SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is charting a strategic roadmap to retire its aging fleet of fourth-generation fighter jets—procured in the 1970s and 1980s—in a phased manner, replacing them primarily with the indigenous Tejas MkII, according to information shared with idrw.org. The plan prioritizes the withdrawal of the Jaguar DARIN I and II variants, followed by the MiG-29UPG, Jaguar DARIN-III, and finally the Mirage-2000H, aligning with the induction of advanced platforms like the Tejas MkII and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) MkI. This transition reflects the IAF’s dual focus on modernizing its squadrons and bolstering India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The retirement process will commence with the Jaguar DARIN I and II aircraft, older variants of the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar strike fighter that have not been upgraded to the DARIN-III standard. The IAF, the last operator of the Jaguar globally, currently maintains six squadrons of these deep-penetration strike aircraft, totaling around 120 jets, stationed at Ambala, Jamnagar, and Gorakhpur. The DARIN (Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation) I and II models, inducted starting in 1979, are approaching the end of their service lives, with airframes dating back to the 1980s and early 1990s.
The phase-out of these roughly 60 unupgraded Jaguars is slated to begin in 2030, coinciding with the anticipated production start of the Tejas MkII and the formation of its first squadron. The Tejas MkII, a medium-weight 4.5-generation fighter with a heavier airframe and GE F414 engine, is designed to replace these aging strike platforms, offering enhanced payload and combat capabilities tailored to India’s operational needs.
Following the Jaguar DARIN I and II, the IAF plans to retire its MiG-29UPG fleet, beginning around 2033 and potentially concluding by 2036-37. The IAF operates three squadrons of these upgraded Soviet-era air superiority fighters, totaling approximately 50-60 aircraft, inducted in the mid-1980s to counter Pakistan’s F-16s. The UPG (Upgraded) variant, modernized in a $900 million deal signed in 2009, features advanced avionics, the Zhuk-ME radar, and extended service life, pushing its operational timeline beyond the original MiG-29s.
The retirement of the MiG-29UPG will align with the Tejas MkII’s growing presence, expected to reach significant numbers by the mid-2030s. With a first flight scheduled for 2027 and production starting in 2030, the Tejas MkII will progressively take over roles currently handled by the MiG-29UPG, such as air defence and multirole missions, ensuring a seamless transition as these Russian jets, now averaging 35 years in age, are phased out.
The Jaguar DARIN-III and Mirage-2000H fleets, comprising nearly 100 jets, will be the last to retire, with the process beginning after 2035 and unfolding in phases. The DARIN-III Jaguars, upgraded with EL/M-2052 AESA radar, ASRAAM missiles, and modern avionics under a program initiated in 2013, represent the most capable of the Jaguar variants. These 60-odd aircraft, stationed across three squadrons, have extended airframe lives and enhanced strike capabilities, allowing them to serve beyond 2035.
Similarly, the IAF’s three squadrons of Mirage-2000H fighters—around 47 aircraft—upgraded to the Mirage 2000-5 standard in a $2.1 billion deal with Thales and Dassault Aviation in 2011, will remain operational into the late 2030s. These French jets, inducted in 1985 and now over 40 years old, are equipped with advanced mission computers and precision-guided munitions, making them a vital multirole asset alongside the Rafale.
While the Tejas MkII will replace most of these aircraft, not all squadrons will transition to it. At least one Mirage-2000 squadron is slated to convert to the AMCA MkI, India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, powered by the GE F414 engine. With production expected to begin in 2035 following a first flight in 2028, the AMCA MkI will introduce stealth and supercruise capabilities, marking a generational leap over the retiring fleets.
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