Three crashes in a year: Is IAF's ageing Jaguar fleet turning into the next 'flying coffins' like MiG-21 ?
IAF Jaguar crashes again in Rajasthan, third such incident this year
A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Tuesday, marking the third accident involving the ageing fleet in 2025. Earlier crashes were reported from Panchkula in Haryana in March and near Jamnagar in Gujarat in April.
Renewed scrutiny over the ageing fleet
The repeated crashes have triggered renewed concerns about the safety and operational viability of the Jaguar aircraft, which has been part of the IAF fleet for over 40 years. Originally developed in the 1960s as a twin-engine, supersonic ground attack aircraft, the Jaguar was once among the IAF’s frontline platforms. However, questions around its continued use have increased in recent years due to ageing and obsolescence.
A former Jaguar test pilot told the EurAsian Times on condition of anonymity, “As the aircraft age, they all go through the same thing. Jaguar is the new MiG-21 because that is the oldest fighter in the IAF. Just that.”
Also Read: IAF's Jaguar fighter jet crashes in Rajasthan's Churu, both pilots killed
Service history and production background
In over 40 years, the IAF inducted 145 Jaguar aircraft in total. The first batch of 40 came in fly-away condition from the UK in 1979. These jets were named “Shamsher,” which means “sword of justice.” The rest were built in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a transfer-of-technology agreement, with production continuing until 2008.
India is the only country in the world currently operating the Jaguars. Several countries, including Britain, France, Ecuador, Oman, and Nigeria, have already retired the ageing fighter jets.
Engine limitations and accident record
Over the years, the Jaguar fleet has been involved in more than 50 minor and major accidents. Many pilots and defence analysts attribute this record to the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce-Turbomeca Adour Mk811 engines. These engines have been criticised for offering inadequate thrust, which affects performance in terms of speed, manoeuvrability, and weapons payload.
Abandoned upgrade proposal
To overcome the performance issues, the IAF had proposed replacing the Jaguar’s engines with Honeywell’s F125-IN turbofans. The plan underwent nearly 10 years of evaluation before being scrapped in August 2019 due to cost concerns.
The estimated cost to re-engine each aircraft was Rs 190 crore (USD 13.26 million). HAL would have also needed an additional Rs 20 crore per jet for modifications, testing, and certification.
Future of the Jaguar uncertain
The rising number of crashes and rapid changes in air warfare have raised doubts over the continued use of Jaguars in the IAF. Some observers have drawn comparisons to the MiG-21, which was also kept in service for decades before being retired after a series of accidents.
A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Tuesday, marking the third accident involving the ageing fleet in 2025. Earlier crashes were reported from Panchkula in Haryana in March and near Jamnagar in Gujarat in April.
Renewed scrutiny over the ageing fleet
The repeated crashes have triggered renewed concerns about the safety and operational viability of the Jaguar aircraft, which has been part of the IAF fleet for over 40 years. Originally developed in the 1960s as a twin-engine, supersonic ground attack aircraft, the Jaguar was once among the IAF’s frontline platforms. However, questions around its continued use have increased in recent years due to ageing and obsolescence.
A former Jaguar test pilot told the EurAsian Times on condition of anonymity, “As the aircraft age, they all go through the same thing. Jaguar is the new MiG-21 because that is the oldest fighter in the IAF. Just that.”
Also Read: IAF's Jaguar fighter jet crashes in Rajasthan's Churu, both pilots killed
Service history and production background
In over 40 years, the IAF inducted 145 Jaguar aircraft in total. The first batch of 40 came in fly-away condition from the UK in 1979. These jets were named “Shamsher,” which means “sword of justice.” The rest were built in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a transfer-of-technology agreement, with production continuing until 2008.
India is the only country in the world currently operating the Jaguars. Several countries, including Britain, France, Ecuador, Oman, and Nigeria, have already retired the ageing fighter jets.
Engine limitations and accident record
Over the years, the Jaguar fleet has been involved in more than 50 minor and major accidents. Many pilots and defence analysts attribute this record to the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce-Turbomeca Adour Mk811 engines. These engines have been criticised for offering inadequate thrust, which affects performance in terms of speed, manoeuvrability, and weapons payload.
Abandoned upgrade proposal
To overcome the performance issues, the IAF had proposed replacing the Jaguar’s engines with Honeywell’s F125-IN turbofans. The plan underwent nearly 10 years of evaluation before being scrapped in August 2019 due to cost concerns.
The estimated cost to re-engine each aircraft was Rs 190 crore (USD 13.26 million). HAL would have also needed an additional Rs 20 crore per jet for modifications, testing, and certification.
Future of the Jaguar uncertain
The rising number of crashes and rapid changes in air warfare have raised doubts over the continued use of Jaguars in the IAF. Some observers have drawn comparisons to the MiG-21, which was also kept in service for decades before being retired after a series of accidents.
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