Latest news with #SEPECAT
Mint
5 days ago
- General
- Mint
IAF Jet Crash: 5 reasons India's ageing Jaguars refuse to retire — even after 50 years
IAF Jet Crash: Two pilots were killed after a SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Churu in Rajasthan on July 9. This was the third mishap involving a Jaguar since March this year. On April 3, another Jaguar jet crashed in Gujarat's Jamnagar. Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav, the pilot of the aircraft, died in the crash. On March 7, an Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar ground attack fighter crashed near Haryana's Panchkula during a routine sortie. The recent crashes have raised concerns about the safety of India's ageing Jaguar combat fleet, which has been operational for five decades now. Many wonder why these vintage warbirds in the 1960s and inducted into the IAF in 1970s have not been retired. Today, the IAF is the world's only air force that continues to operate some six squadrons of the Anglo-French twin-engine Jaguar variants. Countries like the UK, France, Oman, and Nigeria retired their Jaguar fighter jets long ago. In fact, these ageing fighter jets are expected to continue in service in India until at least 2040. But why? Here are 5 reasons: The first batch of 40 Jaguars, known as Shamsher, was inducted into the IAF in fly-away condition beginning in 1979 and delivered in 1981. Another 100 were license-built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 2008. Overall, the IAF has inducted about 160 Jaguars of different variants over the years. These include the single-seat strike fighter Jaguar IS, the two-seat trainer Jaguar IB, and the naval version Jaguar IM. According to reports, about 115 are still in service. India has not had much success procuring new aircraft. Amid delays in acquiring the HAL Tejas Mk2, Rafale, and Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, it has little choice but to extend the life of these outdated planes. 'India is flying Jaguars because we have no other choice. We don't make any aircraft, we only have to buy. The process of buying and selecting is cumbersome. We are also short of squadrons. We are supposed to have 40 + and we are down to about 30. Jaguar like other aircraft has crashed. I would not call it very dangerous,' Wing Commander Praful Bakshi (Retd) told a TV channel after the April crash. So under these circumstances, IAF has not been able to phase out the old war machines. Ever since their induction, Jaguars have undergone multiple upgrades to improve stand-off attack, strike range, and target acquisition capabilities. Military analyst and retired Jaguar pilot squadron leader Vijainder K Thakur wrote in September last year that these upgrades, referred to as DARIN (Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation) were done in three phases: DARIN-1, DARIN-2, and DARIN-3. The Inertial Nav-Attack System Integration Organisation (IIO), a multiagency unit established by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), IAF, and HAL, first built the DARIN system in the 1980s. In 2008, for example, HAL, the state-owned military plane maker, decided to upgrade 68 so-called 'deep penetration' Jaguar fighters with modern avionics in a contract valued at more than ₹ 2,400 crore, which will increase the fighter planes' life and efficacy. Some reports suggested, the IAF is expected to begin phasing out its older Jaguar models after 2027-28. The complete phasing out is scheduled by 2035-2040. 'One reason why the Jaguar has remained relevant is that the IAF has adopted the fighter for medium-altitude stand-off strikes. We will look at the Jaguar's medium altitude strike capability later in this narrative,' Thakur wrote in EurAsian Times. According to media reports, Jaguars have been involved in over 50 accidents, including recent ones, over the years. Past probes into mishaps pointed to engine failure, raising questions about the longevity of these warbirds. At times, analysts linked their 'under-powered' Rolls-Royce-Turbomecca Adour Mk811 engines to the mishaps. Despite the underpowered engine, which is prone to failures and manual errors, the Jaguar is known for its utility at lower altitudes. Even today, it remains a capable fighter jet in its designated 'deep penetration' role. Thakur argues that the Russia-Ukraine conflict emphasised the continued relevance of a fighter jet like the Jaguar. The conflict has illustrated that low-level penetration of contested airspace by attack aircraft is far safer than medium-altitude penetration because of the widespread use of and increased capabilities of air defence systems, he wrote. In India, during the Kargil War in 1999, the SEPECAT Jaguar played a significant role, particularly in reconnaissance and precision strikes. Jaguars were used for both reconnaissance and bombing missions then. In May, during Operation Sindoor, Jaguars were reportedly used for long-range air-to-air engagement with the Pakistan Air Force as well as striking air bases deep in the country, according to a report in the Indian Express The Jaguar is considered an economical and easy-to-maintain fighter plane compared to more modern-day war machines. According to experts, an engine change is possible in only 30 minutes, allowing for quick turnaround times during intensive operations. Also, for years, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has been planning to 're-engine' the Jaguars with the US-made Honeywell F-125 turbofan engine . However, the plan was scrapped in August 2109, perhaps, due to the high cost. The availability of spare parts for the Jaguar's MK 811 engines has also emerged as an issue over the years, with the jets being scrapped elsewhere. In 2018, however, the IAF acquired 40-odd decommissioned aircraft and cannibalised them for spares. This would also keep Jaguar combat-ready for the foreseeable future. 'Even with engine and avionics upgrades, you still face issues with airframe fatigue. There's only so much of an aircraft you can replace,'saidTim Davis, a former Royal Air Force instructor in an Indian Defence Research Wing report in April this year. In 2024, the Ministry of Defence approached the UK to transfer nine Jaguar aircraft that are no longer in service with the European country, along with a cache of spares. Experts like Thakur, however, suggest that retiring IAF Jaguars should not be phased out for now. They say the Jaguar phaseout plan could affect the IAF's operational capability, considering the relentless depletion of its fighter inventory. 'It could be retained in service longer than currently projected to prevent the unacceptable depletion of IAF fighter aircraft inventory,' wrote Thakur.
