SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is once again grappling with the harsh realities of maintaining its ageing Jaguar strike aircraft fleet, as two consecutive crashes in 2025 have reignited concerns over the jet’s reliability. The most recent incident occurred on April 2 near Jamnagar, Gujarat, where a twin-seater Jaguar crashed due to a critical technical malfunction, claiming the life of Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav. This follows another crash earlier in the year near Panchkula, Haryana, underscoring the challenges of operating a platform that has outlived its peers globally. As the longest-serving operator of the Jaguar—retired years ago by the French and British air forces—the IAF faces mounting pressure to transition to modern alternatives like the Tejas Mk1A and MkII.
Introduced in 1979 under the name “Shamsher,” the Jaguar has been a cornerstone of the IAF’s deep-penetration strike capability, with around 80 aircraft still operational across six squadrons. Designed for low-level, high-speed ground attack missions, the jet has served India well in roles ranging from precision strikes to maritime operations. However, with the French Armée de l’Air and Royal Air Force phasing out their Jaguars by the mid-2000s, the global supply chain for airframe spares has largely evaporated. Rolls-Royce, which manufactures the Adour engines powering the jets, has kept its spares line open, ensuring engine support until 2035. Yet, the scarcity of other components has made maintenance a logistical nightmare, contributing to over 50 incidents in the Jaguar’s 45-year tenure with the IAF.
The back-to-back crashes have sharpened focus on the fleet’s vulnerabilities. The Jamnagar incident saw the aircraft disintegrate in an open field after a suspected systems failure, with Yadav heroically steering it away from populated areas. The earlier Haryana crash, attributed to a similar malfunction, saw the pilot eject safely. These events highlight the strain of operating an ageing airframe, even with upgrades like the Darin-III suite, which modernized avionics and weaponry.
The IAF’s long-term plan to retire the Jaguar hinges on the indigenous Tejas program, with the Mk1A and MkII variants poised to take over its roles. According to sources cited by idrw.org, an additional 97 Tejas Mk1A aircraft, currently in the pipeline, will begin replacing the older Jaguar Darin-I squadrons by 2028-29. This lightweight fighter, equipped with advanced avionics, an AESA radar, and a robust weapons suite, offers a cost-effective, modern alternative for ground attack and reconnaissance missions. The first batch of 83 Mk1A jets, ordered in 2021, is already in production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with deliveries underway.
The transition will accelerate with the Tejas MkII, a medium-weight fighter slated to enter production in 2029. Featuring a more powerful GE F414 engine (98kN thrust), enhanced payload capacity, and improved range, the MkII is designed to fully supplant the Jaguar’s capabilities by 2035. idrw.org reports that the MkII’s induction will phase out the remaining Jaguar squadrons, including the upgraded Darin-II and Darin-III variants, aligning with Rolls-Royce’s engine support timeline. With a projected order of over 120 MkII jets, the IAF aims to modernize its strike force while reducing reliance on ageing foreign platforms.
The Jaguar’s plight isn’t unique—many legacy aircraft face similar end-of-life challenges—but its prominence in the IAF makes its retirement a strategic priority. The fleet’s versatility has been a strength, but its crash record and maintenance woes signal the need for a swift handover. The Tejas Mk1A, with its agility and indigenous design, will initially bridge the gap, while the MkII’s heavier punch will ensure continuity of deep-strike missions against adversaries like Pakistan and China.
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