Rajasthan Switch to Hindi
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.
- Background:
- 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.