Mint
5 days ago
- General
- Mint
IAF Jet Crash: 5 reasons India's ageing Jaguars refuse to retire — even after 50 years
IAF Jet Crash: Two pilots were killed after a SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Churu in Rajasthan on July 9. This was the third mishap involving a Jaguar since March this year. On April 3, another Jaguar jet crashed in Gujarat's Jamnagar. Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav, the pilot of the aircraft, died in the crash. On March 7, an Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar ground attack fighter crashed near Haryana's Panchkula during a routine sortie. The recent crashes have raised concerns about the safety of India's ageing Jaguar combat fleet, which has been operational for five decades now. Many wonder why these vintage warbirds in the 1960s and inducted into the IAF in 1970s have not been retired. Today, the IAF is the world's only air force that continues to operate some six squadrons of the Anglo-French twin-engine Jaguar variants. Countries like the UK, France, Oman, and Nigeria retired their Jaguar fighter jets long ago. In fact, these ageing fighter jets are expected to continue in service in India until at least 2040. But why? Here are 5 reasons: The first batch of 40 Jaguars, known as Shamsher, was inducted into the IAF in fly-away condition beginning in 1979 and delivered in 1981. Another 100 were license-built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 2008. Overall, the IAF has inducted about 160 Jaguars of different variants over the years. These include the single-seat strike fighter Jaguar IS, the two-seat trainer Jaguar IB, and the naval version Jaguar IM. According to reports, about 115 are still in service. India has not had much success procuring new aircraft. Amid delays in acquiring the HAL Tejas Mk2, Rafale, and Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, it has little choice but to extend the life of these outdated planes. 'India is flying Jaguars because we have no other choice. We don't make any aircraft, we only have to buy. The process of buying and selecting is cumbersome. We are also short of squadrons. We are supposed to have 40 + and we are down to about 30. Jaguar like other aircraft has crashed. I would not call it very dangerous,' Wing Commander Praful Bakshi (Retd) told a TV channel after the April crash. So under these circumstances, IAF has not been able to phase out the old war machines. Ever since their induction, Jaguars have undergone multiple upgrades to improve stand-off attack, strike range, and target acquisition capabilities. Military analyst and retired Jaguar pilot squadron leader Vijainder K Thakur wrote in September last year that these upgrades, referred to as DARIN (Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation) were done in three phases: DARIN-1, DARIN-2, and DARIN-3. The Inertial Nav-Attack System Integration Organisation (IIO), a multiagency unit established by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), IAF, and HAL, first built the DARIN system in the 1980s. In 2008, for example, HAL, the state-owned military plane maker, decided to upgrade 68 so-called 'deep penetration' Jaguar fighters with modern avionics in a contract valued at more than ₹ 2,400 crore, which will increase the fighter planes' life and efficacy. Some reports suggested, the IAF is expected to begin phasing out its older Jaguar models after 2027-28. The complete phasing out is scheduled by 2035-2040. 'One reason why the Jaguar has remained relevant is that the IAF has adopted the fighter for medium-altitude stand-off strikes. We will look at the Jaguar's medium altitude strike capability later in this narrative,' Thakur wrote in EurAsian Times. According to media reports, Jaguars have been involved in over 50 accidents, including recent ones, over the years. Past probes into mishaps pointed to engine failure, raising questions about the longevity of these warbirds. At times, analysts linked their 'under-powered' Rolls-Royce-Turbomecca Adour Mk811 engines to the mishaps. Despite the underpowered engine, which is prone to failures and manual errors, the Jaguar is known for its utility at lower altitudes. Even today, it remains a capable fighter jet in its designated 'deep penetration' role. Thakur argues that the Russia-Ukraine conflict emphasised the continued relevance of a fighter jet like the Jaguar. The conflict has illustrated that low-level penetration of contested airspace by attack aircraft is far safer than medium-altitude penetration because of the widespread use of and increased capabilities of air defence systems, he wrote. In India, during the Kargil War in 1999, the SEPECAT Jaguar played a significant role, particularly in reconnaissance and precision strikes. Jaguars were used for both reconnaissance and bombing missions then. In May, during Operation Sindoor, Jaguars were reportedly used for long-range air-to-air engagement with the Pakistan Air Force as well