Indian Military

Capable of delivering nuclear weapons, the Jaguars were first inducted into the IAF from Britain in 1979 and subsequently manufactured by HAL under licence to meet a requirement for a deep penetration strike aircraft

(DPSA), the Jaguar has served with the IAF for over 20 years with the first of 18 'on loan' aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF) entering service in July 1979. These consisted of 16 Jaguar GR.1 (Interim) and 2 Jaguar T.2 (Interim) aircraft. Two of these aircraft were lost in service and one aircraft was used for research & development of the DARIN avionics suite and the installation of the over-wing MATRA Magic air-to-air missile. The IAF received its first of 35 Jaguar IS and 5 Jaguar IB aircraft in 1981 from BAe and the remaining RAF aircraft were returned during 1982 - 1984, with one of the trainers being sold to Oman by either BAe or the RAF. Licensed production at HAL, saw the IAF receiving another 58 Jaguar IS, 10 Jaguar IB and 12 Jaguar IM maritime attack aircraft. An additional 15 strike aircraft were ordered in 1993 and the last three aircraft were delivered to the IAF by 1999. Some sources suggest that these aircraft are actually a combination of strike and maritime attack variants. French and Israeli companies are also part of the upgradation programme. Advanced radars, navigation, weapon and electronic warfare systems and precision-guided munitions have been fitted with these deep penetration aircraft which are poised to augment the capabilities of the blue force.

Design and Development

The Jaguar program began in the early 1960s, in response to a British requirement (AST 362) for an advanced supersonic jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat T.1 and Hawker Hunter T.7, and a French need for a cheap, subsonic dual role trainer and light attack aircraft with good short field performance to replace the Fouga Magister, T-33 Shooting Star and Dassault Mystère IV. After development started, both the French and British trainer requirement changed and were eventually fulfilled instead by the Alpha Jet and Hawker Siddeley Hawk respectively. In the meantime, the RAF created a new requirement for the Jaguar, to replace the Phantom FGR.2 in the close air support, tactical reconnaissance and tactical strike roles. In addition, a carrier-capable version to replace the French Aeronavale's Dassault Etendard IV was specified. From these apparently disparate aims would come a single and entirely different aircraft: relatively high-tech, supersonic, and optimised for ground attack in a high-threat environment. . Cross-channel negotiations led to the formation of SEPECAT (Société Européenne de Production de l'Avion d'École de Combat et d'Appui Tactique - the European company for the production of a combat trainer and tactical support aircraft) in 1966 as a joint venture between Bréguet—now Dassault Aviation—and the British Aircraft Corporation to produce the airframe, and a separate teaming of Rolls-Royce and Turboméca to develop the Adour afterburning turbofan engine. Though based in part on the Breguet Br.121, using the same basic configuration and an innovative French designed landing gear, the Jaguar as built also incorporated major elements designed by BAC - notably the wing and high lift devices. The first of eight prototypes flew on September 8, 1968. It was an orthodox single-seat, swept-wing, twin-engine design but with tall landing gear. It had a maximum take-off weight in the 15 tonne class and could manage a combat radius on internal fuel alone of 850 km. Maximum speed was Mach 1.6 (Mach 1.1 at sea level) and hardpoints were fitted for an external weapons load of up to 10,000 lb (4,500 kg).

Contracts have been signed with French (Sextant) and Israeli (Elta) companies to upgrade the avionics of the 'strike' Jaguars and the 35 BAe-built, NAVWASS-equipped Jaguars will be the first batch of aircraft to undergo the upgrade. These aircraft will also be fitted with a MIL-STD-1553B digital databus, like the HAL-built aircraft, and have bus-compatible line-replaceable units.

Apart from this, all IAF Jaguars will receive the same upgrades. Some piecemeal modifications, however have already been incorporated. The Composite Material Research Laboratory (CMRL) in Hyderabad reportedly developed 'stealth' enhancements for fighter aircraft and these had been test flown on a Jaguar, producing a 70% reduction in radar cross-section (RCS) for a 110 lb (50 kg) weight penalty. It was reported that the modifications were being adopted on a number of combat aircraft and two Jaguar strike squadrons are among them.

There is expected to be an addition of the wide-angle holographic El-Op HUD with a field of view of 30º x 22º (compared to the current HUD's 22º x 18º) and compatible with FLIR or raster video imagery. Jaguar is also receiving a new head down display which will be capable of displaying a digital moving map, forward looking infra-red (FLIR) or video imagery, and perhaps even electronic checklists and terminal approach plates. Consequently, a new Sextant MFD 66 active matrix liquid crystal display is to replace the projected map display fitted to NAVWASS-equipped Jaguars and the COMED fitted to the DARIN-equipped Jaguars. There is also a new video-based HUD camera (replacing a film-based camera) and a multi-channel digital video color recorder which will allow the HUD, moving map display and other imagery to be recorded simultaneously. Navigational accuracy will be enhanced through the addition of an INS-RLG with embedded GPS and later perhaps, by the addition of a terrain reference navigation system (TRNS).

