Oman will soon be transferring close to 20 old Jaguar jets to India; these fighter jets will be handed over to the Indian Air Force soon. These aircraft were in use by the Oman Air Force for a long time. These planes, which have been used extensively, will be dismantled and used for spares for the existing Jaguar airplanes. The IAF has six squadrons of Jaguars, with each one having 18–20 warplanes, and it is one of the few countries left that still uses the Anglo-French–made jet.
Why we need spares for Jaguar fighter jets
Rather than opting to order specialised parts, these older jets—when dismantled—will help refurbish and mend the existing jets with ease. The French Air Force and the Royal Air Force have already retired their Jaguars, as have the Omanis. Since the production run of the fighter jet has come to an end in many countries, the spares will cost a pretty penny, and hence this decision will probably save the government a lot of money while also ensuring that the existing jets are brought back to operational form.
Oman has had a long defence relationship with India, and when the Jaguars arrive, they will be broken down into spare parts. These parts will be much needed considering the fact that the first-generation Jaguars arrived in the year 1979; more followed, but it is an old aircraft and needs serious maintenance.
Jaguar’s history with the Indian Airforce
Jaguar was used in the 1999 Kargil War and even during later operations against Pakistan. These jets have been upgraded throughout as their uses changed, but finding spares is now a major issue, as even 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.
As per a report by Times Now, the six existing 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. In the recent past, the IAF acquired two squadrons of Rafale and may be in pursuit of acquiring 114 of them. Soon, Tejas will be able to take over, and close to 200 have been ordered, but they will take a while to arrive; hence Jaguars, which have a good safety record compared to many other fighters, will continue to serve.
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