can be called MK1 on track as usual, without SWB.
AMCA MK2 with stronger engines may evolve to have SWB.
The navy also knows the reality that a true 5th Gen Naval-AMCA with 75KN engine won't fly anytime before 2040.
And that's why it is important to start talking about it today to bring that timeline closer, that's what i'm trying to do.
Every OEM country has initial & then modified variants, like USA has A/B then C/D then E/F, we can also have something similar. Nobody can remain stubborn that "this exhibition model is final design & won't evolve in next 5/10/15 years"