With cutting-edge AESA radar, Jaguar is IAF's first fighter

Elta's offer of its new AESA radar at no additional cost was a win-win

Jaguar strike aircraft number JM 255, parked in a Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) hangar in Bengaluru, is superficially similar to the other 600-odd fighters in the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet. In fact, it is unique in IAF history as the first Indian fighter to be integrated with an AESA — or active electronically scanned array — radar.

Ten test flights have been conducted since JM 255 first flew with the Israeli Elta EL/AESA 2032 radar on August 10 and pilots are pleased with its performance. If, as expected, the IAF gives its go-ahead, the Jaguar fleet will be the first