The Indian Air Force is set to shelve its plan for an engine upgrade of the Jaguar jet due to the high cost involved, reports local media.

Instead, it could go in for additional Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs to replace the aircraft that will be grounded.

The initial plan was to have the Jaguar upgrade completed by December 2017, with the modernised fleet remaining in service with the IAF beyond 2030. But state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has so far only delivered six upgraded prototypes after obtaining Initial Operational Clearance in November 2016.

With HAL struggling to integrate new radar on the jets, there has yet to be handover of a Final Operational Clearance unit.

Currently, the IAF operates a total of six squadrons of the Jaguar. However, in actual strength, there are only five squadrons, as the sixth is not a complete squadron.

Tom has spent the last 13 years working in the defence industry, specifically military and commercial shipbuilding. His work has taken him around Europe and the Far East, he is currently based in Scotland.
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Herodotus
4 years ago

I really cannot see how it is economically viable for Inia to operate so many different aircraft types!

Steve R
Steve R
4 years ago
Reply to  Herodotus

Also frustrating that we apparently cant afford to operate more than two fast jet types!

Cam
Cam
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Well we did not long ago. So we can if the dam government funded our Millitary better.

Robert blay
Robert blay
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

We don’t need more than two fast jets types when the two types we have/getting are the finest in the world. And we certainly don’t need sqns of old or 2nd rate combat aircraft just to make the numbers look good.

Steve R
Steve R
4 years ago
Reply to  Robert blay

We do have 2 of the finest aircraft types in the world yes, but we should have 3 types right now: Typhoon, F35 and Tornado – the Tornados until our F35s are in place, rather than having retired all of them when we barely had a squadron of F35 to replace. Should have been retired squadron by squadron as F35s are acquired and stood up. I’d also argue that Typhoon and F35s are very expensive for simple CAS missions and we’ll wear them out early using them for this. Fine if we are prepared to spend the money to replace… Read more ยป

Airborne
Airborne
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

In regard to the Tornado retirement, I was informed by a family member on 617 that it was more to do with lack of numbers of aircrew and the expense of training the guy/gal in the rear, tied in with expense and the need to save money pretty quick. Totally agree with you CAS airframe comment, used to have air on standby in Afghan, could be anything from a B52 to F16/GR9. They usually lasted an hour or so, re-tasked and then see them no more! A small turbo prop, agile, decent bomb load, couple of Paveways, with a decent… Read more ยป

DaveyB
DaveyB
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

We do have a dedicated CAS aircraft, the Reaper. It can fire off a Hellfire or drop a 500 pounder. It has duration in spades, as it can loiter over your area for at least 6 hours. There a couple of issues however. One is that it can only really operate in a benign environment. Two, it doesn’t have a gun. In today’s techno war era a gun fitted to a strike aircraft doesn’t seem the part. However, I can attest to its usefulness. The gun on the A10 goes without saying. But I hate to admit it, but calling… Read more ยป

Steve
Steve
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Can’t compare the 2 countries. Yes india’s gdp is lower than the UK, but its buying power is many many many times higher.

Cam
Cam
4 years ago
Reply to  Herodotus

I would imagine trained crews are far cheaper to pay in India than say the west. But even with that itโ€™s crazy how any different types they have and how many different engineers/technicians, spare parts and no doubt weapons theyโ€™ll need to have.

Ali Amjad
Ali Amjad
4 years ago
Reply to  Herodotus

It’s not hence planes & pilots are poorly trained, just recently Pakistan shot down 2 planes, on top of the helicopter that they destroyed themselves!

Julian1
Julian1
4 years ago
Reply to  Herodotus

The only reason India has so many types is because most of them are so elderly and obsolete. What do the Indian aircraft do? Itโ€™s not like the number of fleets give them a broad set of capabilities. They would be much better off with just 2 or 3 combat types preferably with compatible ordnance and in larger numbers

Steve R
Steve R
4 years ago
Reply to  Julian1

I think 3 airframe types is perfect.

1) Fighter
2) Strike
3) Close air support.

