India to Acquire Nine Retired Jaguar Fighter Jets

India is set to acquire nine retired SEPECAT Jaguar fighter aircraft from the United Kingdom in 2026. The aircraft will be used for cannibalisation, a practice in which retired airframes are dismantled to obtain spare parts and sub-assemblies for an existing fleet.

SEPECAT Jaguar Aircraft

The SEPECAT Jaguar is a twin-engine strike aircraft developed jointly by the United Kingdom and France. The aircraft entered service in the 1970s and is no longer in production. The Indian Air Force remains the only military force in the world operating the Jaguar combat aircraft.

Indian Air Force Jaguar Fleet

The Indian Air Force operates six Jaguar squadrons based at Ambala, Gorakhpur, and Jamnagar. India’s Jaguar inventory is estimated at about 115 to 120 aircraft, and around 120 Jaguars are expected to remain in service until 2030-2032. India has earlier sourced retired Jaguars for spare parts from France in 2018 and from Oman in 2025. These acquisitions were used to support maintenance of the ageing fleet and to extend the service life of operational aircraft.

Maintenance and Re-engining Plans

India had examined a re-engining proposal for the Jaguar fleet using Honeywell’s F-125IN turbofan engine. The proposal did not proceed because of rising costs.

British Port Shipment

Three former Royal Air Force Jaguars were seen at a British port in protective coverings before shipment to India in June 2026. The aircraft were retired from Royal Air Force service before transfer for dismantling.

Important Facts for Exams

• The SEPECAT Jaguar is a twin-engine strike aircraft developed by SEPECAT, a British-French consortium.
• The Indian Air Force is the only operator of the Jaguar combat aircraft in active military service.
• Cannibalisation in aviation refers to using retired aircraft as a source of spare parts.
• India has previously obtained retired Jaguars from France and Oman for fleet support.

Fleet Status

The Jaguar remains one of the oldest combat aircraft in the Indian Air Force inventory. The aircraft continues to serve in strike and ground-attack roles in Indian service.