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News18
09-07-2025
- General
- News18
Jaguar Fighter Aircraft: 3 Crashes Since March, 50+ Mishaps In 45 Years, Time To Phase Out The Jets?
Jaguar Fighter Aircraft Crash: Inducted in IAF in 1979 and crucial in Kargil war, some feel India should phase out the jets, just like Britain and France, others disagree Jaguar Fighter Aircraft Crash: Wednesday's Jaguar fighter aircraft crash near Bhanuda village in Rajasthan's Churu district, which killed two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots, has given rise to one question – Is it time to phase out the jets? This was the third crash involving the aircraft since March this year. According to media reports, this fleet of aircraft has suffered over 50 major and minor incidents in its 45-year service with the IAF, some of which have been fatal. When were Jaguar fighter aircraft inducted? The SEPECAT Jaguar is a twin-engine, ground-attack aircraft primarily designed for deep penetration strike missions, especially against high-value ground targets in contested airspace. The IAF received its first Jaguars in 1979. The first squadron to be equipped with Jaguars was No. 14 Squadron, also known as the 'Bulls', based at Ambala Air Force Station. India initially purchased the Jaguars under the name Shamsher in IAF service. The aircraft were manufactured under licence by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India. The Indian Air Force currently operates approximately 115 to 120 SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft across six squadrons. However, only about 83 of these are fully operational as of April 2025. Were Jaguars used during Kargil War? Are Jaguar aircraft easy to maintain? Around 50+ crashes have been recorded, with roughly 65 aircraft lost by 2015. Each flight hour demands around 20 hours of upkeep. An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan, today. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the accident. No damage to any civil property has been deeply regrets the loss of lives and… — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 9, 2025 What was the cause of Jaguar aircraft crashes? According to experts, many of the crashes involving the Jaguar fighter jets were a result of failures in the Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 804 and Mk 811 engines. Experts say that one of the biggest concerns with these engines is the thrust output, which is inadequate in India's hot-and-high flying conditions, especially from forward air bases near the Himalayas. Moreover, the availability of spare parts for the Mk 804/811 engines has become a serious logistical bottleneck. Should Jaguar aircraft be phased out? Yes, says one expert Tim Davis, a former Royal Air Force instructor in an IRDW report, stated, 'Even with engine and avionics upgrades, you still face issues with airframe fatigue. There's only so much of an aircraft you can replace. It comes down this: even one pilot death is a tragedy. And the older the aircraft gets, the higher the risks." 'Jaguar could be retained longer': Expert explains why and how Military analyst and retired Jaguar pilot squadron leader Vijainder K Thakur, wrote in EurAsian Times last September, 'One reason why the Jaguar has remained relevant is that the IAF has adopted the fighter for medium-altitude stand-off strikes." According to Thakur, since its initial induction, the IAF has continuously upgraded the Jaguar to improve its stand-off attack, strike range, and target acquisition capabilities. Thakur wrote that these upgrades, referred to as DARIN (Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation) upgrades, were done in three phases: DARIN-1, DARIN-2, and DARIN-3. 'Clearly, the Jaguar is now a potent platform despite being somewhat underpowered. It could be retained in service longer than currently projected to prevent the unacceptable depletion of IAF fighter aircraft inventory. Indeed, that may well be the case," wrote Thakur. 'However, longer service retention could only be achieved by reducing the aircraft's monthly flying hours," he suggested. Does the IAF plan to phase out Jaguar jets? The IAF is expected to begin phasing out its older Jaguar models 2027-28 onwards. But amid delays in acquiring the HAL Tejas Mk2, Rafale, and Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, it will have to extend the life of these outdated planes. The complete phasing out is scheduled by 2035-2040, according to media reports. Do other countries fly Jaguar jets? Countries like Britain, France, Ecuador, Nigeria and Oman, which once had Jaguars in their fleet, have retired them long ago, with some have been put on display in air museums. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Indian Air Force (IAF) jaguar Jaguar fighter jet Jaguars view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 09, 2025, 19:19 IST News explainers Jaguar Fighter Aircraft: 3 Crashes Since March, 50+ Mishaps In 45 Years, Time To Phase Out The Jets? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