Ideally aircraft that specialise in 1 but are capable of the others. A fighter that can do strike missions, and strike or CAS planes that can still defend themselves if needed.

If it were up to me I’d have had for that

1) Typhoon
2) F35
3) Harrier or A10

Expat
Expat
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

No 3 Hawk 200 or version of. UK built and commonality with trainer fleet.

Jags were always under powered but cheep to run, if we’d held onto them they’re were not bad candidates for CAS, although think they had issues in hot and high conditions. I believe this is what India’s planned upgrade was to improve.

Steve R
Steve R
4 years ago
Reply to  Expat

Hawk would work; I didn’t even think of that but you’re right!

Or Hawk 128, which is what they use for training and also Red Arrows.

Steve R
Steve R
4 years ago
Reply to  Expat

I’d say Hawk 128 since it’s our trainer jet anyway, then upgrade it to allow integration with Brimstone. A Hawk armed with a gun and Brimstone missiles would be a potent CAS platform and could also be armed with ASRAAM to defend itself if need be.

Fedaykin
Fedaykin
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

No it would be a liability, Hawk is best used as a trainer and not pressed into a role it is Iโ€™ll suited for in the modern battle space.

Steve R
Steve R
4 years ago
Reply to  Fedaykin

Why would it be a liability, any more than Harrier GR9 or A10 was/are? If we hadn’t have scrapped and sold the Harriers I’d have said let’s just use those as theyd also have the added bonus of being carrier capable, but since we have I think Hawk could be a good way to go; it’s cheap, can fly low if it needs to for CAS but is also nimble and if you put a couple of Sidewinders or ASRAAMs on its wing tips it can defend itself from any enemy aircraft or shoot down enemy helicopters as a target… Read more ยป

Expat
Expat
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Iโ€™d say the Hawk has benefits over the Harrier. The Pegasus engines got nozzles weโ€™re really hot meaning the harrier was a prime target for heat seeking missiles. The A10 is the mother of all CAS airframes itโ€™s built with redundancy and to take hits. But they donโ€™t make it anymore. The US is considering the TX, Textron have positioned the scorpion and Leonardo are arming their trainer. So I donโ€™t see the Hawk as any different from these airframes. BAe are marketing the Advanced hawk as a light fighter. I believe the new wing on the advanced hawk allows… Read more ยป

Fedaykin
Fedaykin
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

The GR9 and A10 have a defensive aids suite plus AAR capable. They are designed to go down town over defended airspace with an appropriate weapons and sensor load. A hawk would only be able to carry a minimum weapons load for a short range and has no means to know if it is being shot at by a missile or fend off that attack with chaff or other means. Even in the so called benign environment of Afghanistan we didn’t send any manned platform over that Airspace without defensive aids. When you put all the weapons, defensive aids, sensors… Read more ยป

Rudeboy
Rudeboy
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Jaguar’s retirement after the GR.3 upgrade was a tragedy, particularly as it would have been perfect for Afghanistan for CAS. We could have let the remaining Jag fleet use up its airframe hours doing that and saved Harrier and Tornado airframe hours that were far more expensive. But the Hawk 200 was a cracking aircraft. 20-40 of them in UK service would have saved us a fortune. They could have also received the Blue Vixen radars from the Sea Harrier when they retired…add in Amraam capability that Blue Vixen brought and you have a very useful 2nd line/air policing fighter… Read more ยป

Fedaykin
Fedaykin
4 years ago
Reply to  Rudeboy

Even with the uprated engines later in its life Jaguar would have required the curvature of the Earth to get off the Runway in Afghanistan with a useful weapons payload. Hawk 200 hardly set the market alight, 62 airframes to three customers. It is only really useful as a point defence fighter circling its own airfield or dropping bombs on insurgents in your own country. If you want to power project globally it is a very poor choice. Good luck trying to fit Blue Vixen, it is a larger and heavier radar than the APG-66H fitted to the 200 series.… Read more ยป

ATH
ATH
4 years ago
Reply to  Expat

If we had โ€œheld on the the Jagsโ€ they would now be totally worn out, they were well used when we did get rid.

