The UK Ministry of Defence has revealed information on how many SEPECAT Jaguar fighter-bombers (which in fact performed attack aircraft missions) remain in their assets. This number may really surprise - we are talking about as many as 42 aircraft that were retired back in the distant 2000s.
As reported in the UK Defence Journal, the number of Jaguar aircraft in the UK Ministry of Defence's assets was disclosed in response to one of the parliamentary inquiries.
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The defense department even reported that out of 42 aircraft, there are 13 aircraft in the GR1 variant, and there is not a single in the T2 variant (training modification). That is, all other aircraft are newer modifications. It is unknown why the UK Ministry of Defenc did not disclose the full list of aircraft by variants that are currently in stock.
But in general, the question may arise as to why keep in stock aircraft that the RAF said goodbye to as early as 2007, which, moreover, as the publication notes, are no longer suitable for flights and are used exclusively as ground stands for training.
What is interesting is that if these British Jaguars were in more or less combat-ready condition, even today there would be those who would like to purchase them, or rather, the only one.
This could be India, which is buying up these almost 60-year-old attack aircraft all over the world. Moreover, it is reported that the UK, in addition to the 42 Jaguar aircraft mentioned above, had nine more such aircraft, and they were also received by the Indian Air Force.
It is not reported on what terms India received these aircraft. Recall that this country is currently the last Jaguar operator in the world, and plans to keep these aircraft in service, if possible, until 2050.
Earlier, Defense Express reported that the media had published an assessment of the condition of Polish MiG-29s and whether they could be combat-ready.
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