15-06-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Meet this star cricketer, MS Dhoni fan, Hanuman bhakt and son of Army man who fought..., his name is…
In a country like India, where dreams of becoming a cricketer flourish in every street and locality, Dhruv Jurel's story is somewhat different. His father served the country in the Kargil war, and now the son is making the country proud by wearing the Indian jersey. Earlier people knew his father by name, now people say - "That's Dhruv's father," and on hearing this, pride is visible on their faces and gratitude in their eyes. Dhruv's father never thought that his son would become a cricketer. The financial situation was not good, and his dream was that his son would pass the NDA and join the army. But when Dhruv insisted on a cricket kit and told his mother that he would leave home, his mother's heart melted. That very day she sold her gold chain and the first cricket kit was bought in exchange for it. After getting the kit, Dhruv did not say a single word, he just started practicing. He won every award in the college tournament – Man of the Match, Man of the Series, Best Catch and many more. There were so many awards that his father had to bring them on his scooty. That very day, the father realized that his son is on the right path, and since then he has stood by Dhruv in every ups and downs. When Dhruv got his first IPL contract from Rajasthan Royals and got a sum of ₹20 lakh, the first thing he remembered was the day when his mother sold her jewelry. He bought new gold for his mother and gifted it to her after making her close her eyes. The mother was surprised and the son said – "Mummy, I will never forget that day. Now I will do more for you." Dhruv's real cricket journey started from Springdale Cricket Academy, where his coach Parvendra Yadav saw him batting for the first time. His shots and timing impressed the coach and he decided that he would train Dhruv. Like the son of a soldier, Dhruv had discipline, hard work and punctuality. Dhruv is not only a great cricketer, but also a great devotee of Bajrangbali. Every morning before practice, he goes to the Hanuman temple located in front of the academy to seek blessings. Even after winning the match, he is hailed - "Bajrang Bali ki Jai." Even today, when he comes to Agra, he spends time with children and plays cricket with them. Dhruv Jurel considers former captain MS Dhoni as his idol. Be it wicketkeeping or calm behavior on the field - Jurel is preparing himself like Dhoni. Just like his father served the country, Dhruv is also bringing glory to the country on the field. Today the whole of Agra, and the country, sees him not just as a cricketer, but as an inspiration.
The Print
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
India's ‘1st surgical strike' was under Modi—Shashi Tharoor's remarks in Panama draw Congress fury
'What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay. On that, let there be no doubt. When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launch pad, the Uri strike,' Tharoor said. Tharoor's remarks, made in a speech to a gathering of the Indian community in Panama City, deepened his growing rift with the Congress, which was already upset over him accepting the Centre's invitation to lead a multi-party delegation on Operation Sindoor to various world capitals including Panama City and Washington among others. New Delhi: The Congress leadership Wednesday endorsed a statement of party leader Udit Raj that Shashi Tharoor should become the 'super spokesperson of BJP'. This came after the four-time MP's remarks in Panama that India crossed the Line of Control to carry out surgical strikes on a terror base 'for the first time' under the Narendra Modi government in 2016. 'Even during the Kargil war we had not crossed the LoC, in Uri we did. Then came the attack in Pulwama…this time we crossed not only the LoC but the international border and we struck terrorist headquarters in Balakot,' the Thiruvananthapuram MP said. He went on to add that Operation Sindoor was New Delhi's way of signalling a new normal. 'This time we have gone not only beyond the LoC and the International Border, we have struck at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, training centres, terror headquarters in nine places in both Punjab and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. And let me say to you that this is going to be the new normal. The PM has made it very clear that Operation Sindoor was necessary because these terrorists came and wiped the sindoor off the foreheads of 26 women.' Congress's media and publicity department chairperson Pawan Khera took to social media to make it clear that the party leadership had taken umbrage to Tharoor's remarks. He shared a news report on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that the Congress-led UPA government had also carried out surgical strikes. 