The Indian Air Force currently operates six squadrons of Jaguar aircraft, which were first inducted in the 1980s. The acquisition of retired airframes from the United Kingdom is part of a long-standing effort to sustain the fleet after other operators phased out the aircraft. Earlier, the Indian Air Force had obtained retired Jaguars from France, Oman and the United Kingdom, all of which had withdrawn the platform from active service.
In 2018, France transferred 31 retired Jaguar airframes along with engines and spare parts at no cost. India and Oman later formalised an agreement for the transfer of more than 20 retired Jaguars that had recorded fewer flying hours and were considered to be in relatively good condition. The Indian Air Force is now the only air force in the world that continues to operate the Jaguar.
The imported aircraft are dismantled for critical components, including landing gear assemblies, hydraulic systems, avionics and Rolls-Royce Adour engines, helping the service overcome persistent shortages. The aircraft is also facing a shortage of spare parts for its ejection seat system.
Over the past decade, nearly half of the Jaguar fleet underwent extensive modernisation. The remaining older aircraft were considered unsuitable for further investment and are scheduled to begin retiring from 2028. Jaguars upgraded to the DARIN-III standard have received advanced radar systems capable of tracking multiple targets, terrain mapping and electronic jamming capabilities. The upgrades also included cockpit modernisation featuring state-of-the-art multi-function displays and advanced systems.
The Indian Air Force had previously planned a multi-billion-dollar programme to replace the aging Adour engines with Honeywell F-125N engines as part of the DARIN-III upgrade package. However, the proposal was abandoned because of the high costs involved.
The upgraded Jaguars are expected to remain in service well into the next decade, helping bridge capability gaps until newer combat platforms are inducted. The latest acquisition of retired airframes is intended to ensure a reliable supply of spare parts and support systems, supplemented by other methods including three-dimensional printing. The decision highlights the Indian Air Force's efforts to maintain operational readiness and sustain a critical strike capability despite shrinking squadron numbers and increasing logistical challenges.
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