SEPECAT Jaguar (1973 - date)

Jaguar GR Mk 1 XZ118 departs Coltishall in Gulf War camouflage with a single 264gal centre-line fuel tank, overwing AIM-9L AAMs and an ALQ-101 ECM pod (MoD)

The Jaguar is the first warplane produced on a collaborative basis by two partners in different countries. The design of the aircraft had its distant origins in the Breguet Taon which in 1957 won a NATO light fighter competition, in the event not progressed. The French and Royal Air Forces both had a requirement for a fast trainer and Breguet/Dassault and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) collaborated in the production both of training and attack versions - in the case of the UK the fighter version was required to compensate for the cancellation of the P.1154 and the intended Anglo-French Variable Geometry (AFVG) aircraft, which later re-surfaced as the Tornado. Agreement was reached in 1966 for joint development and manufacture, in the UK to AST362. During the course of early development the aircraft was fitted with a taller fin and larger nosewheel door. The single seat fighter replaced the Phantom in Germany and the UK where the latter type was an interim solution to replacement of the Canberra.

Jaguar Mk 1 aircraft in Germany from front to back XZ109/O 2 Sqn, XX960/AK 14 Sqn, XX768/BA 17 Sqn, XZ374/CA 20 Sqn and XZ381/DP of 31 Sqn (MOD)

GR Mark 1 The Jaguar first flew in French two-seat (E) form in September 1968 and the first British prototype, XW560 a single-seater, flew on 12 October 1969. The Jaguar was intended as a low-level strike aircraft capable of Mach 1.6 but operating from simple strips and carrying a powerful external weapons load of up to 10,500lbs on five hardpoints. In addition there are two fixed 30mm Aden cannon. The RAF attack version differed from the French in having a digital inertial navigation system, and from 1974 external changes included a revised nose to accommodate the Ferranti Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) and a radar warning receiver on the fin. The changes were retro-fitted to all surviving aircraft. Service introduction was with the Jaguar OCU in September 1973 and the first squadron was 54 from March 1974.
Service Ground attack 6, 14, 17, 20, 31, 54 Reconnaissance 2, 41 Training JOCU/226 OCU

GR Mk 1B XX955/GK in grey/green camouflage 1987 (Author)

XZ356/EP 'Mary Rose' of 6 Sqn after Gulf War service (Author)

XZ367/GP of 54 Sqn in Gulf War camouflage (Author)

XX116 of 16(R) Sqn in all-over black markings 1995 (Author)

XZ366/S of 41 Sqn at Coltishall 1992 (Author)

Probably the rarest markings to appear on a Jaguar. XX821/8896M of '284 Sqn' Servicing Instruction Flight, Cranwell 1998 (Author)

FBW/ACT One GR Mk 1, XX765, was adapted by British Aerospace in 1981 as a fly-by-wire testbed. In 1982 the aircraft acquired large wing leading edge root extensions to destabilise the aircraft, becoming the Active Control Technology demonstrator.

ACT aircraft XX765; the leading edge extensions are clearly visible (MoD)

GR Mark 1A The Mark 1A was a GR Mk 1 conversion with the improved FIN 1064 INS which gave unprecedented accuracy and which was fitted from 1983. From 1978 the engines had been upgraded to the Adour 104, while from 1982 a range of defensive and offensive equipment changes was incorporated. These included AN/ALE-40 flare/chaff dispensers and the ability to carry AN/ALQ-101(V)-10 ECM pods and AIM-9L Sidewinder AAMs on overwing mounts. To meet operational requirements of the Gulf War the Mk.1As were fitted with Mk XII Mode 4 IFF, a Have Quick VHF radio, improved RWR plus hotter and longer-burning flares.
Service Ground attack 6, 14, 17, 20, 31, 54 Reconnaissance 2, 41 Training 226 OCU; 16(R) Trials RAE/DRA

XX399/03 of 226 OCU landing at Abingdon after displaying in 1990 (Author)

GR Mk 1A XX766/EA of 6 Sqn in 1992 (Author)

XX965 of 226 OCU at Alconbury 1990 (Author)

XZ104/M of 41 Sqn at Prestwick 1989 (Author)

