Raytheon begins to enhance Jaguar fighter aircraft capability

[sudhir007]

Raytheon begins to enhance Jaguar fighter aircraft capability - Brahmand.com

US defence major Raytheon has started the process to enhance capabilities of the Indian Air Force's Jaguar fighter aircraft fleet by enabling it to fire latest precision guided munitions.

"Raytheon has started procuring components required to build the Munitions Control Units (MCU) for 126 of the Indian Air Force's Jaguar Darin II attack aircraft," the company said in a statement.

MCU enables integration of modern weapons on older aircraft with minimal modifications to aircraft wiring and the flight or stores management software.

"The MCU's compact size enables it to be located in a weapons pylon or avionics bay of a legacy aircraft. From there, it interfaces between 'smart' weapons and the existing software of a legacy aircraft," it added.

Raytheon Missile Systems' vice president Harry Schulte said, "MCU will give the Jaguar the capability to employ 'smart' or 'advanced' weapons like the Maverick missile, Paveway precision-guided munition and AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missile."

Raytheon was awarded a contract to build the MCU in 2011, and funding was authorized for the system in 2012.

In anticipation of the contract, Raytheon began preliminary work to integrate MCU on Jaguar in 2008.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Awesome

Now IAF Jaguars packs even a bigger punch.

 

[SpArK]

AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missile.

 

[rockstarIN]

More teeth to Jags...always welcome

 

[IndianArmy]

Sad that it has to serve the nation until AMCA..

 

[rockstarIN]

Since more multi role is adding to our arsenal, it will not be a problem to keep Jags with us until AMCA arrives.

 

[IndianArmy]

Since more multi role is adding to our arsenal, it will not be a problem to keep Jags with us until AMCA arrives.

Well Yes. The platform is pretty old... AMCA must be completed ASAP...

 

[Archie]

Sad that it has to serve the nation until AMCA..

India has to retire some 250+ Mig21/27 , which will take 6-8 yrs , thereafter only we will begin retiring Jaguars

Also some 57 Jaguar IS/IT were acquired between 2001-08 , my guess is that only these Aircrafts and some 12 Jaguar IM will be upgraded by Raytheon
Rest will be retired in yr 2022

 

[sancho]

Awesome

Now IAF Jaguars packs even a bigger punch.

Yes, but is it worth it? It remains to be a single role fighter, with Rafale and LCA coming in, which can carry Paveway LGBs Brimstone or HELINA ATGMs, Mirage 2000 already can use more A2G weapons and with the upgrade it will be even much more capable than the Jag, so what's the use of paying so much to upgrade limited capable Jags?

Add that money into the AURA development budget, which will be much more useful for IAF and the only real NG replacement for these Jags in their role.

 

[Agent_47]

What about its engine?