The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet attack aircraft originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Air Force in the close air support and nuclear strike role.
It is still in service in upgraded form with the Indian Air Force.
Originally conceived in the 1960s as a jet trainer with a light ground attack capability, the requirement for the aircraft soon changed to include supersonic performance, reconnaissance and tactical nuclear strike roles.
A carrier-based variant was also planned for French Navy service, but this was cancelled in favour of the cheaper Dassault Super Étendard.
The aircraft were manufactured by SEPECAT (Société Européenne de Production de l’avion Ecole de Combat et d’Appui Tactique), a joint venture between Breguet and the British Aircraft Corporation, one of the first major joint-Anglo-French military aircraft programmes.
The Jaguar was exported to India, Oman, Ecuador and Nigeria.
With various air forces, the Jaguar was used in numerous conflicts and military operations in Mauritania, Chad, Iraq, Bosnia, and Pakistan, as well as providing a ready nuclear delivery platform for the United Kingdom, France, and India throughout the latter half of the Cold War and beyond.
In the Gulf War, the Jaguar was praised for its reliability and was a valuable coalition resource.
The aircraft served with the French Air Force as the main strike/attack aircraft until 1 July 2005, and with the Royal Air Force until the end of April 2007.
It was replaced by the Panavia Tornado and the Eurofighter Typhoon in the RAF and the Dassault Rafale in the French Air Force.
The Jaguar is an orthodox single-seat, swept-wing, twin-engine monoplane design, with tall tricycle-type retractable landing gear.
In its original configuration, it had a maximum take-off weight in the 15-tonne class: with a combat radius on internal fuel of 850 km (530 mi), giving the Jaguar a greater operational range than competitor aircraft such as the Mikoyan MiG-27.
The aircraft had hardpoints fitted for an external weapons load of up to 10,000 lb (4,500 kg).
Typical weapons fitted included the MATRA LR.F2 rocket pod, BAP 100-mm bombs, MATRA AS37 anti-radar missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, and Rockeye cluster bombs.
The RAF’s Jaguars gained several new weapons during the Gulf War, including CRV7 high-velocity rockets and American CBU-87 cluster bombs.
Finally, the Jaguar was equipped with either a pair of French DEFA cannons, or British ADEN cannons.
The Jaguar International had the unusual option of overwing pylons, used for short-range air-to-air missiles, such as the Matra R550 Magic or the Sidewinder. This option freed up the under-wing pylons for other weapons and stores.
RAF Jaguars gained overwing pylons in the build-up to Operation Granby in 1990, but French Jaguars were not modified.
Specifications
Crew
1 (A and S)
2 (B and E)
Length
16.83 m (55 ft 3 in) (A and S) with minor variations dependent on nose configuration; 17.53 m (57.5 ft) (B and E) with minor variations dependent on nose probe type (AAR or pitot)
Wingspan
8.69 m (28 ft 6 in)
Height
4.89 m (16 ft 1 in)
Wing area
24.18 m2 (260.3 sq ft)
Aspect ratio
3.12
Empty weight
7,000 kg (15,432 lb)
Gross weight
10,954 kg (24,149 lb) full internal fuel and 120 rpg
Max take-off weight
15,700 kg (34,613 lb) with external stores
Fuel capacity
4,200 l (1,100 US gal; 920 imp gal) internal, with provision for three 1,200 l (320 US gal; 260 imp gal) drop tanks on inboard and centre line pylons
