I was doing some research on the plane when I realized that it doesn’t have a particular topic on the forum. I therefore present to you the topic of discussion concerning this emblematic aircraft of the French Air Force.
History :
In the early 1960s, both France and the United Kingdom were looking for a training aircraft with ground attack capabilities. Although the respective specifications were different, the needs were nevertheless brought closer together and a first memorandum of understanding between the two countries was signed in March 1964. The 121A project proposed by Breguet Aviation was selected in 1965 and, the following year, Breguet founded the SEPECAT joint venture with the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) responsible for designing and then mass-producing the future aircraft. On 27 June 1967, at the request of the French government, the Société des avions Marcel Dassault bought Breguet Aviation and was to take charge of the Jaguar programme. We will only be interested in the French variants here.
Two variants were made for the French Air Force :
- two-seater trainer (Jaguar E, first flight on 8 September 1968);
- single-seater attack aircraft(Jaguar A, first flight on 23 March 1969);
Unlike the English variants which will change names over the course of their history depending on the modifications and improvements undergone, the French variants will keep their original names over time.
General informations
Length : 16.83 m
Wingspan : 8.68 m
Height : 4.89 m
Empty weight : 7,000 kg (15,432 lb)
Loaded weight : 10,954 kg (24,149 lb)
Max. takeoff weight : 15,700 kg (34,612 lb)
Powerplant : 2 × Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 102 turbofans
Dry thrust : 22.75 kN (5,115 lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner : 32.5 kN (7,305 lbf) each
Maximum speed : Mach 1.6 (1,699 km/h, 917 knots, 1,056 mph) at 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Combat radius : 908 km (490 nmi, 564 mi) (lo-lo-lo, external fuel)
Ferry range : 3,524 km (1,902 nmi, 2,190 mi)
Service ceiling : 14,000 m (45,900 ft)
Climb to 9,145 m (30,000 ft) : 1 min 30 sec
Weaponry :
The Jaguar has 5 hardpoints, 4 under the wings and one central one, which allows it to carry a wide variety of weapons with different adapters. Additionally, it carries two 30mm DEFA 50 cannons installed in the belly of the aircraft.
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Air to air missiles :
- Magic 1, short-range IR missile, hardpoint1 and 5
- Magic 2, short-range IR missile with IRCCM, hardpoint 1 and 5
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Rockets :
- SNEB type 23, 6, 18 or 36 x 68mm rockets per basket, hardpoints 1, 2, 4, 5
- TBA ECC, 4 x 100mm rockets per basket, hardpoints 1, 2, 4, 5
- TBA Multi-Dart 100 AB, 4 x 100mm rockets per basket, hardpoints 1, 2, 4, 5
* According to some sources, the Jaguar would also be able to fire the standards US rockets.
- Unguided bombs :
- 250 kg SAMP Type 25, 1 to 3 x 250kg bombs per point, hardpoints 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- 250 kg SAMP Type 25 200, 1 to 3 x 250kg slowed bombs per point, hardpoints 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- 400 kg SAMP Type 21, 1 or 2 x 400kg bombs per point, hardpoints 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- 400 kg SAMP Type 21 200, 1 to 3 x 250kg slowed bombs per point, hardpoints 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- BLG-66 Belouga, 1 or 2 x cluster bomb per point, hardpoint 1, 2, 4, 5
- BAT-120, 1 to 18 small tactical bombs per point, hardpoint 2, 3, 4
- BAP-100, 1 to 18 anti runway bombs per point, hardpoint 2, 3, 4
- Durandal, 1 to 3 anti runway bombs per point, hardpoint 2, 3, 4
* According to some sources, the Jaguar would also be able to fire the Mk80 series bombs. * There is a series of images showing a group of Jaguars dropping a volley of napalm bombs, however the bomb model is unknown and few sources discuss it.
- Guided bombs :
- BGL-400, 1 x 400kg guided bomb per point, hardpoint 2 and 4
- BGL-1000, 1 x 1000kg guided bomb per point, hardpoint 2 and 4
- GBU-12, 1 x 250kg guided bomb per point, hardpoint 2 and 4
* According to some sources, the Jaguar would also be able to fire the GBU-22 and GBU-16 guided bombs.
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Guided Missiles :
- AS-30L, 1 x laser guided missile per point, hardpoint 2 and 4
- AS-37 Martel, 1 x anti radiation missile per point, hardpoint 3
- ARMAT, 1 x anti radiation missile per point, hardpoint 3
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Nuclear bomb :
- An-52, 1 x nuclear bomb per point, hardpoint 3
Sensors :
The device was equipped with a wide variety of sensors.
- OMERA 40 : Side-scanning camera placed under the nose of the aircraft
- TAV-38 : (from Jaguar °81) A rangefinder installed under the nose of the aircraft allows the pilot to know his precise distance to the target within 10 kilometers.
- DRAX RWR :
- ELIAS : Receiver enabling buddy lasing
- ATlS : Laser designation pod, hardpoint 3
- CLDP : Laser designation pod with IR capacity, hardpoint 3 (the presence of the pod is uncertain, it seems that the pod was tested at the end of the aircraft’s service but no official source confirms this)
Countermeasures and electronic warfare :
- ALKAN LL 5020 : IR and EM decoy launcher pressed under the wings against the fuselage (112 IR, 252 EM or a mixture of two)
- PHIMAT : EM decoy launcher, hardpoint 1
- BOZ 103 : IR and EM decoy launcher, hardpoints 2 and 4
- CT 51J : Heavy jamming container, hardpoints 2 and 4
- BARRACUDA : jammer, hardpoint 1 and 5
- BARAX : jammer, hardpoint 1 and 5
- the landing parachute can also be replaced by an 18-shot IR decoy launcher
Other pod :
- RP 36 : fuel tank, hardpoint 2, 3, 4
- RP 36P : fuel tank with 3 cameras, hardpoint 3
Many squadrons flew this aircraft, making it one of the emblematic aircraft of the French Air Force, such as 03/003 Ardennes, 01/007 Provence, 02/007 Argonne, 03/007 Languedoc, 04/0007 Limousin, 01/011 Roussillon, 02/011 Vosges, 03/011 Corsica and 04/011 Jura.
Game suggestions :
- SEPECAT Jaguar A -Strike Fighter - Implemented Suggestions - War Thunder - Official Forum
- Jaguar A (late): Improved French Predator
Bug reports :
Sources :
http://www.aeroprofils.com/article-33--sepecat-jaguar-a.html