SEPECAT Jaguar

SEPECAT (BAC / Breguet) · United Kingdom / France · first flew 1968 · fighter

The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French supersonic ground-attack and tactical strike aircraft with a distinctive high-set wing and twin Adour turbofans.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsHigh-mounted, swept
E — Engines2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted
F — FuselageTwin turbofans low in rear fuselage
T — TailConventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Identify it by the squared high shoulder wing, the tall fin with a forward bullet fairing, twin closely-set jet pipes and a slim pointed nose.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Born from a 1965 joint requirement between Britain and France, the prototype flew in September 1968. SEPECAT, a venture of BAC and Breguet, built single-seat strike and two-seat trainer versions for both nations and for export to India, Oman, Ecuador, Nigeria and elsewhere.

Variants

The RAF flew the Jaguar GR1, later upgraded to GR3/GR3A standard with new avionics and sensors. France operated the Jaguar A and two-seat E. India's licence-built and locally upgraded Jaguars remained in service far longer than the European fleets.

Where you'll see it

RAF Jaguars served the strike and reconnaissance role from bases including Coltishall, flying in the 1991 Gulf War and over the Balkans before retiring in 2007. Preserved airframes are displayed at RAF Cosford, Duxford and elsewhere, and ground-running examples occasionally feature at heritage events.

Related aircraft

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