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Rajasthan

Jaguar Aircraft

  • 11 Jul 2025
  • 2 min read

Why in News? 

During a routine training mission, a Jaguar trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Rajasthan's Churu district.

Key Points 

  • Jaguar Aircraft:  
    • Background: 
      • Jaguar is a British-French fighter aircraft that was originally deployed in the British Royal Air Force and the French Air Force.  
      • The Jaguar jets were inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1979. 
      • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) started producing licensed variants in 1981 and continued till 2008. 
      • India has inducted over 160 Jaguars in various configurations: 
        • Jaguar IS (single-seat strike fighter) 
        • Jaguar IB (two-seat trainer) 
        • Jaguar IM (naval variant) 
    • Combat History and Global Operators: 
      • The Jaguar has seen active deployment in Mauritania, Chad, Iraq, Bosnia, Pakistan, and more recently, during India’s Operation Sindoor. 
      • It served as a nuclear delivery platform for the UK, France, and India. 
      • Over the years, countries such as France, the UK, Oman, Ecuador, Nigeria, and India operated the aircraft. 
  • Similar IAF Crashes:  
    • Between November 2024 and April 2025, the IAF reported four aircraft crashes during training missions across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat. 
    • Technical malfunctions led to the crashes of MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar jets. 
  • Growing Concerns Over Aircraft Safety: 
    • The recent string of IAF crashes indicates recurring technical issues in operational aircraft. 
    • Many of the crashes involved older platforms like the MiG-29 and Jaguar, raising concerns over fleet modernisation and maintenance protocols. 
    • The IAF has launched inquiries in each case, but the frequency of such incidents points to the need for deeper systemic evaluation.
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