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In a strategic move to ensure the operational availability of its deep-penetration strike fleet, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated discussions with the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) to acquire its remaining stock of grounded Jaguar combat aircraft.
This development is the latest step in a broader global effort by the IAF to secure essential spares for the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar, ensuring the fleet remains combat-ready through its planned service life until 2035.
Global Hunt for Spares
The IAF is currently the only air force in the world still operating the Jaguar in a frontline combat role.Known for its low-level flying capabilities and precision strike potential, the aircraft remains a potent asset, particularly after recent upgrades.
However, with all other global operators having retired the type years ago, the supply chain for spare parts has virtually vanished.
To overcome this, Indian defence planners have adopted a pragmatic strategy of acquiring retired airframes from former operators to harvest usable components—a process technically known as cannibalisation.
This approach allows the IAF to maintain high serviceability rates for its "Shamsher" fleet (as the Jaguar is known in India) without the prohibitive cost of manufacturing obsolete parts from scratch.
The Ecuador Connection
The Ecuadorian Air Force, which operated the Jaguar International (ES and EB variants), withdrew the type from frontline service in 2002.According to sources, the fleet was kept in "warm storage"—a preservation method allowing for potential reactivation—until formal operations ceased in 2006.
Current assessments indicate that Ecuador holds a small inventory compared to other nations. Only four airframes remain in storage, with a fifth aircraft preserved as a static display in an aviation museum.
Despite the modest numbers, defence experts note that these airframes are critical. They serve as a source for "hard-to-find" components such as landing gear assemblies, hydraulic systems, wing parts, and cockpit hardware that are otherwise impossible to source.
Building a Reserve Inventory
The potential acquisition from Ecuador follows a series of successful agreements with other former Jaguar operators:- France: The Armée de l’Air supplied 31 retired airframes along with Adour engines and a significant cache of spares. These assets have been pivotal in creating a reserve for out-of-production components.
- United Kingdom: The Royal Air Force provided two Jaguar T-2 trainers and over 600 specific spare items to support avionics and airframe maintenance.
- Oman: As the last foreign operator to retire the jet (in 2014), Oman is transferring its grounded fleet along with engines and thousands of spares. These are considered particularly compatible with India's own fleet, which has undergone similar upgrades.
Strategic Importance: The DARIN III Upgrade
The push to keep these 40-year-old airframes flying is driven by the significant combat value they still offer.The IAF has invested heavily in the DARIN III (Display Attack Ranging and Inertial Navigation) upgrade programme.
This comprehensive modernization has equipped the Jaguar with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, advanced avionics, and modern weaponry like the ASRAAM air-to-air missile, effectively transforming a Cold War-era jet into a modern strike platform.
Future Outlook
The acquisition of Ecuador’s remaining airframes aligns with the IAF’s long-term force structuring.The Jaguar is expected to hold the line as a specialized striker until the indigenous Tejas Mk2 and the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are inducted in sufficient numbers.
By securing every available spare part globally, the IAF is ensuring that the Jaguar remains a reliable "sword arm" for India's defence until its honourable retirement in the next decade.
