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IAF JET CRASH from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

By : Author Desk Updated : 2025-07-17 14:33:00

IAF JET CRASH

Why in News?
  • On July 9, 2025, a SEPECAT Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Churu in Rajasthan, resulting in the tragic death of two pilots.
  • This marks the 3rd Jaguar crash in 2025 alone, following previous crashes in Gujarat (April 3) and Haryana (March 7).
  • The series of mishaps has raised serious concerns over the safety and continued use of the ageing Jaguar fleet, which has been in service for over five decades.
  • Despite being retired by countries like the UK, France, and Oman, India continues to operate 6 Jaguar squadrons, and plans to keep them operational until at least 2040.
ABOUT SEPECAT JAGUAR FIGHTER JET
  • The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French twin-engine deep penetration strike aircraft, designed for ground attack and reconnaissance missions.
  • The aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1979, with operational deployment beginning in the early 1980s.
  • Approximately 160 Jaguars have been inducted by the IAF over the years, with around 115 still operational
  • The variants operated by the IAF include:
    • Jaguar IS: Single-seat strike fighter
    • Jaguar IB: Two-seat trainer version
    • Jaguar IM: Maritime/naval variant
WHY INDIA CONTINUES TO USE THE JAGUAR FLEET EVEN AFTER 50 YEARS? Despite their age, Jaguar aircraft remain a core component of India’s strike capability. There are five main reasons why India has not retired these jets yet: 1. Lack of Alternatives and Procurement Delays India has struggled to procure and induct new-generation aircraft to replace older fighters like the Jaguar.
  • The HAL Tejas Mk2, the Rafale, and the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme have all seen delays.
  • As a result, India is experiencing a shortfall in the number of fighter squadrons.
  • The sanctioned strength is 42 squadrons, but the IAF currently operates only about 30.
  • With the replacement process slow and complicated, the IAF has had no choice but to extend the service life of its older platforms, including the Jaguar.
Expert View: "India is flying Jaguars because we have no other choice. The procurement process is cumbersome and slow." – Wing Commander Praful Bakshi (Retd) 2. Multiple Technological Upgrades To ensure that the Jaguars remain combat-effective, the aircraft have been upgraded multiple times since their induction.
  • The upgrade programs, known as DARIN (Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation), have gone through three phases: DARIN I, II, and III.
  • These upgrades have added modern avionics, navigation systems, and improved targeting capability.
  • In 2008, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a ?2,400 crore deal to upgrade 68 Jaguar aircraft for enhanced deep penetration and strike capabilities.
  • These upgrades have helped extend the operational relevance and lifespan of the aircraft.
  • Despite these upgrades, there are still concerns over engine failures, especially due to the ageing Rolls-Royce-Turbomeca Adour Mk811 engines.
3. Strategic Role in Low-Altitude Penetration Missions The Jaguar remains effective in low-level penetration attacks, which are still strategically relevant in modern warfare.
  • The aircraft is optimized for deep penetration strikes at low altitudes, which help evade enemy radar and air defence systems.
  • The Russia-Ukraine conflict has highlighted the renewed importance of low-level strikes, given the high threat from advanced surface-to-air missile systems.
  • During the Kargil War (1999), Jaguars played a crucial role in reconnaissance and bombing missions.
  • In recent exercises like Operation Sindoor, Jaguars were used to simulate long-range air-to-air and ground strikes.
  • This shows that despite being old, the Jaguar still performs roles that newer aircraft may not be specialized for.
4. Cost-Effectiveness and Maintenance Efficiency Compared to modern fighter jets, Jaguars are relatively inexpensive to operate and maintain.
  • The aircraft allows for quick maintenance turnaround, with engine changes possible in as little as 30 minutes.
  • Although there were plans to re-engine the Jaguars with Honeywell F-125 turbofan engines, this plan was scrapped in 2019 due to high costs.
  • Given the financial and logistical challenges of modernizing or buying new aircraft in large numbers, keeping Jaguars operational remains an economical option for the IAF.
5. Spare Parts Availability and Cannibalization Ensuring the availability of spare parts has been a challenge, but India has found short-term solutions.
  • In 2018, the IAF acquired around 40 decommissioned Jaguar aircraft from other countries to use them for spare parts cannibalization.
  • In 2024, India approached the UK government to acquire 9 retired Jaguar aircraft along with a cache of spare parts.
  • These efforts have allowed the IAF to keep its Jaguar fleet airworthy, despite difficulties in sourcing parts for the ageing engines and airframes.
  • However, experts warn that airframe fatigue is setting in, and upgrades cannot indefinitely extend the life of such old aircraft.
Safety Record and Concerns
  • Over the years, Jaguars have been involved in over 50 accidents.
  • Most recent accidents are linked to engine failure and manual errors.
  • The ageing nature of the aircraft continues to raise concerns among defence experts and the general public.
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