Structure and Systems
Structure
Almost the entire airframe of the Jaguar is made of high-strength aluminium alloy. There are a few parts made from titanium alloy around the engine bays, and stainless steel is used in high-stress points such as the tailplane spigot housing and fin and pylon attachment points. The Jaguar was the first production military aircraft built by BAC which used new bonding techniques to mate chem-milled skin panels to an adhesive-bonded aluminium core.
The Jaguar's intended war role dictated a shoulder-winged design with high wing loading to reduce gust response at low level. In order to give the aircraft good field performance, a highly efficient thin wing was developed, giving the aircraft lower takeoff and landing speeds. The wing has retractable slats on its outboard leading edges, full-span double-slotted trailing flaps and a 40-degree quarter-chord wing sweep with a 3-degree anhedral. The leading-edge slats are hydraulically powered and can be partially extended during high-g turns to provide additional lift.
As there is no room on the wing for conventional ailerons, roll control is provided by spoilers on its upper surfaces, balanced by differential movement of the tailplane. To counter adverse yaw, the spoilers and tailplane are interconnected. The aircraft's petal-type perforated airbrakes are under the rear fuselage. The slab tailplanes have a marked anhedral, like those on the F-4 Phantom, in order to keep them below the wing wash at high angles of attack.
Flying controls are mechanically linked to 3000lb/in2 (210 kg/cm2) hydraulic rams actuating the rudder, tailplane and spoilers. Hydraulic and electrical systems are duplicated.
The airframe is stressed to 8.6g, with a design maximum of 12g. Airframe life was calculated at 3000 hours for single-seaters and 6000 for two-seaters.
The engine air intakes are wedge-shaped, with two spring-loaded auxiliary intake doors on each side. Splitter plates were initially included, but they were later removed.
The Jaguar's landing gear has twin mainwheels, with 84 lb/in2 (5.91 kg/cm2) low-pressure tyres. There is a single nosewheel. The undercarriage can withstand a sink rate of 11.8 ft/sec (3.6m/sec).
Armour is used in the front of the cockpit, and the windshield is designed to be effective against birdstrikes at speeds up to 600 knots (1110 km/hr).
British Jaguars were fitted with the Martin-Baker Mk9 zero-zero ejection seat. French aircraft initially had the MB Mk4, which was not effective at speeds below 90 knots, but these were replaced by the Mk9.
Dimensions
| Length, GR.1 | : | 15.52m |
| Length, T.2 | : | 16.42m |
| Wingspan | : | 8.64m (28.5 ft) |
| Height | : | 4.92m |
| Wing area | : | 21.18m2 |
| Empty Weight | : | c.7700 kg (16970 lb) |
| Max external stores | : | 4763 kg (10500 lb) |
| Normal T/O Weight | : | 11000 kg (24149 lb) |
| Max T/O Weight | : | 15700 kg (34612 lb) |
Performance
| Speed, sea level | : | 1350 km/hr (840 mph) |
| Speed, at altitude | : | 1690 km/hr (1056 mph) |
| Initial climb | : | 9100m (10000ft) in 90 seconds |
| Ferry range | : | 4210 km (2600 miles) |
| Combat radius | : | 852 km (530 miles) |
| Ceiling | : | 13920m (45930 ft) |
Powerplant
The Jaguar has two Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RT172 Adour turbofans producing from 33.13kN to 38.10kN thrust (depending on version) with afterburner. The Adour has a bypass ration of 1:1 and a pressure ratio of 9.6:1. It features a two-stage low-pressure and five-stage high-pressure compressor driven by two single-stage turbines (LP and HP) and an annular combustor. |
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The Jaguar's internal fuel capacity is 3338 kg (4183 liters/920 imperial gallons), with up to 2844kg (3600 liters/800 imp gallons) in three external tanks. Single-seaters have an in-flight refuelling probe. Fuel lines and tanks are self-sealing and armoured in important places.
RAF aircraft had the Mk102 (RT172-26) initially, then the Mk104 (23.9 kN dry, 35.8 kN with afterburner) in the GR.1A/T.2A. During the 1991 Gulf War RAF Jaguars had their engines re-tuned to allow sightly higher turbine gas temperatures, giving a slight increase in thrust.
RAF Jaguars were fitted with the Adour Mk106. The Mk106 was developed from the Mk104 with the cold section of the Adour Mk871 and the reheat used by the Adour Mk811. The Mk106 gives an extra 25% thrust over the Mk104. The first Mk106 engine was flown in an RAF Jaguar in early June 2000.
In 2001 it was announced that the first pair of uprated Adour 106 engines for the RAF's Jaguar fleet had been delivered. Rolls Royce were contracted to supply 122 Mk106 engines to re-engine the whole RAF Jaguar GR.3A and T.4 fleet.
The French Jaguar As and Es both had the Mk102 engine initially; these were later upgraded to the Mk104 standard.
The forty Indian Jaguars assembled in the UK had the Mk804 engine. Those assembled and manufactured in India had the Mk811, which is rated at 25.0kN dry and 37.4kN with afterburner.
Avionics
RAF GR.1/T.2
The original equipment fit in RAF Jaguars included UHF and VHF radios, IFF, VOR/ILS, Tacan, HUD, NAVWASS nav-attack system and Projected Moving Map Display, Marconi ARI 18223 radar warning receiver (not T.2) and a Ferranti ARI 12321/3 laser ranger/marked target seeker (not T.2) in the distinctive "chisel" nose.
RAF GR.1A/T.2A
During the 1980s the NAVWASS was replaced with the Ferranti FIN1064 INS. In addition, single-seaters were equipped with Tracor AN/ALE-40 flare/chaff dispensers and the ability to carry ECM pods and AIM-9G Sidewinders.
