Shamsher, IAF's lethal deep penetrating strike fighter

[ashok321]

Shamsher, IAF's lethal deep penetrating strike fighter

The Indian Air Force (IAF) possesses several multirole-combat aircraft.

Yet, there's one warplane that plays a highly specialized role - the SEPECAT Jaguar.

First acquired by the IAF in the 1980s, the Jaguar, dubbed "Shamsher" by India, is designed for deep penetration strikes on land and sea-based enemy targets.

It's one of two IAF planes capable of mounting nuclear strikes. Here's all about it.

Jaguar was co-developed by France and the UK

In 1966, France's Breguet Aviation and Britain's British AircraftCorporation (BAC) formed a joint venture, SEPECAT, to meet both countries' requirement for a ground-strike aircraft.

Interestingly, SEPECAT got permission from Jaguar Cars to use its iconic name.

The Jaguar's first prototype flew in 1968. Britain and France both inducted over 200 Jaguars each.

These saw action in the Persian Gulf War and in Kosovo.

How India acquired the SEPECAT Jaguar
SEPECAT first pitched the Jaguar to the IAF in 1968.

However, India was more interested in developing its indigenous HAL HF-24 Marut as a Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft (DPSA) but it was extremely underpowered.

The IAF then selected the Jaguar over France's Mirage F-1 and Sweden's SAAB 37 Viggen.

120 Jaguars were license manufactured in India while 40 were built in the UK.


IAF's Jaguar is used to target maritime and ground-based targets

There are at least two variants of the IAFs Jaguars depending on their roles. The Strike version (IS) is aimed at eliminating ground-based targets.

Likewise, the Maritime Strike (IM) variant looks to counter enemy warships and sea-based threats using anti-ship missiles.

Besides the Mirage-2000, the Jaguar is the only warplane the IAF possesses that's capable of launching nuclear weapon strikes.

Jaguars have regularly proven their mettle

IAF Jaguars flying out of southern Indian conducted reconnaissance missions for the Indian Peace Keeping Force deployed in Sri Lanka from 1987-90.

During the 1999 Kargil conflict, they conducted several combat sorties, dropping conventional bombs on Pakistani troops and insurgents.

The warplanes have also performed satisfactorily and have proven their mettle in multiple international exercises, including the elite 2016 "Red Flag" exercise in Alaska.

The Jaguars are not without problems

When first inducted by the IAF, the Jaguars came equipped with the first-generation inertial navigation and attack system named NAVWASS which was outdated and not very reliable. Its Rolls-Royce Adour engines were also underpowered. The Jaguars also lack autopilots, a critical flying aid.

Latest DARIN-III upgrade ensure the venerable Jaguars serve until 2030
To address these problems, India launched DARIN program to upgrade the Jaguars with modern avionics over time.

On August 10, 2017, the HAL for the first time flew the Jaguar DARIN-III aircraft variant, equipped with state-of-the-art AESA radar, 28 new sensors, autopilot and more.

With the DARIN-III upgrade, the over 25-year-old venerable Jaguar is expected to serve India for at least another decade.


https://www.newsbytesapp.com/timeli...about-the-indian-air-force-s-valiant-shamsher

 

[Khafee]

HAL test flies Jaguar DARIN III with EL/M-2052 AESA radar
Aug 14, 2017

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) conducted the maiden flight of the first SEPECAT Jaguar DARIN III equipped with an Elta EL/M-2052 active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar on August 10.

The DARIN (Display, Attack, Range and Inertial Navigation) III is an upgrade of the SEPECAT Jaguar, which serves as one of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) mainstay strike aircraft.

The DARIN III comprises of upgrades to the Jaguar’s electronics systems. These include open system architecture mission computer, multi-functional displays, engine and flight instrument system, new fire control radar, geodetic height correction system and inertial navigation system with satellite navigation.

Wort $520 million U.S., HAL was to implement DARIN III onto 61 IAF Jaguars by the end of 2017. However, the program is behind schedule and will likely conclude in 2022. The IAF awarded initial operational clearance (IOC) to the Jaguar DARIN III in November 2016.

Already a valuable strike asset, the inclusion of the EL/M-2052 provides the Jaguar DARIN III with improved defensibility against electronic warfare jamming. By virtue of having multiple transceiver modules (TRM), each transmitting in a different radio frequency, the EL/M-2052 also has a lower probability-of-intercept with enemy radar warning receivers. The Jaguar DARIN III would be more difficult to detect and to jam.

Otherwise, EL/M-2052 is an advanced multi-mode radar capable of air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea tracking, targeting and engagement. Elta has not disclosed the radar’s range or the number of targets it can track and simultaneously engage.

The IAF has configured the SEPECAT Jaguar to deploy a wide range of munitions, among them the AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile and the CBU-105 Sensor-Fuzed Weapon. The latter is a highly capable anti-armour weapon comprising of a total 40 dual infrared and laser-guided top-attack Skeets. Each Skeet can independently target and engage tanks and other armoured vehicles.

http://quwa.org/2017/08/14/hal-test-flies-jaguar-darin-iii-elm-2052-aesa-radar/

Darin3 Cockpit uilt by HAL & Elbit = HALBIT

Darin3 upgrades:

Elta EL/M 2052 radar: 1500 + T/R modules