On December 2, 2025, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi highlighted the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) program’s strategic imperative during the Indian Navy’s annual press conference at Kota House in New Delhi, indicating imminent government approval as the Aeronautical Development Agency nears Critical Design Review completion by 2026. Developed to replace the aging MiG-29K fleet on INS Vikrant and Vikramaditya, the HAL-produced TEDBF features twin GE-F414 engines, advanced stealth via diverterless supersonic inlets, AESA radar, and multi-role capabilities for STOBAR carriers, with prototypes slated post-Cabinet Committee on Security clearance by 2027 and induction by 2038. Seeking ₹14,000 crore funding, this atmanirbhar initiative counters China’s J-35 and PLA Navy expansion, bolstering India’s carrier strike groups for enhanced power projection and deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region amid rising maritime threats.