After Rafale splurge, a sensible Jaguar upgrade

Indian Air Force is rejuvenating 80 ageing Jaguar fighters into highly capable, multi-role, combat aircraft for a mere $1.5 billion

The Indian Air Force (IAF), after being criticised for spending $9.2 billion on 36 Rafale fighter aircraft, is closing in on a far more prudent deal — the rejuvenation of 80 ageing Jaguar fighters into highly capable, multi-role, combat aircraft for a mere $1.5 billion or so.

This long-delayed project, which was resurrected last month, involves replacing the Jaguar’s underpowered engines. 

Separately, the uprated fighter will get state-of-the-art avionics for striking ground targets more accurately, hitting maritime targets far out at sea, and winning aerial dogfights with enemy fighters. 

For a decade, the Jaguar upgrade proposal has remained stalled on