SEPECAT Jaguar
| SEPECAT Jaguar | ||
|---|---|---|
 SEPECAT Jaguar | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Strike aircraft | |
| Crew | 1 | |
| First Flight | September 8, 1968 | |
| Entered Service | 1973 | |
| Manufacturer | SEPECAT | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 16.83 m | 55' 3" |
| Wingspan | 8.69 m | 28' 6" |
| Height | 4.92 m | 16' 1" |
| Wing area | 24 m² | 258.34ft² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 7,000kg / 7,700 kg | 15,432 /16,970 lbs (Jaguar A / Jaguar S) |
| Loaded | 11,000 kg | 24,149 lbs |
| Maximum takeoff | 15,700 kg | 34,172 lbs |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 2 × Rolls Royce/Turbomeca RT712 Adour turbofans | |
| Dry Thrust | lb | kN |
| Afterburner Thrust | 7,305 / 8,040lb | 32.5 / 35.8 kN (Mk 102 / Mk 104) |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 1,593 km/h | 990 mph |
| Combat radius | 537 km | 334 miles |
| Ferry range | 3,525 km | 2,190 miles |
| Service ceiling | 14,020 m | 46,000 ft |
| Rate of climb | m/min | ft/min |
| Wing loading | kg/m² | lb/ft² |
| Thrust/Weight | ||
| Armament | ||
| Guns | two 30 mm ADEN cannon or DEFA cannon with 150 rounds per gun (two-seat models have only one cannon) | |
| Bombs | five hardpoints for 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) of disposable stores | |
| Missiles | option of two AIM-9 Sidewinder on overwing pylons | |
| Rockets | LAU-5003B/A CRV-7 rocket launchers | |
| Other | Joint Reconnaissance Pod | |
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French ground attack aircraft in service with the Armée de l'Air, the Royal Air Force and several export customers, notably India. It was the product of the world's first bi-national military aircraft program.
The Jaguar program began in the early 1960s, in response to a British requirement for an advanced supersonic jet trainer, and a French need for a cheap, subsonic dual role trainer and attack aircraft with good short field performance. From these apparently disparate aims would come a single and entirely different aircraft: relatively high-tech, supersonic, and optimised for ground attack in a high-threat environment. It was planned as a replacement for the RAF Hawker Hunter and the Armee de l'Air F-100 Super Sabre.
Cross-channel negotiations led to the formation of SEPECAT (the Société Européenne de Production de l'Avion d'Ecole de Combat et d'Appui Tactique) in 1966 as a joint venture between Bréguet (the design leader) and the British Aircraft Corporation to produce the airframe, and a separate teaming of Rolls-Royce and Turboméca to develop the Adour afterburning turbofan engine.
The first of 8 prototypes flew on September 8 1968. It was an orthodox single-seat, swept-wing, twin-engine design with a maximum take-off weight in the 15 tonne class, Combat radius on internal fuel was 850 km, maximum speed Mach 1.6 (Mach 1.1 at sea level) and hardpoints were fitted for an external weapons load of up to 10 tonnes.
The Armee de l'Air took delivery of the first production Jaguar in 1973, one of an eventual 160 single-seat Jaguar As. For type conversion training, France also took 40 of the two-seat Jaguar B. The RAF accepted delivery of the first of 165 single-seat Jaguar GR.1s (or Jaguar S) in 1974. These were supplemented by 35 two-seat trainers, the Jaguar T2 (or Jaguar B according to the manufacturer's designation). After Breguet was purchased by Dassault, the proposed Jaguar M variant, a carrier version for the French Aeronavale, was cancelled in favor of the Dassault Super Etendard.
Jaguars were also sold on the export with some success, the largest single customer being India, which built around 100 under license. Other Jaguar operators are Ecuador, Nigeria and Oman.
The Jaguar saw combat during the Gulf War, with the Armée de l'Air and RAF and the Kosovo War with the Armée de l'Air.
The aircraft has been updated several times and remains in front-line service with Britain and France. It is to be replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Rafale.
Recent press reports stating that the UK Treasury are demanding cuts in the defence budget name the Jaguar as a possible candidate for early retirement. Critics say the aircraft is near the end of its service life and does not have all the capabilites required of a front line jet. Proponents argue that the aircraft has been recently updated and is the most cost effective of all the RAF's fast jet force.
Announcing plans for the future of the British military on July 21 2004 Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon detailed plans to withdraw the Jaguar by 2007.
Units Using the Jaguar
Royal Air Force
- RAF No. 2 Squadron
- RAF No. 6 Squadron
- RAF No. 14 Squadron
- RAF No. 17 Squadron
- RAF No. 20 Squadron
- RAF No. 31 Squadron
- RAF No. 41 Squadron
- RAF No. 54 Squadron
Armée de l'Air
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fr:Jaguar (avion) ja:ジャギュア (攻撃機)