(Image credit: Vintage Aviation News)
The SEPECAT Jaguar was a British-French jet aircraft designed for attack missions. The British Royal Air Force and the French Air Force originally used it for close air support and nuclear strikes. The aircraft was first developed in the 1960s as a jet trainer with some ground-attack capability. The design was later modified for supersonic speed, reconnaissance, and tactical nuclear strike capability. The first of eight Jaguar prototypes was the two-seat French Jaguar E, which stands for “trainer” in French. The first prototype, dubbed E.01, was a two-seater combat trainer for the French Air Force. It was built at the Breguet factory and completed on April 17, 1968. The French also developed one prototype of the SEPECAT Jaguar M aircraft for use on aircraft carriers. The French Naval Aviation Command viewed the Jaguar as a replacement for the Étendard IV fighter-bomber, which was also used on carriers. The SEPECAT Jaguar M was designed to the requirements of the French Navy.
Design of SEPECAT Jaguar M
Unlike other prototype Jaguars, SEPECAT Jaguar M had a stronger chassis and twin-wheel nose gear. It underwent testing in both France and Britain, as the Royal Navy was interested in a carrier-based Jaguar. The SEPECAT Jaguar M had its first flight on November 14, 1969. In 1971, the aircraft started landing on a land-based simulator that mimicked an aircraft carrier in Bedford, UK. On July 8, 1971, it landed for the first time on the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau. Two days later, it successfully took off from the carrier using a catapult. By July 13, the Jaguar M had made 12 takeoffs and landings from the carrier. At the end of July, the aircraft returned to Bedford to study the effects of ship basing and prepare for tests with a full combat load. The second phase of carrier trials on the Clemenceau began on October 20, 1971. During one landing, the pilot failed to catch the hook, meaning the arresting cable did not engage. The engine power was just enough to attempt a go-around. This was the first time sailors experienced the Jaguar’s limited engine power in practice.
The Cancellation
During testing, concerns were also raised about the aircraft’s throttle response during an aborted landing. Tests on the ship also showed issues with how the SEPECAT Jaguar M handled on one engine. Although planned engine improvements aimed to fix these issues, they remained a concern. The “M” model was seen as a suitable replacement for the Étendard IV, but the Aeronavale ordered only 60 aircraft instead of the original 100. In 1971, Dassault proposed the Super Étendard, arguing it was a simpler, cheaper version of the Étendard IV. In 1973, the French Navy chose the Super Étendard over the Jaguar. However, rising costs meant the service purchased only 71 of the 100 planned Super Étendards. The French government canceled the M model in 1973. The SEPECAT Jaguar M prototype made its last flight on December 12, 1975. After that, it was moved to Rochefort and used as a training aircraft. Though a good aircraft, the Jaguar M couldn’t progress beyond the prototype stage. Read more Grounded Dreams articles HERE.
