RAF SEPECAT Anglo-French Jaguar GR3A jet ground attack aircraft. XAV 4128-391
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French ground attack aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force and several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force. The aircraft served as one of the French Air Force's main strike aircraft until July 1, 2005 when it was replaced by Dassault Rafale. It was among the first major Anglo-French military aircraft programs. The Jaguar program began in the early 1960s, in response to a British requirement for an advanced supersonic jet trainer, and a French need for a cheap, subsonic dual role trainer and attack aircraft with good short field performance. From these apparently disparate aims would come a single and entirely different aircraft: relatively high-tech, supersonic, and optimised for ground attack in a high-threat environment. It was planned as a replacement for the RAF Hawker Hunter and the Armée de l'Air F-100 Super Sabre. Jaguar GR3ACross-channel negotiations led to the formation of SEPECAT (the Société Européenne de Production de l'Avion d'Ecole de Combat et d'Appui Tactique) in 1966 as a joint venture between Bréguet (the design leader) -now Dassault Aviation- and the British Aircraft Corporation to produce the airframe, and a separate teaming of Rolls-Royce and Turboméca to develop the Adour afterburning turbofan engine. The first of 8 prototypes flew on September 8 1968. It was an orthodox single-seat, swept-wing, twin-engine design but with tall landing gear. It had a maximum take-off weight in the 15 tonne class and could manage a combat radius on internal fuel alone of 850 km. Maximum speed was Mach (Mach at sea level) and hardpoints were fitted for an external weapons load of up to 10 000 lb. Armament 2x 30 mm ADEN cannons or DEFA cannons with 150 rounds per gun Five hardpoints for 4,500 kg (10,000 lb) of disposable stores Option of two Matra R550 Magic or AIM-9 Sidewinders on overwing pylons LAU-5003B/A CRV-7 rocket launchers Joint Reconnaissance Pod
Size: 5270px × 3650px
Location: RAF Kinloss, Moray, Grampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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