Indian Air Force’s Aging Jaguar Fighter Aircraft Set to Remain Relevant for Another Decade
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is nearing a significant fleet transition. By the end of 2025, the last of its MiG-21 squadrons are scheduled for retirement. Following this, the venerable Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar will become the oldest fighter jet remaining in the IAF’s inventory.
Affectionately christened ‘Shamsher’, meaning ‘Sword of Justice’ in Persian, these Indian Jaguar Fighter Aircraft have now served the IAF for 45 years. However, a recent fatal crash involving a Jaguar trainer near Jamnagar has ignited fresh concerns regarding the safety of this legacy aircraft fleet.
Media reports and public opinion have voiced calls for the immediate decommissioning of this swept-wing, twin-engine, supersonic attack aircraft, which was initially developed in the 1960s. Many have even dubbed the aging Jaguars the “new MiG-21s,” referencing the frequent crashes that plagued the MiG-21 fleet in the twilight of its service life.
Despite being the sole remaining operator globally for this low-flying, sea-skimming fighter bomber, the Jaguar possesses a terrain-hugging capability that is currently unmatched by any other fighter in the IAF’s diverse fleet.
Often joked about for being underpowered – with jest suggesting it can fly only due to the Earth’s curvature – this fighter jet has nonetheless been a crucial component of India’s nuclear triad. Its operational relevance is projected to continue for at least another ten years.
“As the aircraft age, they all go through the same thing. Jaguar is the new MiG-21 because that is the oldest fighter in the IAF. Just that,” a former Jaguar test pilot shared anonymously with the EurAsian Times, acknowledging the natural progression of fleet aging. He concurred that engine-related maintenance issues are currently posing significant challenges for the Jaguar fleet. India originally acquired 120 Jaguars. Forty were purchased directly from BAE Systems, while the remaining 80 were manufactured domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The IAF currently operates six Jaguar squadrons spread across bases at Ambala, Gorakhpur, Jamnagar, Bhuj, and Suratgarh.
The Jaguar’s twin-engine configuration, despite the jets being considered underpowered, has historically been viewed as a safety advantage for pilots, as simultaneous failure of both engines is an extremely rare occurrence. The IAF’s other twin-engine fighter jets presently include the Russian-origin MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-30MKI, along with the French Rafale. You can learn more about the range of aircraft in service by checking the list of fighter aircraft of india.
In addition to its low-level prowess, the aircraft is recognized for its remarkably stable flight characteristics, excellent low-level handling, superb cockpit visibility, and sophisticated control systems for its era.
A significant attempt to address the engine limitations occurred on November 26, 2010, when the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a tender for re-engining 80 of its newer Jaguars. The American engine manufacturer Honeywell proposed its F125IN engine, while Rolls-Royce offered the Adour Mk 821, an upgraded iteration of the Jaguar’s existing Adour Mk 811 engines. The estimated cost for this ambitious re-engining project was approximately US$3 billion. The Honeywell F125IN engine promised a thrust of 43.8 KiloNewtons (kN), a substantial increase compared to the 32.5 kN offered by the Jaguar’s standard Rolls-Royce engines. This upgrade was expected to significantly extend the aircraft’s range beyond 400 km and improve its climb rate, especially when operating over mountainous terrain. However, the prohibitively high cost of the proposed engines ultimately led the Air Force to cancel the project.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) 14th Squadron SEPECAT (Breguet/BAC) Jaguar parked on the tarmac.
Confirming the fleet’s general reliability apart from the engines, a test pilot from the Jaguar fleet stated that “it is a fairly stable fleet.” The retirement of the Jaguars by the UK’s Royal Air Force created challenges for India in acquiring spare parts. India has since had to source airframes, engines, and various frequently used spare parts from other former operators like France and Oman, in addition to the United Kingdom. Understanding the composition of the fighter aircraft indian air force fleet is key to appreciating the Jaguar’s continued role.
