Mikesingh
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Confronted with a fast-depleting number of fighter squadrons, and long delays in new inductions, the IAF is scrambling around the globe to acquire old jets retired and mothballed by other countries to bolster its existing combat fleet.
The hunt for airframes and spares has been particularly successful for the British-origin Jaguar strike fighters, with transfer of “assets” from Oman, France and the UK, which IAF will cannibalise for operational flexibility of its jets. “IAF currently has 118 Jaguars (26 of them twin-seaters) but their operational availability has drastically gone down because of obsolescence, shortage of spares and closing down of assembly lines by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).
So, the search for airframes and spares from different countries is underway,” a defence ministry source said. Simultaneously, IAF and HAL are also finalizing the long-delayed $1.5 billion project to “re-engine” and upgrade five Jaguar squadrons (80 fighters), which also have a maritime strike and nuclear-delivery role. IAF had inducted 40 Jaguars from the UK from 1979 onwards, which was later followed by licensed production of around 150 fighters by HAL.
But with progressive upgrades of avionics and weapon systems, the overweight fighters have been dogged by their “underpowered’’ Adour-811 engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce, with several accidents and loss of lives.
“France and the UK retired their Jaguars in 2005-2007. But after the Jaguars in IAF get new F-125IN Honeywell engines and upgrades, they can easily be flown beyond 2035,” the source said.
https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/#
France is gifting 31 Jaguars, which will be shipped to India by December after being dismantled by HAL, once India inks the ₹59,000 crore contract for 36 new Rafale fighters. Out of these, can HAL make at least one Jag squadron airworthy and fit for upgradation?
The hunt for airframes and spares has been particularly successful for the British-origin Jaguar strike fighters, with transfer of “assets” from Oman, France and the UK, which IAF will cannibalise for operational flexibility of its jets. “IAF currently has 118 Jaguars (26 of them twin-seaters) but their operational availability has drastically gone down because of obsolescence, shortage of spares and closing down of assembly lines by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).
So, the search for airframes and spares from different countries is underway,” a defence ministry source said. Simultaneously, IAF and HAL are also finalizing the long-delayed $1.5 billion project to “re-engine” and upgrade five Jaguar squadrons (80 fighters), which also have a maritime strike and nuclear-delivery role. IAF had inducted 40 Jaguars from the UK from 1979 onwards, which was later followed by licensed production of around 150 fighters by HAL.
But with progressive upgrades of avionics and weapon systems, the overweight fighters have been dogged by their “underpowered’’ Adour-811 engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce, with several accidents and loss of lives.
“France and the UK retired their Jaguars in 2005-2007. But after the Jaguars in IAF get new F-125IN Honeywell engines and upgrades, they can easily be flown beyond 2035,” the source said.
https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/#
France is gifting 31 Jaguars, which will be shipped to India by December after being dismantled by HAL, once India inks the ₹59,000 crore contract for 36 new Rafale fighters. Out of these, can HAL make at least one Jag squadron airworthy and fit for upgradation?