RAF GR.1A "Granby Mods"
Gulf War Jaguars received Mark XII Mode 4 IFF, a second frequency-hopping Have Quick VHF radio and the Marconi Sky Guardian 200-13PD radar warning receiver. Also, the ALE-40 chaff/flare dispensers were modified to fire hotter- and longer-burning Type 118 and M206 decoy IR flares.
RAF GR.1B/T.2B (UOR 41/94)
Ten GR.1As and two T.2As were upgraded to carry the TIALD pod as a result of UOR 41/94. These received new stick-top controllers (from Tornado F.2s) and new hand controllers (from Harrier GR.3s). A MIL-STD-1553B databus was fitted to interface the TIALD pod with existing Jaguar systems and avionics. The FIN1064 INS was upgraded to G standard and interfaced with a GPS receiver. This improved navigational accuracy and also allowed the pod to be pointed automatically at pre-planned targets. A Smiths Multi-Purpose Colour HDD was fitted in place of the old Projected Moving Map Display in order to display TIALD images or a synthetic digital moving map (using the GEC digital map generator developed for the Tornado GR.4), with symbology overlaid if required. The aircraft also received a new GEC-Marconi FD4500 wide-angle raster-capable HUD, which gave the ability to control a MIL-STD-1553B databus. Dual colour video recorders were fitted to record the HUD and TIALD imagery.
RAF GR.3/GR.3A/T.4 (Jaguar 96, Jaguar 97)
Jaguar 96 (GR.3 in service) was a program to bring all surviving Jaguars (64 single-seaters and 17 two-seaters) up to Granby and UOR standard. They were all fitted with a MIL-STD-1553B databus, the FD4500 wide-angle HUD, FIN1064G GPS-modified INS and a TERPROM intelligent ground-proximity warning system. Only four Jaguar 96's (ex-GR.1Bs) were actually fitted with the MPCD which makes TIALD operation possible, although all aircraft have the new stick-top, a redesigned hand controller and wiring for the MPCD and TIALD.
Jaguar 97 (GR.3A in service) was the next stage of the Jaguar upgrade. All Jaguar 97s were able to operate TIALD, and all were recce-capable. Instead of the MPCD a Active Matrix LCD display screen was installed, giving more flexibility. Another new addition was the GEC Helmet Mounted Sight System, which allowed the pilot to cue the TIALD sensor or a missile seeker simply by moving his head in the required direction.
The Jaguar 97 could carry the new Vinten Vicon 18 Series 601 EO GP(1) electro-optical reconnaissance pod.
The two-seat Jaguars were upgraded to T.4 standard using the MPCD displays from the GR.1Bs.
RAF Jaguars were fitted with the Photo Reconnaissance Intel Strike Module - Improved Data Modem (PRISM-IDM) which will allow pilots to capture, compress and transmit or receive frames of video imagery over a digital communications system. They will be able to receive images (from a variety of sensors) giving current information about targets before engaging them. While attacking the target, frames of video information can be captured and transmitted back to the controlling headquarters and other aircraft for early Battle Damage Assessment.
Jaguar A/E
The Jaguar A was fitted with a less sophisticated avionics suite than the GR.1. Equipment included an air-data computer, twin-gyro inertial platform, Doppler radar, a weapon-aiming and navigation computers, passive radar warning receiver, panoramic strike camera, VHF/UHF radio, VOR/ILS, IFF and Tacan.
A number of aircraft, starting with A81, were fitted with an under-nose TAV-38 laser rangefinder. Aircraft from A131 onwards were also given the ability to carry the ATLIS I and II laser targetting pod. An RP36P camera pod could be carried under the fuselage.
Self-protection aids included the Phimat chaff or BOZ-103 chaff/flare pod; Barracuda ECM pod; wide-band ECM detector/jammer pod; flare launchers.
The Jaguar E had a very basic avionics fit: VHF/UHF radio, VOR/ILS, IFF, Tacan, a twin-gyro inertial platform and an air-data computer.
IAF Jaguar M
These were originally equipped with the Thompson-CSF Agave radar and the DARIN nav/attack system. The Agave has been replaced by the IAI Elta EL/M2032 pulse-Doppler radar set.
IAF Jaguar B
The seventeen aircraft delivered from 2001 have the DARIN III nav/attack system plus digital 155B systems for night operations.
IAF Jaguar S
40 IAF Jaguars are being updated with the DARIN II digital nav/attack systems. They will get a precision attack capability following recent orders for the Rafael LITENING targetting pod and Raytheon/TI GBU-16/B PAVEWAY II laser-guidance kits for 1000lb bombs. 68 of the early Indian Jaguars are being upgraded with the DARIN III nav/attack system.
Reconnaissance Equipment
RAF aircraft were able to carry a BAe-built recce pod containing four Vinten F95 Mk 10 cameras (two with 3" and two with 1.5" lenses) a Vinten F95 Mk 7 camera (6" lens) and a BAe 401 infra-red linescan. An F126 survey camera (6" lens) can replace two of the F95s.
Also available was the Vinten VICON 18 Srs 600 Long-Range Oblique Photography Pod (LOROP), with a high-powered lens and a camera taking 5in square negatives. This was first used during the Gulf war.
The Jaguar 97 could carry the new Vinten Vicon 18 Series 601 EO GP(1) electro-optical reconnaissance pod.
RAF Jaguars were fitted with the Photo Reconnaissance Intel Strike Module - Improved Data Modem (PRISM-IDM) which will allow pilots to capture, compress and transmit or receive frames of video imagery over a digital communications system. They will be able to receive images (from a variety of sensors) giving current information about targets before engaging them. While attacking the target, frames of video information can be captured and transmitted back to the controlling headquarters and other aircraft for early Battle Damage Assessment.
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