HAL completes first phase of upgrade programme for IAF's Jaguar ground attack fleet
09 Sep 2008
New Delhi: Indian aerospace and defence manufacturing giant, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has said it has completed the first phase of the upgrade programme for the Jaguar deep-penetration strike aircraft of Indian Air Force. It said the upgrade will add more lethality to the fleet's long-range, ground attack capability.
"We successfully completed the first phase of the upgrade programme for the Jaguar aircraft and delivered the fleet to Indian Air Force," PL Vaishampayan, general manager, aircraft design and research centre said. He said the upgrade involved the installation of a new version of avionics, apart from other features which would make the planes more lethal in their assigned long-range, ground attack role.
"The upgrade programme has added more teeth to the fleet's strike capability," he said.
The main focus of the upgrade programme was to replace older avionics with a newer display attack ranging inertial navigation (Darin-3).
The HAL is also carrying out additional development programme for the Jaguar fleet."Another development programme is going on for the strike aircraft to add some additional features like advanced radar systems which IAF wants," Vaishampayan said.