BAE Systems

The Aircraft of British Aerospace and BAE SYSTEMS 1977 - 2017 77

short take off from rough surfaces with a
tactical weapons load, long range
capability using internal fuel only and twin
engines.
Control was by wing spoilers to provide
roll control, an all-flying tailplane, air brakes
and rudder. To provide short field
performance in and out of rough runways
the wing had leading edge slats and
full-span double-slotted wing flaps.

The British and French
versions
The differences between the two air forces
aircraft were confined to the cockpit
arrangement, ejector seats, fixed guns,
refuelling probe, navigation and attack
system. Each adopted very different nav/
attack systems using widely different
philosophies. The RAF regarded their
twin-seat trainers as aircraft that could fly
alongside the single-seaters during a
hostile situation unlike the French which
did not equip their Jaguar E for such a role.

The French and English
versions
The Jaguar was initially developed into five
versions for the two countries, as follows:

Armée de l’Air
Jaguar A – single-seater strike aircraft with
twin DEFA 30mm cannon, five external
stores points, provision for flight refuelling
and nav/attack system.
Jaguar E - advanced trainer with twin DEFA
30mm cannon, five external stores points,
no provision for flight refuelling. Basic nav/
attack system

Aeronavale

The Jaguar M (Marine) differed from all the

other versions in having a strengthened

airframe and undercarriage. It had single

mainwheels and a twin nosewheels on an

extendable nose leg for aircraft carrier

catapult launching, and was designed for

the higher descent rates needed for deck

landing. The Jaguar M, like all the other

versions, was equipped with an arrester

hook, though stressed for higher loads.

Production Jaguar M would have had twin

Jaguar - anglo-French strike trainer

†

DEFA 30mm cannon, flight-refuelling and a

nav/attack system similar to the Jaguar E.

The Jaguar M flew in prototype form

but was not otherwise proceeded with.

The other variants received much

additional and different equipment with

the passage of time.

RAF

Jaguar S – single seater strike aircraft with

twin Aden 30mm cannon, five external

stores points, provision for flight refuelling

The final Jaguar prototype, the British B08, XW566 taking off from Warton with underwing tanks and bombs

during trials. This aircraft has the taller fin. (BAE SYSTEMS North West Heritage)

ˆ A Jaguar broken

down into its

component pieces

in an assembly

hangar at Warton.

(BAE SYSTEMS North

West Heritage)