Upgraded Jaguars Maintain Capabilities
A retired Air Marshal and former Jaguar pilot from the IAF offered a more optimistic perspective, noting: “The IAF has extended the operational life of the Jaguars with mid-life upgrades, including modern EW suites, radar warning receivers (RWRs), smart weapons, and avionics and survivability systems. Despite aging, modernization has ensured that Jaguars remain a cost-effective strike option, complementing newer fighter jets in India’s inventory.” The initial Squadrons 5 and 14 were equipped with Jaguars purchased directly from the UK in fly-away condition.
Crucially, the Jaguars not purchased off-the-shelf from the UK were manufactured by HAL and integrated with the Digital Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation (DARIN) system. This makes the HAL-built Jaguar significantly Indian, with its airframe, mission computer, and source code developed indigenously. The home-built variants included upgrades such as improved engines, newer avionics, enhanced EW suites, reconnaissance pods, and ten specialized maritime Jaguars equipped with A-S radar and Anti-Ship Missiles. Later, HAL manufactured 37 additional upgraded Jaguars featuring the DARIN-II standard, with inductions occurring as late as 2010. Even the original aircraft acquired from the UK, which initially used the NavWASS system, were subsequently upgraded to the DARIN-II standard.
The 27 Squadron, based in Gorakhpur, was the first unit to receive these Indian-made Jaguars. The 224 Squadron stationed in Jamnagar was the last unit to incorporate the domestically produced ground attack fighters into its fleet. A retired Jaguar pilot commented on the quality of the Indian-built variants: “Indian Jaguars built and upgraded by HAL are solid. The last batch of Jaguars were built by HAL in 2002-2009. They are not going out anytime soon. Direct supply (from BAE) aircraft will start retiring in this decade. Items or LRUs (Line Replaceable Units are the components that can be removed or replaced on an aircraft) that need obsolescence management have been managed by HAL for a long, as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) support is less. Recent accidents could have occurred on any aircraft type. They have nothing to do with the vintage of IAF’s platforms.”
Jaguars upgraded to the DARIN II standard received several enhancements, including more reliable Inertial Navigation and GPS systems, an Advanced Laser Designation Pod (LDP), compatibility with Laser-Guided Bombs, an autopilot system, new multi-functional displays, and HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) controls, allowing pilots to operate key functions without removing their hands from the primary controls. Pilots praise the Jaguar’s navigation system, noting that the entire mission plan is displayed alongside the pilot on the multi-functional display, significantly improving decision-making accuracy. The head-up display’s (HUD) ‘highway-in-the-sky’ feature was particularly innovative for its time, allowing a simulated runway to be replicated on the HUD, aiding landings even in conditions of zero visibility. This feature can also be used for target identification or to simulate a runway towards a target area. The Jaguar also featured a Rear cockpit HUD. Another noteworthy capability is the Jaguar’s auto-bombing system, which simplifies accurate bomb delivery. Pilots can simply hold down the trigger while maneuvering, and the bomb is automatically released when the aircraft reaches the optimal range for the Designated Mean Point of Impact (the center of the target). You can see the different types of combat aircraft operated by India by looking at the full indian air force fighter planes list.
DARIN-III Upgrade Packs a Bigger Punch
Most recently, DARIN-I Jaguars have undergone a significant upgrade to the DARIN-III standard. This extensive modernization work was carried out within India by HAL. The DARIN-III upgrade incorporates state-of-the-art systems, including an AESA radar, integration capabilities for new-generation Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs) and Anti-Ship Missiles (ASMs), sensor-fused armament, and extended-range Laser-Guided Bombs (LGBs).
The core of the DARIN-III upgrade is an open-system architecture mission computer, complemented by advanced multi-functional displays, an integrated engine and flight instrument system, a new fire control radar, a geodetic height correction system, and a modern inertial navigation system utilizing multiple satellite constellations for enhanced accuracy.
