Still striking hard – the world’s last Jaguars
April 25, 2025
The Indian Air Force Jaguars are participating in exercise Desert Flag-10, a multinational air combat exercise being held in the United Arab Emirates from 21 April to 8 May 2025. They will train alongside the air forces of eleven friendly nations including the UAE, the US, the UK, Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, and Turkey.
The aim of the exercise is to undertake complex air engagements, exchanging operational knowledge and best practices with some of the world’s most capable air forces. Participation is intended to enhance mutual understanding, and to practise and refine interoperability, while strengthening military co-operation between the participating air forces.
The IAF’s participation is said to “underscore India’s commitment to strengthening defence ties and interoperability with friendly nations in the region and beyond.”
India received 18 loaned RAF aircraft, 40 UK-built Jaguar International aircraft, and about 162 more built by HAL, taking the total to 202 aircraft. 35 more were acquired for spares use from France, the UK and Oman. By 2024, some 60 aircraft (more than half of the surviving Jaguar fleet, with about 50 having been lost in service) had been upgraded to DARIN III standards, with perhaps 60 more expected to follow. The 60 oldest Jaguars are expected to be retired between 2028-2031, leaving about 90 in service.
Since the retirement of Oman’s last four operational Jaguars on 6 August 2014 India has been the sole operator of the Jaguar, which today equips six IAF squadrons. These consist of No.5 Squadron ‘Tuskers’ and No.14 Squadron ‘Bulls’ at Ambala AFS, No.6 Squadron ‘Dragons’ and No.224 Squadron ‘Warlords’ at Jamnagar AFS and No.16 Squadron ‘Cobras’ and No.27 Squadron ‘Flaming Arrows’ at Gorakhpur AFS.
