Why India is Breaking Jaguar Fighter Jets to Keep Others Flying

New Delhi: India is set to receive Jaguar fighter jets from the Gulf nation of Oman. According to a report by The War Zone, under a recent agreement between India and Oman, a number of retired Jaguars from the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) will be transferred to India.

Interestingly, these jets will not be inducted directly into the Indian Air Force (IAF). Instead, they will be dismantled for parts to support India’s existing fleet of Jaguar aircraft, some of which are nearly 45 years old. The move is part of the IAF’s ongoing modernization program, known as the Display Attack Ranging and Inertial Navigation (DARIN) upgrade, which started in the 1980s and has gone through three major phases.

Why Spare Parts are Critical
The oldest Jaguars, originally purchased from France, are now difficult to maintain due to a shortage of replacement parts. In 2018–19, India approached France for assistance, receiving 31 complete airframes and various spare components at minimal cost. These spares are now being used to keep India’s six Jaguar squadrons operational, each consisting of 18–20 aircraft. This year alone, three Jaguars were lost, highlighting the urgent need for components.

DARIN Upgrades Over the Years

• DARIN I: Introduced new navigation and attack systems while retaining the original forward fuselage. Added electronic displays, head-up display (HUD), and weapon-targeting computers.
• DARIN II: Equipped with Thales laser targeting, Elbit HUD, inertial navigation/GPS, Israeli Elta EL/L-8222 jammers, and advanced countermeasures. Also integrated advanced air-to-air missiles and sensor-fused weapons.
• DARIN III: Started in 2008, introduced AESA radar (Elta EL/M-2052), fully glass cockpit with multifunction displays, digital HUD, and advanced mission computers. The first flight of the upgraded Jaguar occurred in 2012.

Jaguar’s Role in Combat
Indian Jaguars have proven highly effective in maritime strike operations and in the 1999 Kargil War, employing laser-guided bombs and advanced targeting systems. The upgraded Jaguars are now capable of using AGM-84 Harpoon missiles and ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, among other modern weaponry.

Strategic Necessity
Facing dual threats from Pakistan and China, the Indian government has emphasized the need for at least 42 combat squadrons. Currently, India operates only 29 squadrons, its smallest since the 1962 war with China. Delays in procuring new fighter aircraft have further stressed the fleet, making the reuse of parts from retired Jaguars a crucial step in sustaining operational readiness.