The Indian and French governments are discussing a donation of 31 former Armée de l’Air Jaguars to India. According to a French newspaper it was French President Emanuel Macron who personally made the offer to an Indian government official in early June. The offer comes in the midst of ongoing negotiations for more Rafale aircraft for the Indian Air Force. It is believed that Indian Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, who was in Paris from July 17 to 20, also discussed the Jaguar donation and according to the Indian defence news outlet, an Indian delegation will visit BA279 Chateaudun to assess the state of the Jaguars in mid- August. The Jaguar aircraft will be used for spares.
Elsewhere, the sale of 63 former Armée de l’Air Mirage F1s seems to have been approved by the French Ministry of Defence. Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) will buy the planes and spare engines for €21 million, but the big money will go to the French defence industry, which will reportedly receive €300 million worth of maintenance contracts over the next 10 to 15 years. The 30-plus planes will be made airworthy again and transported from Chateaudun to SABCA in Belgium for upgrade and removal of any sensitive equipment. ATAC plans to fly between 5,000 and 9,000 hours per year with its new Mirage F1 fleet. According to French newspapers, the contract should be signed by August 16. The first Mirage F1 should fly in the United States by 2018. Jan Kraak
