Churu, July 9, 2025 – The Indian Air Force (IAF) suffered a tragic loss on Wednesday when a Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed near Bhanoda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, killing both pilots onboard. The incident, occurring around 1:25 PM IST during a routine training mission, marks the third Jaguar crash since March 2025, raising serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the IAF’s ageing fleet. With the IAF being the last operator of the SEPECAT Jaguar worldwide, these recurring accidents underscore the challenges of maintaining an obsolete aircraft amidst delays in modernizing India’s air capabilities.
Details of the Churu Crash
The twin-seater Jaguar, which took off from Suratgarh Air Force Station, crashed in an agricultural field, causing no damage to civilian property. Local villagers reported hearing a loud explosion followed by flames and smoke, with human remains later recovered near the wreckage. The IAF confirmed the fatalities in a statement on X, expressing deep regret and announcing a court of inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident. Rajaldesar Station House Officer Kamlesh confirmed the recovery of one pilot’s body, with the second retrieved later from the nearby Ratangarh area. Emergency teams, including IAF helicopters and local police, were dispatched for rescue and recovery operations.
Previous Crashes in 2025
This latest incident follows two other Jaguar crashes earlier this year, highlighting a troubling pattern:
- March 7, 2025: A Jaguar crashed near Morni Hills in Panchkula, Haryana, after taking off from Ambala Air Force Station. The pilot ejected safely after maneuvering the aircraft away from populated areas, avoiding civilian casualties. The IAF attributed the crash to a system malfunction and ordered an inquiry.
- April 2, 2025: A twin-seater Jaguar crashed near Suvarda village, 12 km from Jamnagar, Gujarat, during a night training mission. Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav heroically ensured his co-pilot’s safe ejection and steered the aircraft away from a densely populated area before succumbing to injuries. The crash was caused by a critical technical malfunction, with the aircraft catching fire upon impact.
These three crashes within four months have resulted in the deaths of four pilots, intensifying scrutiny of the Jaguar’s operational viability.
The SEPECAT Jaguar: A Critical Yet Ageing Asset
Introduced to the IAF in 1979, the SEPECAT Jaguar, nicknamed “Shamsher” (Sword of Justice), is a British-French twin-engine supersonic fighter-bomber designed for close air support and nuclear strike roles. India acquired 40 aircraft from the UK, with an additional 100+ license-built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a technology transfer from SEPECAT, a joint venture between France’s Breguet and the British Aircraft Corporation. Production continued until 2008, with the IAF currently operating approximately 120 Jaguars across six squadrons based in Ambala, Jamnagar, and Gorakhpur.
The Jaguar is a cornerstone of India’s nuclear triad, capable of delivering strategic weapons, and has been upgraded with systems like the DARIN (Display, Attack, Ranging Inertial Navigation) avionics suite to enhance strike range and target acquisition. Some aircraft are equipped with Israel’s ELM-2025 AESA radar and AGM-84L Harpoon missiles for maritime roles. Despite these upgrades, the fleet’s age—over 45 years—poses significant challenges. Countries like Britain, France, Ecuador, Nigeria, and Oman retired their Jaguars years ago, with some now displayed in museums, leaving India as the sole operator.
Safety and Operational Challenges
The Jaguar fleet has been involved in over 50 major and minor accidents since its induction, with many attributed to the Rolls-Royce-Turbomeca Adour Mk811 engines, criticized for inadequate thrust affecting speed, maneuverability, and payload capacity. A proposed re-engining with Honeywell’s F125-IN turbofans was scrapped in 2019 due to high costs (₹190 crore per jet plus ₹20 crore for modifications). Spare parts are scarce, as France and Britain ceased production in the 1980s, though the IAF acquired surplus air
Last Updated on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 4:23 pm by Lok Ram
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