“Thank You Oman,” would be the Indian Air Force’s message to Muscat. For, the Oman Air Force will be transferring its 20+ Jaguar fighter-bombers to the IAF to be broken up and used as spares. The IAF has six squadrons of the Jaguar, with each of them having 18-20 warplanes, and it is one of the few countries in the world that still uses this Anglo-French-made jet.
Getting used warplanes to be broken up and used as spares is hardly glamorous, but it is certainly useful. For, the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force have retired their Jaguars, as have the Omanis. With the production facilities also having ended, there is little choice before the IAF– it has to find spares where it can and the Omanis have 20-odd planes they have little for. And Oman is a friendly country, with a long defence-related relationship with India. When the Jaguars arrive, they will be broken up into spare parts, which are much-needed, considering the first Jaguar arrived in India in 1979. More came years later, but it is an aging aircraft and needs serious maintenance.
The Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft has done well in India. It was used during the 1999 Kargil war and even during later operations against Pakistan. They have, of course, been overhauled and upgraded to ensure they have longer lives. But spares would be a problem considering other countries like Nigeria have stopped using them. In the past, the French did share about 30 “retired” Jaguars for spares and the British and Omanis offered a few each.
The six Jaguar squadrons will have to continue for a few years, as the IAF is down to 30 fighter squadrons, when it says it needs another ten. Besides, many fighters, like the Jaguar, are aging and need replacement. The IAF acquired two squadrons of the Rafale and may look for another 114 of them. Discussions about indigenous content in them are going on. The Tejas– the indigenous light combat aircraft– will come, and about 200 have been ordered, but they will take a while to arrive. As a result, the Jaguar, which has had a good safety record compared with many other fighter aircraft of the IAF will continue.
