The RAF is considering fitting its Sepecat Jaguar aircraft with the British Aerospace ASRAAM short-range air-to-air and the ALARM anti-radiation missiles, as part of an upgrade programme intended to see the aircraft continue in service until 2008.
A "feasibility fit" of the weapons has already been carried out by the Defence Research Agency (DRA). Industry sources say that a decision on the extent of the fleet-wide upgrade will be taken soon.
The need to keep the Jaguar in service is being driven by delays to the Eurofighter EF2000, its intended replacement. The most recent schedule was for the EF2000 to replace the Jaguar by the end of the century.
The RAF's first priority for the EF2000 is for it to replace the Panavia Tornado F3 in the air- defence role. A decision on whether to upgrade the F3 with the ASRAAM and the Hughes AIM-120 AMRAAM, or to lease Lockheed Martin F-16s, is expected by March.
The Jaguar upgrade would go beyond the "Standard 96" package for the aircraft, which includes a 1553 databus, head-up display, global-positioning system and terrain-reference navigation. The first aircraft modified to this standard by the DRA was flown in January.
The RAF is considering a re-engineing programme as well as a wide range of weapons payloads. Rolls Royce is thought to have responded in November 1995 by offering the Mk871 version of the Adour, along with the reheat section from the Mk811. The RAF aircraft are fitted with the Adour Mk104.
Other potential upgrades to the Jaguars, include additional improvements to their avionics and electronic-warfare equipment.
Source: Flight International
