The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received nine decommissioned Jaguar attack aircraft from the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence to support the sustainment of its existing Jaguar fleet.
The transfer comprises five Jaguar GR1 aircraft and four Jaguar T2 trainer variants. The aircraft, which are no longer airworthy, will primarily serve as a valuable source of spare parts and components to enhance the serviceability of India’s Jaguar fleet.
The move comes as India remains the last operator of the Jaguar strike aircraft, locally designated Shamsher. With production of the aircraft having ended decades ago and original spare parts becoming increasingly scarce, the Indian Air Force has been sourcing components from former Jaguar-operating nations to extend the platform’s operational life.
The United Kingdom retired its Jaguar fleet in 2007 as part of defence cost-cutting measures and continues to hold 42 additional retired Jaguars in storage. The transfer of nine aircraft follows plans first reported in 2024.
Manufactured by the SEPECAT consortium as a joint Franco-British programme, the Jaguar entered Royal Air Force service in 1974 and was designed for low-level strike and reconnaissance missions. It saw combat during the 1991 Gulf War and subsequent operations over Iraq and the Balkans.
In India, the Jaguar has been produced under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and continues to serve as one of the Indian Air Force’s principal deep-penetration strike aircraft.
