Daijiworld Media Network - Ambala
Ambala, Mar 7: A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Haryana on Friday during a routine training sortie, but the pilot managed to eject safely, averting any casualties, officials said.
According to the IAF, the aircraft encountered a system malfunction before going down. The pilot ensured the jet was steered away from populated areas before ejecting safely. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.
The SEPECAT Jaguar, a supersonic attack aircraft developed by a British-French consortium, first entered service in the 1970s. India inducted these fighters in the early 1980s, naming them "Shamsher." While nations like the UK and France phased out the aircraft in the 2000s, India remains the only country still operating them, with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) upgrading them with modern avionics and weaponry.
The IAF maintains six squadrons of Jaguar aircraft, including two at Ambala, with others stationed in Gorakhpur and Jamnagar. The fighter jet, available in three variants—IB (trainer), IS, and IM—has been crucial for ground attack and maritime strike missions.
The vintage aircraft is expected to be phased out by the end of this decade.