SEPECAT Jaguar
| SEPECAT Jaguar | ||
|---|---|---|
 SEPECAT Jaguar | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Ground attack | |
| Crew | 1 | |
| First Flight | September 8, 1968 | |
| Entered Service | 1973 | |
| Manufacturer | SEPECAT | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 15.52 m | ' " |
| Wingspan | 8.64 m | 28' 6" |
| Height | 4.92 m | ' " |
| Wing area | 21.18 m² | ft² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 7,700 kg | 16,970 lbs |
| Loaded | 11,000 kg | 24,149 lbs |
| Maximum takeoff | 15,700 kg | 34,612 lbs |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 2 × Rolls Royce/Turbomeca RT712 Adour turbofans | |
| Thrust | 38.10 kN | lbs |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 1,690 km/h | 1,056 mph |
| Combat range | 852 km | 530 miles |
| Ferry range | 4,210 km | 2,600 miles |
| Service ceiling | 13,920 m | 45,930ft |
| Rate of climb | m/min | ft/min |
| Wing loading | kg/m² | lb/ft² |
| Thrust/Weight | ||
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 2 × 30 mm Aden or DEFA cannon | |
| Bombs | 4536 kg on 5 hardpoints | |
| Missiles | 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinder | |
| Rockets | LAU-5003B/A CRV-7 rocket launchers | |
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French ground attack aircraft in service with the ArmÃÂée de l'Air, the Royal Air Force and several export customers, notably India. It was the product of the world's first bi-national military aircraft program.
The Jaguar program began in the early 1960s, in response to a British requirement for an advanced supersonic jet trainer, and a French need for a cheap, subsonic dual role trainer and attack aircraft with good short field performance. From these apparently disparate aims would come a single and entirely different aircraft: relatively high-tech, supersonic, and optimised for ground attack in a high-threat environment. It was planned as a replacement for the RAF Hawker Hunter and the Armee de l'Air F-100 Super Sabre.
Cross-channel negotiations led to the formation of SEPECAT (the SociÃÂétÃÂé EuropÃÂéenne de Production de l'Avion d'Ecole de Combat et d'Appui Tactique) in 1966 as a joint venture between BrÃÂéguet (the design leader) and the British Aircraft Corporation to produce the airframe, and a separate teaming of Rolls-Royce and TurbomÃÂéca to develop the Adour afterburning turbofan engine.
The first of 8 prototypes flew on September 8 1968. It was an orthodox single-seat, swept-wing, twin-engine design with a maximum take-off weight in the 15 tonne class, a wingspan of 8.7m, and overall length of 16.8 m. Combat radius on internal fuel was 850 km, maximum speed Mach 1.6 (Mach 1.1 at sea level) and hardpoints were fitted for an external weapons load of up to 10 tonnes.
The Armee de l'Air took delivery of the first production Jaguar in 1973: one of an eventual 160 single-seat Jaguar As. For type conversion training, France also took 40 of the two-seat Jaguar B. The RAF accepted delivery of the first of 165 single-seat Jaguar GR.1s (or "Jaguar S") in 1974. These were supplemented by 35 two-seat trainers, the Jaguar T2 (or "Jaguar B" according to the manufacturer's designation). The proposed M variant, a carrier launched version, was cancelled.
Jaguars were also sold on the export with some success, the largest single customer being India, which built around 100 under license. Other Jaguar operators are Ecuador, Nigeria and Oman.
The Jaguar saw combat during the Gulf War, with the ArmÃÂée de l'Air and RAF and the Kosovo War with the ArmÃÂée de l'Air.
The aircraft has been updated several times and remains in front-line service with Britain and France. It is to be replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Rafale.
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Units Using the Jaguar
Royal Air Force
ArmÃÂée de l'Air
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