SEPECAT was a joint venture between the French Breguet Company and the British Aircraft Corporation to produce a new supersonic jet trainer for the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force that could also be used as a light attack aircraft by the French.
Begun in 1965, the design of what would become the Jaguar was complicated by the merger of Breguet and Dassault, as well as changing requirements from both air forces. By the time the design was finished, the aircraft had evolved into a single seat strike fighter with nuclear capability optimized for low altitude operation, as well as a two-seat trainer version.
The first prototype flew in 1968, and that type entered service with the French Air Force and RAF in 1973 and 1974, respectively. The Jaguar was also exported to India, Oman, Ecuador, and Nigeria. The aircraft saw extensive combat in Africa with the French Air Force and was used by both France and the RAF in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. It was retired from French service in 2005 and from RAF service in 2007.
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