The modifications are thought to be only the first phase of what may be a multi-stage upgrade. The second phase could include the long-planned replacement radar for the maritime variant, new stores management system, new utility services management system and new central warning panel, plus fleet wide 'stealth' radar cross-section reduction measures. A third phase would include installation of carbon brakes, FADEC (full authority digital engine control), new air data system, and escape system improvements - notably a new parachute in the ejection seat. These upgrades are expected to keep the Jaguar in service well beyond 2010 (probably even up to 2020), with further new-build aircraft augmenting the existing aircraft.

Operational History

India

By the mid-80s, the Jaguar was in service with Nos. 5, 14, 16 and 27 Squadrons while a flight of No.6 Squadron was equipped with the Maritime Jaguar carrying the new generation Sea Eagle anti-ship sea-skimming missile. The Jaguar strike fighter was equipped also with Magic air-to-air missiles on unique overwing pylons, featured advanced nay-attack systems and able to carry formidable warload till the far ends of the sub-continent.Jaguars saw service during Kargil War with the Indian Air Force.

The Jaguars were the first type of Indian aircraft that had flown overseas. The Indian Air Force deployed them in an overseas exercise, Cope Thunder in Alaska, USA.

Nine upgraded twin-seater Jaguar fighters were inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF) on 15 July 2005 at a ceremony held at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore. Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee handed over the aircraft to Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi. The aircraft were upgraded by HAL.

Abroad

The Jaguar saw combat during the first Gulf War of 1991, with the Armée de l'Air and RAF, the Balkan wars with the RAF and the Kosovo War with the Armée de l'Air. However, during the 1991 Gulf War, the RAF Jaguars were "paired" with Buccaneers, which had already been upgraded with TIALD.

The Ecuadorian Air Force, the only American export customer used them mainly for ground attack roles and ocassionaly for air superiority duties during the Cenepa War with Peru in 1995, but the main part of the fleet was held on reserve in case of a wider conflict with the Peruvians.

The RAF Jaguar aircraft flew their last operational sorties on April 30, 2007 when it ceased to be a deployable force element and when No.6 Squadron "down-declared", though flying continued. At least two aircraft continued to fly with QinetiQ at Boscombe Down after No.6 Squadron's withdrawal. On 20 December 2007, a Jaguar undertook the last ever British military Jaguar flight.

Replacement

The aircraft has been updated several times and remains in front-line service with India.India plans to replace its Jaguar fleet with the Medium Combat Aircraft under development by HAL/ADA consortium.

India is modernizing its current Jaguar fleet and also placed an order for 37 additional upgraded Jaguar aircrafts from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in 1999. The Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA) is expected to enter mass production in 2015 and will replace India's Jaguar fleet. The Indian Air Force, which operates two different types of Rolls Royce/Turbomeca engines, Mk804E and Mk811 (produced under license by HAL) will possibly be upgrading their Mk811 engines to the Mk821 which will combine a number of thrust and reliability improvements gained from the RAF Jaguar experience in the last 5 years. This will allow the Indian Air Force to have a more capable aircraft at medium and high level sortie profiles where most of the flying is carried out. The engines may also share similar components to the Adour Mk871 which has been fitted to the Indian Air Force Hawk supplied by BAES.

Variants

Indian

• Jaguar IS : Single-seat all-weather tactical strike, ground-attack fighter for the Indian Air Force, 35 built by BAe and 99 built by HAL.
• Jaguar IT : Two-seat training version for the Indian Air Force, 3 built by BAe and 29 built by HAL.
• Jaguar IM : Single-seat maritime anti-shipping aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Fitted with Agave radar and capable of carrying Sea Eagle anti-ship missile, 12 built.

Foreign

• Jaguar A : Single-seat all-weather tactical strike, ground-attack fighter version for the French Air Force, two prototypes and 160 production aircraft built.
• Jaguar B or Jaguar T.Mk 2 : Two-seat training version for the RAF, one prototype and 38 production aircraft built.
  • Jaguar T.Mk 2A : Jaguar T.Mk 2 upgrade similar to GR.Mk 1A (see below), 14 conversions from T2.
  • Jaguar T.Mk 2B : two Jaguar T.Mk 2A aircraft given TIALD capability.
  • Jaguar T.Mk 4 : Jaguar T.Mk 2A upgraded to Jaguar 96 standard.
• Jaguar E : Two-seat training version for the French Air Force, two prototypes and 40 production aircraft built.
• Jaguar S or Jaguar GR.Mk 1 : Single-seat all-weather tactical strike, ground-attack fighter version for the RAF, 165 built.
  • Jaguar GR.Mk 1A : Jaguar GR.Mk 1 with navigation, chaff/flare, ECM and Sidewinder capability upgrades, 75 conversions from GR1.
  • Jaguar GR.Mk 1B : Ten GR.Mk 1 aircraft modified to carry TIALD pods.
  • Jaguar GR.Mk 3 : Jaguar 96 avionics upgrade to GR.Mk 1A/B.
  • Jaguar GR.Mk 3A : Jaguar 97 avionics upgrade to GR.Mk 3.

