Jaguar Fighter Jet Crashes in Haryana; Pilot Ejects Safely
Click to start listening
Synopsis
A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in Haryana during a training mission. The pilot managed to eject safely. An investigation has been launched to uncover the cause of the incident.
Key Takeaways
- IAF Jaguar aircraft crash in Haryana
- Pilot safely ejects before crash
- Investigation launched by IAF
- Jaguar jets are being phased out
- Exclusive operator India enhances aircraft
Chandigarh, March 7 (NationPress) A Jaguar fighter aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) met with an accident in Haryana on Friday; however, the pilot successfully ejected, as per official reports.
The IAF stated that the Jaguar aircraft crashed in Ambala during a standard training flight after facing a system malfunction. The pilot skillfully steered the aircraft away from populated areas before ejecting safely.
An investigation has been initiated by the IAF to determine the accident's cause.
The SEPECAT Jaguar, a supersonic jet attack aircraft developed by a British-French consortium, was designed in the 1960s and began production, entering service in various air forces during the 1970s. India received these aircraft in the early 1980s, renaming them Shamsher.
This aircraft served in the UK's Royal Air Force until 2007 and the French Air Force until 2005 before being succeeded by the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale, respectively. It has also been utilized by the air forces of Ecuador, Nigeria, and Oman.
Presently, India is the sole operator of this legacy fighter, which has been manufactured and upgraded by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to include new avionics, a redesigned cockpit, and contemporary armaments.
The IAF reportedly maintains six squadrons of these aircraft, with two stationed in Ambala and four others located in Gorakhpur and Jamnagar. The aircraft comes in three variants: the IB for training, the IS, and the IM. Besides ground attack missions, the IAF envisions a role for these fighters in maritime strike operations.
The aircraft is expected to be retired from service by the end of the current decade.