Furthermore, the DARIN III Jaguars have been equipped with the Israeli EL/M-2052 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. This radar significantly improves the aircraft’s defensibility against electronic warfare jamming by employing multiple transceiver modules (TRMs), each capable of transmitting on a different radio frequency. This capability also reduces the probability of detection by enemy radar warning receivers. In essence, the Jaguar DARIN III variants are considerably more difficult to detect and jam, enhancing their survivability in contested airspace. “DARIN-III is a capable avionics upgrade. The Jag pilots are happy with the upgrade,” the Jaguar pilot confirmed.
The DARIN-III avionics suite supports the integration of advanced air-to-air missiles like the ASRAAM and a range of smart air-to-surface munitions, including the RAMPAGE, Maverick, and Harpoon missiles, Paveway precision-guided munitions, the Joint Standoff Weapon, and the indigenously developed DRDO SAAW (Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon).
The Elbit Systems-developed Rampage is a stand-off weapon designed for deep penetration strikes in all-weather conditions. Powered by a solid propellant rocket motor, it boasts a range of 150–250 km, a flight altitude of 3,000–40,000 ft, and a top speed of Mach 1.6. Its claimed Circular Error Probable (CEP), a measure of accuracy, is an impressive 10 meters. The SAAW is analogous to the Israeli Spice glide bomb, offering a range of over 90 km when released from a height of 12.8 km at Mach 0.9. Its CEP is 7 meters using inertial navigation combined with GPS + GAGAN, and improves to 3 meters with an IIR seeker for terminal guidance. Other recently integrated weapons include the Textron CBU-105 “sensor fuzed” Smart Anti-tank Cluster Bomb and the DRDO’s 500-kg General Purpose Bomb. These extensive upgrades highlight the Jaguar’s continued importance as an attack aircraft india relies upon.
The Last of the Jaguars in Town
The IAF has outlined plans to commence the phased retirement of its Jaguar strike aircraft between 2027 and 2028, with a complete phase-out projected by 2035-2040. The timeline is somewhat influenced by the ongoing delay in the full operational induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A. Until the Tejas Mk-1A is fully integrated and operational, the Jaguar remains a vital component of the IAF’s operational capability. Learn more about India’s domestic fighter programs like the LCA Tejas by reading about the indian fighter aircraft tejas.
The proliferation of long-range surface-to-air missile systems has made high-altitude flight significantly more vulnerable, underscoring the continued relevance of low-level penetration tactics for evading radar detection. Despite their relatively low thrust and the IAF’s decision not to invest in new engines, the Jaguars’ unique low-level capabilities ensure they will remain tactically relevant for at least another decade. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has further demonstrated the effectiveness of low-level penetration in heavily contested airspace, with Ukrainian aircraft like MiG-29s, Su-24s, Su-25s, and Su-27s frequently flying at very low altitudes, below the adversary’s radar horizon, to reach standoff weapon launch points before rapidly climbing to fire and then returning to low altitude.
The Jaguar boasts a “lo-lo-lo combat radius of action” of 350 nautical miles (approximately 650 kilometers), meaning it can cover this distance while maintaining continuous low-altitude flight – a capability that is among the best for low-flying strike aircraft globally. Vijaindra K Thakur, a retired Jaguar pilot, succinctly captures this strength: “The Jaguar is a capable aircraft that packs a punch. It’s unique in its ability to fly at low heights over a long range. At 200 ft outside AWACS coverage, a Jaguar can get stealthier than an F-22 Raptor at higher altitudes.”
A currently serving Jaguar pilot provided a concluding perspective: “The Jaguar has been upgraded in the past, and as we speak, it is being upgraded to meet the demands of modern warfare; it is definitely relevant to future combat in the sub-continent and will prove its worth if called to the party. Retiring it now would be a strategic and economic blunder. Not to mention, it would leave a vacuum in the country’s defense that present industrial production will take decades to fill.”
