IAF’s Jaguar Jets: India is still flying the old SEPECAT Jaguar fighter, even though most other countries stopped using it long ago. Because spare parts are getting harder to find, the Indian Air Force is now getting more retired Jaguar aircraft from the United Kingdom. These jets will not be used for normal flying. They will be broken down and used for parts so the active fleet can stay in service. Reports say India is keeping the world’s last operational Jaguar fleet going this way.
This move matters because the Jaguar is an older Cold War-era aircraft, and the IAF still depends on it for strike missions. The problem is simple. When other operators retire the same aircraft, the supply chain slowly dries up. That makes even basic maintenance difficult. India has already been buying retired Jaguar airframes from France, Oman and the UK for the same reason. The goal is to save useful parts and keep the remaining jets airworthy for as long as possible.
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What is the UK sending to India?
According to Janes, the UK has already started sending retired Jaguar airframes to India. The report said the aircraft being transferred are from the British out-of-service fleet and include both single-seat and twin-seat versions. The source quoted in the report said, “These comprise a mix of single-seat GR3/GR3A and twin-seat T4 variants from the UK’s out-of-service fleet,” and added that they are not in flying condition.
The UK government has also confirmed that the transfer work is still moving ahead. A spokesperson said “transfer activity [to India] is currently ongoing”. Janes also reported that the UK still has 42 retired Jaguar aircraft left.
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UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard told Parliament that India had already received nine retired Jaguar aircraft since January 1, 2026. That batch included five single-seat fighters and four twin-seat trainer variants. He also said the remaining Jaguars will be dismantled and shipped in batches over the next few months. This means more old airframes are likely to arrive soon, all meant to support India’s ageing fleet and keep it flying a little longer.