BB85
BB85
4 years ago

Credit to India for keeping these planes operational for so long, but how effective are they? They are only useful as light weight bomb trucks in uncontested airspace.

HF
HF
4 years ago
Reply to  BB85

Well, the last B52 was built in 1962 so these are youngsters. But I agree, they are obsolete except in unopposed situations. Incidentally there are dozens at Cosford which are used for engineering training.

Cam
Cam
4 years ago
Reply to  HF

Thereโ€™s still a squadron of hunters flying in the UK.

HF
HF
4 years ago
Reply to  Cam

Not as a squadron, though, surely ? Simply the most beautiful jet fighter ever !

Cam
Cam
4 years ago
Reply to  HF

Yeah, itโ€™s called hawker hunter aviation.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  Cam

Who? Not in the UK military there isn’t. Do you mean a few preserved examples?

HF
HF
4 years ago

Here’s BAE’s list of UK Hunters:-
https://www.baesystems.com/en/heritage/hawker-hunter

Clearly the RAF ones are gate guardians.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  HF

How interesting. Hawker Hunter Aviation…I did not know of them. Indeed, virtually a Squadron. At Scampton too.

Cam
Cam
4 years ago

Yeah hawker Hunter aviation, thatโ€™s who I was on about. They have buccaneers too or actually just one buccaneer for long range missions.

Steve R
Steve R
4 years ago
Reply to  HF

I suppose what could be done though is to integrate the likes of Jaguar with stand off missiles to be launched from a distance and can be equipped with a pair of air to air missiles for self defence.

Cheaper to keep the old aircraft going and give them shiny new missiles than to build/buy a whole new class of aircraft.

This is also the route Russia appears to be taking; investing in it’s long range missiles. Not a bad way to go if you have limited funds.

Pradeep Choudhary
Pradeep Choudhary
4 years ago
Reply to  BB85

Yes, that’s what they’re used for, bombing targets, secured and guarded by Su-30s. They’re used as a bomber.

Cam
Cam
4 years ago

30 squadrons! That surely canโ€™t be all fast jets is it?

Mike B.
Mike B.
4 years ago

Hahahaha
No wonder they got there butts handed to them by a country a third of their size in Pakistan…

Fedaykin
Fedaykin
4 years ago

The face palm nature of Indian defence procurement strikes again! They have deep experience of the Adour as they have operated and licence built the engine for decades. They were being offered an upgrade that was known to work based upon one for the RAF Jaguar fleet that would recycle large portions of their already in inventory Adour combined with components from the Adour fitted to their new Hawk fleet. It was a win win scenario that was cost effective and levered the institutional knowledge they already had about the Adour. So what do they decide to do? Throw that… Read more ยป

Expat
Expat
4 years ago
Reply to  Fedaykin

I think the Adour offered was heavier than the HW power plant. HW low balled the bid and RR dropped out, then came the bribery case against RR as I recall which I think his holding back RR in India still. With only a single bidder HW could name their price but seems to have now backfired.

Fedaykin
Fedaykin
4 years ago
Reply to  Expat

I was aware that the RR offering was heavier but considering that it was based upon a known to work upgrade that would have met the needs of the IAF I always felt it was a week excuse. As for RR blackballing I would put money on it being down to the local fixers that RR were forced to employ.

Expat
Expat
4 years ago
Reply to  Fedaykin

I would say your right RR was probably pressured to make some payouts, the RR bribery case as I understand was over the hawk trainer engines which I always thought was odd, after all what other engine would you fit to the hawk.

Fedaykin
Fedaykin
4 years ago

No…next question ๐Ÿ˜‰

Cam
Cam
4 years ago

Probably need arestor wire for landing though, but that would be inexpensive to setup surely. And our jets donโ€™t even use close to the whole runway for taking off so I wonder if Taranis did it could take off, but no doubt itโ€™s not ski jump tested.

Rudeboy
Rudeboy
4 years ago
Reply to  Cam

Taranis is powered by an Adour. Dirt cheap to run….but not exactly known for its power output…even in reheat.