as striking air bases deep in the country, according to a report in the Indian Express The Jaguar is considered an economical and easy-to-maintain fighter plane compared to more modern-day war machines. According to experts, an engine change is possible in only 30 minutes, allowing for quick turnaround times during intensive operations. Also, for years, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has been planning to 're-engine' the Jaguars with the US-made Honeywell F-125 turbofan engine . However, the plan was scrapped in August 2109, perhaps, due to the high cost. The availability of spare parts for the Jaguar's MK 811 engines has also emerged as an issue over the years, with the jets being scrapped elsewhere. In 2018, however, the IAF acquired 40-odd decommissioned aircraft and cannibalised them for spares. This would also keep Jaguar combat-ready for the foreseeable future. 'Even with engine and avionics upgrades, you still face issues with airframe fatigue. There's only so much of an aircraft you can replace,'saidTim Davis, a former Royal Air Force instructor in an Indian Defence Research Wing report in April this year. In 2024, the Ministry of Defence approached the UK to transfer nine Jaguar aircraft that are no longer in service with the European country, along with a cache of spares. Experts like Thakur, however, suggest that retiring IAF Jaguars should not be phased out for now. They say the Jaguar phaseout plan could affect the IAF's operational capability, considering the relentless depletion of its fighter inventory. 'It could be retained in service longer than currently projected to prevent the unacceptable depletion of IAF fighter aircraft inventory,' wrote Thakur. Even with engine and avionics upgrades, you still face issues with airframe fatigue. There's only so much of an aircraft you can replace.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Churu crash: Why IAF continues to fly the vintage SEPECAT Jaguar
A SEPECAT Jaguar jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF), with two pilots on board, crashed in Ratangarh tehsil of Rajasthan's Churu district at around 12.30 pm on Wednesday (July 9). Both pilots were reportedly killed in the crash. This is the third crash involving the vintage fighter-bomber from this year alone: a Jaguar crashed in Ambala shortly after takeoff in March, and another jet crashed near Jamnagar in April. As per the database of the Aviation Safety network, at least 12 Jaguars have crashed over the last decade. Yet, the vintage jet developed in the 1960s and first inducted into the IAF in 1979 is expected to remain in service till around 2040. The IAF remains the only air force where the jet is still in service. Why? The Jaguar was the first ever fighter jet to be built in collaboration between two countries, according to the website of Dassault Aviation. It was a response to similar needs of both Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) and France's Armée de l'Air in the 1960s, and manufactured by SEPECAT, a joint venture between France's Breguet and the British Aircraft Corporation. Initially conceived as a jet trainer, the jet eventually ended up as a 'heavy tactical support aircraft' capable of supersonic performance and tactical nuclear strike roles. As per Dassault Aviation (which acquired Breguet in 1971), this in part due to the 'price-tag [being] incommensurable with original program specifications'. The Jaguar took off for the first time in 1968. The jet features a conventional swept wing design, has two underpowered Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour engines, two 30-mm cannons, and seven hardpoints, capable of carrying a variety of rockets, missiles, and guided or unguided bombs. It has a relatively low combat ceiling of 46,000 ft and a top speed of 1.6 Mach. The Jaguar has seen combat operations in Mauritania, Chad, Iraq, Bosnia, and Pakistan, and served as a ready nuclear delivery platform for the UK, France, and India. Over the years, the Jaguar was operated by France, the UK, Oman, Ecuador, Nigeria and India. After signing a $1 billion deal in 1978, the IAF received its first lot of Jaguars, on loan from the RAF, beginning in 1979. The first batch of 40 purpose-built Jaguars for the IAF were delivered in 1981. Licensed versions of the jet were produced by HAL for the IAF till as recently as 2008. In total, India has inducted more than 160 Jaguars of different variants, including the single-seat strike fighter Jaguar IS, the two-seat trainer Jaguar IB, and the naval version Jaguar IM. Of these, some 115 — 28 Jaguar IB, 79 Jaguar IS and 8 Jaguar IM — are still in service with the IAF, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' (IISS') The Military Balance, 2024. These aircraft have gone through multiple upgrades to enhance their capabilities, and extend their service life. That the IAF will keep these aircraft in service till 2040 is borne out of three main reasons. * The IAF has long struggled