'Former PM Manmohan Singh: Many Surgical Strikes Conducted Under UPA….CC @ShashiTharoor,' Khera posted on X. The post was shared by many Congress leaders including the party's general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh. My dear @ShashiTharoor Alas ! I could prevail upon PM Modi to declare you as super spokesperson of BJP , even declaring as foreign minister before landing in India . How could you denigrate the golden history of Congress by saying that before PM Modi , India never crossed LOC… — Dr. Udit Raj (@Dr_Uditraj) May 28, 2025 Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive…. — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 28, 2025 In an interview to the Hindustan Times in 2019, Singh, who died in December last year, had said: '…our armed forces were always given a free hand to operationally respond to every threat. Multiple surgical strikes took place during our tenure too. For us, military operations were meant for strategic deterrence and giving a befitting reply to anti-India forces than to be used for vote garnering exercises.' Khera also posted a picture on X, tagging Tharoor, showing officers of 4 Sikh Regiment posing outside a captured Pakistani police station in Burki, Lahore District, during the 1965 war. 'This image is from the Battle of Burki (also known as the Battle of Lahore, 1965), a significant engagement during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, fought between Indian infantry units and Pakistani armoured forces. Burki is a village located southeast of Lahore, near the India-Pakistan border, approximately 11 km from Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport, connected to the city by a bridge over the Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal. CC @ShashiTharoor,' wrote Khera. Officers of 4 Sikh Regiment posing outside a captured Pakistani police station in Burki, Lahore District. This image is from the Battle of Burki (also known as the Battle of Lahore, 1965), a significant engagement during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, fought between Indian… — Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) May 28, 2025 Congress leader Udit Raj took on Tharoor more directly, accusing him of being 'dishonest' to the party. 'Alas! I could prevail upon PM Modi to declare you as super spokesperson of BJP, even declaring as foreign minister before landing in India. How could you denigrate the golden history of Congress by saying that before PM Modi, India never crossed the LoC and International Border…How could you be so dishonest to the party which gave you so much ?' Raj posted on X. Both Ramesh and Khera shared Raj's post. (Edited by Gitanjali Das) Also Read: What if Congress loses Tharoor? Rahul Gandhi is preparing for a re-do of Punjab in Kerala
NDTV
28-05-2025
- General
- NDTV
Footprints In The Sand: How Pagis' Unique Skill Helped Gujarat During Op Sindoor
They can identify the enemy just by seeing footprints in the white desert sand in Kutch, and technical advancements may have been made, but security forces continue to depend on them for their expertise, including during Operation Sindoor. The unique skill has been perfected by the 'Pagis' (meaning scouts), local residents who walk barefoot in the white desert, their eyes focused on patterns in the vast landscape, noticing even a slight disturbance. After the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor with precision strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan on May 7. Pakistan then targeted civilian and military sites in India on three successive days, prompting India to strike back and attack military installations, including key air bases. Along with other border states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan, Gujarat was also targeted by Pakistan, and the services of Pagis were mobilised by the authorities. Gujarat shares a 508-km border with Pakistan. The land border between the two countries is mostly the Rann of Kutch, a massive salt marsh in the Thar Desert that is difficult for security forces to patrol. Additionally, over half a dozen districts in the state share a sea border with the neighbouring country. Officials from the Border Security Force and Gujarat Police said the skills of the Pagis have been utilised during peacetime - when they help thwart the smuggling of drugs and other contraband - and during phases of tensions with Pakistan, including 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war - and the escalation after Operation Sindoor was no different. Pagis use their extraordinary skill and instinct to locate not only places in the desert without any maps but people and animals in a group - guessing their weight, height and even gender - by merely seeing the footprints of both camels and humans. "Naturally, they make the most coveted and unparalleled 'soldiers' on the line of defence," an official said. "We used all our resources, including the Pagis, during Operation Sindoor. We have a sufficient number of Pagis in the border areas, who work for us during peacetime as well. Pagis are experienced, and though some may have retired from our services, we still