What was the Jaguar originally designed for on the British…

What was the Jaguar originally designed for on the British side?

Short answer

As a trainer: the United Kingdom wanted an advanced supersonic jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat T1 and the Hawker Hunter T7, under Air Staff Target 362. The requirement later changed to include supersonic performance, reconnaissance and tactical nuclear strike.

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

What was the Jaguar originally designed for on the British side?

SEPECAT Jaguar GR. 1Mike LaChance from Crowley, Tx, USA (CC BY), vía commons

A trainer, not a strike aircraft

The British Air Staff Target 362 called for an advanced supersonic trainer. What the United Kingdom was looking for was an advanced supersonic jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat T1 and the Hawker Hunter T7.

Two different needs on either side of the Channel

France, by contrast, needed a cheap, subsonic, two-seat dual-role trainer also capable of light attack work, to succeed the Fouga Magister and the Dassault Mystère IV. In May 1965 the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to develop two aircraft: a trainer based on the ECAT and the larger AFVG. Negotiations on both sides of the Channel led to the creation of SEPECAT. SEPECAT (Société Européenne de Production de l'avion École de Combat et d'Appui Tactique) was set up in 1965 as a joint venture between BAC and Breguet.