with procurement of newer aircraft. The development and delivery of HAL Tejas, which was supposed to replace a number of ageing platforms of the IAF including Jaguar and MiG-21 Bi, has been marred with a number of issues and faced constant delays. With its squadron strength down to only 31 (as against the sanctioned 42), the IAF simply is not in a position to phase out the Jaguar any time soon. As one opinion article in this newspaper put it: 'No credible indigenous fighter aircraft being delivered on time by HAL and no viable option available to import these platforms due to the government push to adhere to atmanirbharta.' This has meant that the IAF has to, for the time being, make do with what the aircraft it has, and extend their service life as much as possible until a more reliable pipeline for procurement and development of fighters is put in place. * The Jaguar remains a capable fighter jet in its designated 'deep penetration' role. It remains India's primary air-borne delivery mechanism of nuclear bombs, and thus an integral component of its nuclear triad. Despite having an underpowered engine which is prone to failures and manual errors, the jet performs well at lower altitudes. And with multiple improvements made to its dated avionics suite, radar systems, and other electronic components, it remains an strike weapon. Around 60 Jaguars are at the moment being upgraded to the latest DARIN III variant: these will be fitted with modern Israeli radars and American AIM Sidewinder missiles. These are expected to remain in service for at least another decade-and-a-half. The rest will be retired by the early 2030s. In May, Jaguars saw combat during Operation Sindoor, when it was reportedly used for long-range air-to-air engagement with the Pakistan Air Force as well as striking air bases deep in the country. * The Jaguar is also an economical and easy-to-maintain jet, especially compared to more modern aircraft. For instance, by some estimates, an engine change is possible in only 30 minutes, allowing for quick turnaround times during intensive operations. While the jet being phased out in other militaries has created some trouble while finding spares, the IAF in 2018 acquired 40-odd decommissioned aircraft and cannibalised them for spares. This is expected to keep the Jaguar combat-ready for the foreseeable future.
NDTV
6 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Jaguar Jets Were First Inducted In IAF In 1970s. 3 Have Crashed Since March
Rajasthan: Two fighter pilots were killed after a Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Churu district in Rajasthan on Wednesday afternoon. The plane crashed in an agricultural field in Bhanoda village around 1.25 pm, according to police. "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 reported," IAF said in a post on X. The Air Forces said it "deeply regrets" the loss of lives and constituted a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident. But it is to be noted that this was the third Jaguar crash this year since March. On March 7, an Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar ground attack fighter went down near Ambala during a routine sortie. At the time, the pilot was able to eject safely, but the incident highlighted the risks of flying these ageing aircraft. Just a month later, on April 3, another Jaguar jet crashed in Gujarat's Jamnagar. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav, died in the crash that occurred due to a critical technical malfunction in the aircraft. In a remarkable act of bravery before his death, Lieutenant Yadav saved countless lives by steering the crashing aircraft away from a densely populated area. He also ejected his fellow pilot, ensuring his safety before tragically losing his own life. Too Old To Fly? The Jaguar jets were inducted into the IAF in 1979. The twin-engine fighter aircraft forms an important part of India's nuclear triad, but the Indian Air Force is the only operator of these low-flying fighter bombers-- the majority of which were licence-built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a transfer of technology from SEPECAT, a joint venture between France's Breguet and the British Aircraft Corporation. Countries like Britain, France, Ecuador, Nigeria and Oman, which once had Jaguars in their fleet, have retired them long ago, with some jets put on display in air museums. The IAF too, is expected to begin 'number-plating' or phasing out its older Jaguar models after 2027-28 onwards, but amid delays in acquiring the HAL Tejas Mk2, Rafale, and MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft), it is left with little choice but to extend the life of these outdated planes. IAF is already short on its fighter squadrons from a sanctioned strength of 42.5 to just 30 jets presently. Enquiries into many of the earlier accidents and mishaps involving Jaguars pointed to engine failure, asserting the fact that these jets are long past their expiry date.
