SEPECAT Jaguar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEPECAT_Jaguar

The SEPECAT Jaguar is a British-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 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 service, but this was cancelled in favour of
the cheaper Dassault Super Étendard. The airframes 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 programs.

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 Britain, 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; and could manage a
combat radius on internal fuel alone 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 alternatively British Aden cannons.


Role
Attack aircraft

National origin
France/United Kingdom

Manufacturer
SEPECAT (Breguet/BAC)

First flight
8 September 1968

Introduction
1973

Retired
2005 (France) / 2007 (UK) / 2014 (Oman)

Status
Active (India)

Primary users
Indian Air Force (current user)
Royal Air Force of Oman (historical)
French Air Force (historical)
Royal Air Force (historical)

Produced
1968–1981

Number built
543

Unit cost

US$8 million (2008)

In French service, the Jaguar was frequently deployed in defence of national
interests in Africa during the 1970s, a policy sometimes referred to as "Jaguar
diplomacy" (la diplomatie du Jaguar). Jaguars made their combat debut against
Polisario Front forces in Mauritania in December 1977, as part of Opération
Lamantin. In August 1978 a conventionally armed rapid reaction squadron was
established, intended to deploy in support of French forces and interests to
anywhere in the world. One Jaguar was shot down in 1978 by an SA-7 missile of
the Polisario Front.

The RAF accepted delivery of the first of 165 single seat Jaguar GR1s (the
service designation of the Jaguar S) with 54(F) squadron in 1974. These were
supplemented by 35 two seat trainers, the Jaguar T2 (previously Jaguar B). The
Jaguar S and B had a more comprehensive nav/attack system(consisting of a
Ferranti/Marconi NAVWASS (NAVigation and Weapon Aiming Sub System) and a Plessey
10 Way Weapon Control System) than the A and E models used by the French Air
Force. RAF Jaguars were used for rapid deployment and regional reinforcement,
and others flew in the tactical nuclear strike role, carrying the WE.177 bomb.

Specifications (Jaguar A)

General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 16.83 m (55 ft 2½ in)
Wingspan: 8.68 m (28 ft 6 in)
Height: 4.89 m (16 ft 0½ in)
Wing area: 24.18 m² (260.27 ft²)
Aspect ratio: 3.12:1
Empty weight: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb)
Loaded weight: 10,954 kg (24,149 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 15,700 kg (34,612 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 102 turbofans Dry thrust: 22.75
kN (5,115 lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner: 32.5 kN (7,305 lbf) each


Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (1,699 km/h, 917 knots, 1,056 mph) at 11,000 m (36,000
ft)
Combat radius: 908 km (490 nmi, 564 mi) (lo-lo-lo, external fuel)
Ferry range: 3,524 km (1,902 nmi, 2,190 mi)
Service ceiling: 14,000 m (45,900 ft)
Climb to 9,145 m (30,000 ft): 1 min 30 sec

Armament

Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA cannons, 150 rounds/gun
Hardpoints: 5 (4× under-wing and 1× center-line) with a capacity of 10,000 lb
(4,500 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets: 8× Matra rocket
pods with 18× SNEB 68 mm rockets each
Missiles:
AS.37 Martel anti-radar missiles or
AS-30L laser guided air-to-ground missiles.
2× R550 Magic air-to-air missiles on underwing pylons

Bombs:
various unguided or laser-guided bombs or
2× WE177A nuclear bombs
1× AN-52 nuclear bomb

Other: ECM protection pods, Reconnaissance Pod, ATLIS laser/electro-optical
targeting pod, external drop tanks for extended range/loitering time





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