GR Mark 1B Ten Mk 1A aircraft were upgraded to carry the Ferranti Thermal Imaging And Laser Designator (TIALD) pod with databus interface plus redundant controllers from Tornado F Mk.2 and Harrier GR Mk 3 aircraft. The INS was also upgraded to interface with a GPS receiver. The point was to improve weapons release accuracy. New head-down and head-up displays were incorporated.
Service Ground attack 6, 54 Trials DRA

GR Mk 1B XX748/GK of 54 Sqn in grey finish Yeovilton 1998 (Author)

T Mark 2 The Mark 2 was designed from the outset as a fully operational two-seat tandem trainer. The prototype, XW566, first flew on 30 August 1971 and the 38 ordered were split between operational squadrons and the OCU.
Service Training 2, 6, 14, 17, 20, 31, 41, 54; JOCU/226 OCU Other ETPS; RAE

Trainer variant XX139/C of 226 OCU in 1982 (Author)

XX830 of the Empire Test Pilot's School, 1992 (Author)

T Mark 2A This designation was applied at that stage in Jaguar development when the INS was replaced with the FIN 1064, by which time the engine had been uprated to the Adour 104. Only 14 conversions were completed.
Service Training 2, 6, 41, 54; 226 OCU; 16(R) Trials DRA; SAOEU

ZB615 of DRA in 1995

T Mark 2B Three aircraft, XX143, 833 and 835 were brought up to the same standard as the GR Mk 1B, as fully operational trainers primarily to train on the use of TIALD.
Service Training 6, 41, 54

GR Mark 3 In 2000 all remaining GR Mk 1 airframes (about 64) were being brought up to Jaguar 96 standard. This entails taking them to GR Mk 1B level of equipment but also combining the Gulf War ('Granby') modifications applied to the Mk 1A aircraft. In reality not all aircraft so designated will be fully equipped at any time, but all will be capable with wiring and controls for TIALD operation. In addition most airframes will be fitted with Adour Mk 104 engines rebuilt to Mk 106 standard and delivering an extra 25% thrust.
Service Ground attack 6, 54 Reconnaissance 41

Beautiful air-air shot of XX117 of 16(R) Sqn (MoD)

A pair of GR Mk 3s including XZ367/GP of 54 Sqn 1999 (Author)

GR Mark 3A In due course all remaining single-seat Jaguars will be upgraded to Jaguar 97 standard and be fully reconnaissance capable. The Vinten Vicon 18 Series 601 EO GP electro-optical pod may be carried. A new LCD display will replace the multi-purpose colour display (MPCD) and the GEC helmet mounted sight system for TIALD and the missile seeker will be accommodated. Finally, new data modems will be fitted to allow pilots to receive or transmit compressed images in real time.

T Mark 4 At 1999 the seventeen remaining trainer aircraft were scheduled for conversion to the equivalent of GR Mk 3 standard, but with only eight fitted with TIALD at any time.

GR Mk 1 XZ112 in 54 Sqn 75th anniversary markings, Fairford 1991 (Author)

Specification and production

Mark	Role	Engine	Thrust lbs	Weight lbs	Speed mph	Nos
GR1	Ground attack	2 x Adour 102	8,040	33,500	M1.6	165
GR1A	Ground attack	2 x Adour 104	8,400	34,170	M1.6	75 *
GR1B	Ground attack	2 x Adour 104	8,400	34,250	M1.6	10 $
T2	Trainer	2 x Adour 102	8,040	34,000	M1.6	38
T2A	Trainer	2 x Adour 104	8,400	34,000	M1.6	14 +
T2B	Trainer	2 x Adour 104	8,400	34,000	M1.6	3 +
GR3	Ground attack	2 x Adour 106	10,500	34,600	M1.6	c64 ~
GR3A	Ground attack	2 x Adour 106	10,500	34,600	M1.6	? ~
T4	Trainer	2 x Adour 106	10,500	34,250	M1.6	17 #

Notes

* GR.1 conversions

$ GR.1A conversions

+ T.2 conversions

~ GR.1A conversions

Vic FlinthamPost-war aviation historian and writer - www.vicflintham.co.uk

SEPECAT Jaguar (1973 - date)

Specification and production

Notes

Further reading