What is a SEPECAT Jaguar?

About SEPECAT Jaguar:

• The SEPECAT Jaguar, fondly called 'Shamsher' (Sword of Justice), was a joint venture between the British Aircraft Corporation and the French Breguet Company (now part of Dassault).
• First introduced in 1968, it is a twin-engine, ground-attack aircraft primarily designed for deep penetration strike missions, especially against high-value ground targets in contested airspace.
• Features:
  • It can carry up to 4,500 kg of payload.
  • The Jaguar can fly at a maximum speed of 1,699 km/h.
  • It can fly 850 km on its internal fuel tanks, and with an external drop tank, the combat range is increased to 1400 km.
  • It has a max service ceiling of 46,000 ft.
  • The Jaguar is of monoplane design with an aluminium airframe.
  • The aircraft is equipped with an in-flight refuelling probe at the starboard side of the front fuselage to execute air refuelling missions even under the worst weather conditions.
  • It is equipped with spoilers, air brakes, rudder, double-slotted flaps, slats, critical systems, and a bulletproof windscreen.
  • It features an all-digital cockpit enclosed within a glass canopy. The cockpit is equipped with a head-up display, multifunctional display, night vision, and GPS.
  • Other features include a helmet-mounted display, radar altimeters, inertial navigation system, automatic direction finder, information friend or foe, weapon aiming computer and digital data bus.
• India’s Jaguar Fleet:
  • The first batch of 40 Jaguars 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.
  • The IAF is the world's only air force still flying these low-flying fighter bombers. Today, the IAF operates approximately 120 Jaguar jets in six squadrons.