IAF to Retire 60 Jaguar Aircraft with DARIN-II by 2031, Remaining Upgrading with DARIN-III, AESA Radar and ASRAAM

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to embark on a significant fleet modernization initiative, starting with the phased retirement of approximately 60 Jaguar aircraft equipped with the DARIN-II avionics suite by 2030-31.

These aircraft, which have served the IAF since the late 1970s, will gradually be replaced by more advanced models as part of the force's ongoing modernization efforts.

The retirement process is expected to begin in 2028, initially targeting older batches of Jaguars acquired through a historic $1 billion deal signed in 1978 with SEPECAT, an Anglo-French company. This deal facilitated the procurement of 160 Jaguars, with the first 40 delivered in a flyaway condition.

Currently, the IAF stands as the sole operator of the Jaguar aircraft globally, with a fleet distributed across six squadrons, each comprising 20 fighters, stationed in Ambala, Jamnagar, and Gorakhpur. Renowned for their role as "deep penetration strike aircraft," the Jaguars have played a crucial role in the IAF's strategic capabilities for decades.

As the IAF progresses towards modernizing its fleet, the focus is shifting towards the more advanced DARIN-III configuration. The upgraded Jaguars are equipped with the EL/M-2052 radar, provided by the Israeli company Elta.

This radar boasts an "active electronically scanned array" (AESA), significantly enhancing the aircraft's combat capabilities. Furthermore, the integration of the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) substantially boosts the aircraft's close-combat effectiveness.

The Jaguars equipped with DARIN-III and the EL/M-2052 AESA radar are projected to remain operational until 2035-36. Currently, 60 Jaguars, constituting half of the IAF's fleet, are undergoing these upgrades.

This modernization endeavor ensures that despite the phased retirement of older DARIN-II Jaguars, the IAF will retain a formidable deep penetration strike capability with the advanced DARIN-III equipped aircraft.

 

[sanket]

what about BVR what range it have .........??? Similar like Mirage-2000 60 kM .

 

[Pink Panther]

Yes in 2099.

 

[MANIVANNAN N]

Super machine with long range strike capabilities. Now it used only for secondary role.

 

[NSR]

If half of Jaguars are going away by 2031, then it is time for immediate actions -

1. Accelerate the production of Tejas IA and development of Tejas Mk 2.
2. Select MRFA quickly before it is too late.
3. Order 12 Su-30MKIs and 21 Mig-29s soon from Russia to replenish. Deliveries not guaranteed though due to sanctions.

Do not sit idly and expect fighter jets to fall from sky.

 

[GMR]

The speed in which HAL is producing, with what they will replace rhe Jaguars?? J-17 perhalfs..

 

[kumar]

what about BVR what range it have .........??? Similar like Mirage-2000 60 kM .

It is equipped with aesa radar. So the bvr will be decent, but it's role is for deep penetration strike and hence more focus on bombing and close combat missiles rather than bvr. It will have escorts for it's bombing mission.

 

[Andy]

Yes in 2099.

Why not 2999 with Darin XXXX upgrades?

 

[Kira]

Its kinda ironic that Jaguar which is a ground attack jet and which the IAF has always kept away from actual operations has gotten a sophisticated AESA radar,while the spearhead/workhorse of the IAF for decades,the Mirage-2000 only got a basic radar even after it was upgraded for the price of an arm and leg in the 2010s.This has always bothered me,yeah the the French were reluctant to giveaway their AESA tech at the time as they were marketing the Rafale then.All in all,this is a very strange happenstance.

 

[tipoo2]

If half of Jaguars are going away by 2031, then it is time for immediate actions -

1. Accelerate the production of Tejas IA and development of Tejas Mk 2.
2. Select MRFA quickly before it is too late.
3. Order 12 Su-30MKIs and 21 Mig-29s soon from Russia to replenish. Deliveries not guaranteed though due to sanctions.

Do not sit idly and expect fighter jets to fall from sky.

Even if we picked an MRFA winner we'd only be getting them in numbers by the time the Tejas MK2 is ready. If I'm to read any method into this madness, which is not a safe assumption to make I know, I wonder if the government is waiting to see if it wouldn't be better to put 20 billion USD towards far far more Tejas MK2s and AMCAs than any foreign buy could purchase.

I think maybe the way forward is the 26 Rafale order for the Navy, another small order of 36 for the Air Force, and then no more foreign jet purchases, put that money towards massively expanding Tejas MK1A, MK2, and AMCA production.

 

[Sandeep]

Its kinda ironic that Jaguar which is a ground attack jet and which the IAF has always kept away from actual operations has gotten a sophisticated AESA radar,while the spearhead/workhorse of the IAF for decades,the Mirage-2000 only got a basic radar even after it was upgraded for the price of an arm and leg in the 2010s.This has always bothered me,yeah the the French were reluctant to giveaway their AESA tech at the time as they were marketing the Rafale then.All in all,this is a very strange happenstance.

Those jets are only to be used in uncontested air space or very low chance of air battles. These can carry out a wide range of bombing to hit critical targets like bases, critical infrastructure, communication and internet infrastructure etc.

 

[Sandeep]

India will have to retire the jets at a later date than what’s quoted above. The jet will have its first flight in a few years and after that they will have to carry out a lot of tests and trials which takes about 3-5 years before being certified safe for the pilot to fly the jet.

After that production will start after 2030 and it will take time to manufacture enough jets very quickly to replace the Jaguar jets in large numbers. It will take about 10 years before we produce enough jets to replace all of the other jaguar jets.

 

[Bhishma]

no need to phase out. turn them into UCAVs and troll our neighbours. penetrate 5-10Km into their territory daily and make them lose sleep

 

[Prit]

The specifications of this aircraft is so bad, I feel it's just a waste of money.

 

[R. Singh]

Till then India should make 80+ ORCA (-5th gen) powered by two Kaveri (81+kn) engines.

 

[Ranjeet Singh]

AMCA-MK-I must be operational till then if not then make 126+ ORCA to replace Jaguars !

 

[Dredd]

what about BVR what range it have .........??? Similar like Mirage-2000 60 kM .

It doesn't carry any BVR Missiles

 

[Pink Panther]

Why not 2999 with Darin XXXX upgrades?

That is also quite possible😂.