SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar was a joint aircraft venture between Britain and France to produce a supersonic, low-level strike fighter. The initial Jaguar prototype became a two-seat aircraft for testing by the French. Deliveries to French forces began in 1972 with the system being formally introduced for service the following year.
The initial British Jaguar S prototype (S06) was assigned the designation of XW560 and was of a single-seat design. First flight occurred on October 12th, 1969.
The Jaguar GR.Mk 1 was identifiable by its wedge-shaped nose assembly (French Jaguars had decidedly rounded noses) as well as a pod-like structure affixed to the vertical tail fin. A Ferranti ARI23231 Laser Ranging and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) were fitted into this hollow assembly. A Marconi ARI18223 receiver was coupled to the Ferranti system. In the cockpit, the pilot was assisted by both a Heads-Up Display providing relevant performance and mission information and a “look-down” moving-map display. Both instruments were fed by a Marconi-GEC 920ATC Navigation and Weapon-Aiming Sub-System
India became the largest customer of the Jaguar International/Jaguar IS/Jaguar IT and began handling license-production of the aircraft by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) under the designation of “Shamsher”. 38 were purchased while a further 140 were produced in-house.
This flight is being updated/modernized locally by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) under the “DARIN III” program. The program seeks to modernize the weapons capabilities (including support for AGM-84 “Harpoon” anti-ship missiles) of the aircraft as well as navigation, Electronic Warfare (EW) and avionics. India remains the only active user of the Jaguar line.
During Aero India 2019, at the pavilion was displayed a Jaguar aircraft simulator. Tejas, Su-30 MKI and the Jaguar together flew a ‘missing man formation’ in honour of Captain Sahil Gandhi who passed away during a tragic air crash during one of his practice sessions earlier that week.
SPECIFICATIONS
Introduction → 1973
Unit Cost → US $8 million
Produced in → 1963
Number built → 543
Operators → Indian Air Force (current user)
Royal Air Force of Oman (historical)
French Air Force (historical)
Royal Air Force (historical)
Length → 55.2 feet (16.83 meters)
Wingspan → 28.51 feet (8.69 meters)
Height → 16.04 feet (4.49m)
Empty weight → 7,700 kg
Maximum take-off capacity → 15,700 kg
Maximum speed → 1700 kmph
Combat Radius → 528 miles
Service ceiling → 45,207 feet
Manufacturers → SEPECAT - France, BAe - UK / HAL - India
Written by → Anjana Ranjan
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