depend on them for their expertise. They help track the intruders in the border areas," said Vikas Kunda, Superintendent of Police, Kutch West. The Pagis, the officials said, helped them be sure that there were no enemies - terrorists or otherwise - entering Gujarat from the Pakistani side. The Gujarat Police have a post called Pagi and 25 Pagis were recruited by the force in a single year in 2014. Their numbers have only increased since then. The Pagis also serve as guides to the Border Security Force. The BSF conducts extensive patrolling on 168 km of the Pakistani border, where fencing is not feasible. This is where the skills of the Pagi prove especially useful - many Pakistani drug smugglers have been arrested or killed in these areas and drugs worth crores have been seized because of the information provided by them. History Ranchhor Das Rabari, a scout and tracker who helped the Army on the India-Pakistan border at Kutch in 1971, was immortalised by Sanjay Dutt in the Hindi movie 'Bhuj: The Pride of India', which also starred Ajay Devgn. General Sam Manekshaw bestowed the title of Pagi on Ranchhor Rabari for being a scout for the Army since 1965. The title was a mark of respect and authority, recognising his knowledge and unique skills. The Gujarat State School Textbook Board introduced a chapter on Ranchhor Pagi in its Gujarati subject textbook for Class 7 for the 2023-24 academic year. There is also a Ranchhor Das checkpost at the Kutch border named after him. Osman Abdulla Namori, a 71-year-old Paggi, retired from the Gujarat Police two years ago, but his services were called upon during the recent tensions. "My eyes have become weak. But they are still trained to identify the trespasser in the sands. I also help detect thieves and criminals in my area in Nana Dinara (near Khavda village in Kutch district)." About passing on his skills to the younger generation, he says, "My children didn't have the potential to take up my profession. But other youngsters in my village have been inspired. It requires extraordinary skill to read the little nuances from marks in the desert. Not everyone has it," says Namori.
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Delhi HC refuses to entertain plea to form Gujjar regiment in Indian Army
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation seeking direction to the Centre for the formation of a Gujjar regiment in the Indian Army. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela termed the PIL to be "absolutely divisive" and asked the counsel for the petitioner to do some research before taking up such petitions. Sensing the court's mood which warned of imposing costs on the litigant, the petitioner's counsel withdrew the plea. "After arguing at some length, the counsel for the petitioner states that she has instructions from the petitioner who is present in the court to withdraw the petition. The same is dismissed as withdrawn, the bench said. The court was hearing a PIL by one Rohan Basoya, claiming that the Gujjar community has a well-documented history of bravery, having participated in various wars, including the 1857 revolt, Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, Kargil war (1999) and counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. "Despite this rich martial legacy, they (Gujjars) have not been accorded a dedicated regiment, unlike other martial communities such as Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, Gorkhas, and Dogras," the plea said. It added that the Indian Army has historically maintained ethnic-based regiments, recognising the contributions of specific communities to national defence. However, the exclusion of Gujjars from the system creates an imbalance in representation and violates their constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, the petition submitted. The plea submitted that establishment of a Gujjar regiment would provide equal opportunities, increase recruitment, and would strengthen national security. The demand for a Gujjar Regiment has been raised before, yet no concrete steps have been taken by the government. Given the community's presence in border regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, a Gujjar Regiment would also serve strategic military interests in counter-insurgency and border security operations, it said. The plea sought to direct the government to conduct a study on the feasibility of forming a Gujjar regiment and to implement necessary measures for its establishment. During the hearing, the bench orally said, "Please understand that you are seeking a mandamus. What is the prerequisite for mandamus? There has to be a right vested in you either by any statute or any law or the Constitution. Which is the law which gives you a right to have such a regiment? Where is that right?" It asked the petitioner's counsel which provision of the Constitution or any other enactment or customary law gives the right to have a regiment of persons of a particular community. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
