State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 11 Jul 2025

Jaguar Aircraft

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.