• Jaguar M : Single-seat naval strike prototype for the French Navy, one built.
• Jaguar Active Control Technology : One Jaguar converted into a research aircraft.
• Jaguar International : Export versions based on either the Jaguar S or Jaguar B.
  • Jaguar ES : Export version of the Jaguar S for the Ecuadorian Air Force, ten built.
  • Jaguar EB : Export version of the Jaguar B for the Ecuadorian Air Force, two built.
  • Jaguar OS : Export version of the Jaguar S for the Royal Air Force of Oman, 20 built.
  • Jaguar OB : Export version of the Jaguar B for the Royal Air Force of Oman, 4 built
  • Jaguar SN : Export version of the Jaguar S for the Nigerian Air Force, 13 built
  • Jaguar BN : Export version of the Jaguar B for the Nigerian Air Force, five built.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 16.83 m (55 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 8.69 m (28 ft 6 in)
• Height: 4.92 m (16 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 24 m² (258 ft²)
• Empty weight: 7,000 kg (15,400 lb)
• Loaded weight: 11,000 kg (24,250 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 15,700 kg (34,600 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 102 turbofans, 32.5 kN (7,305 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,593 km/h or 1055 miles/h (Mach 1.6)
• Range: 535 km combat, 3,525 km ferry (335 mi / 2,190 mi)
• Service ceiling: 14,000 m (46,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.60

Armament

• Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) ADEN cannons OR DEFA cannons, 150 rounds/gun
• Rockets: 8× Matra rocket pods with 18× SNEB 68 mm rockets each
• Missiles: 2× AIM-9 Sidewinders OR Matra R550 Magics on overwing pylons (Jaguar International and RAF Jaguars only)
• Bombs: 10,000 lb (4,540 kg) of payload on five external hardpoints, including a variety of bombs, reconnaissance pods (such as the Joint Reconnaissance Pod), Drop tanks or the Anglo-French AS-37 Martel missiles

Operators

India

• Indian Air Force
  • No. 5 Squadron 'Tuskers', IAF Ambala ( Jaguar IS, IB ) from August 1981
  • No. 6 Squadron 'Dragons', IAF Jamnagar ( Jaguar IM, IS, IB ) from 1987
  • No. 14 Squadron 'Bulls', IAF Ambala ( Jaguar IS, IB ) from March 1981
  • No. 16 Squadron 'Rattlers', IAF Gorakhpur ( Jaguar IS, IB ) from October 1986
  • No. 27 Squadron 'Flaming Arrows', IAF Gorakhpur ( Jaguar IS, IB ) from June 1985

Ecuador

• Ecuadorian Air Force - all now in storage awaiting sale
  • Escuadron de Combate 2111 'Aguilas' (Eagles)

France

• Armée de l'Air - all withdrawn
  • Escadron de Chasse 1/7 'Provence' at St Dizier
  • Escadron de Chasse 2/7 'Argonne' at St Dizier
  • Escadron de Chasse 3/7 'Languedoc' at St Dizier
  • Escadron de Chasse 4/7 'Limousin' at St Dizier
  • Escadron de Chasse 1/11 'Roussillon' at Toul
  • Escadron de Chasse 2/11 'Vosges' at Toul
  • Escadron de Chasse 3/11 'Corse' at Toul
  • Escadron de Chasse 4/11 'Jura' at Toul (1978-1992)
  • Escadron de Chasse 3/3 'Ardennes' at Mérignac (1977-1987)

Nigeria(retired)

• Nigerian Air Force (13 Jaguar SNs & 5 Jaguar BNs)(75 Strike Group?, Makurdi, 1984-91, now retired)

Oman

• Royal Air Force of Oman (20 Jaguar OSs & 4 Jaguar OBs)
  • No. 8 Squadron RAFO at RAFO Thumrayt
  • No. 20 Squadron RAFO at RAFO Thumrayt

United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force - all withdrawn
  • No. 2 Squadron 1976-1988 at RAF Laarbruch (strike/recce)
  • No. 6 Squadron at RAF Coltishall, later RAF Coningsby(attack)
  • No. 14 Squadron 1974-1985 at RAF Bruggen (strike)
  • No. 16 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth, later Coltishall (OCU)
  • No. 17 Squadron 1975-1985 at RAF Bruggen (strike)
  • No. 20 Squadron 1977-1984 at RAF Bruggen (strike)
  • No. 31 Squadron 1976-1984 at RAF Bruggen (strike)
  • No. 41 Squadron at RAF Coltishall (recce/attack)
  • No. 54 Squadron at RAF Coltishall (attack)
  • No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Lossiemouth (OCU)
  • Jaguar Conversion Team at RAF Lossiemouth (initial OCU)

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