Cheap to run, relatively easy to maintain, and quite capable. These are young airframes compared to the ones the RAF retired last year, which let's not forget was an early retirement questioned by many. And with those Agave radar / AShM equipped Jaguars dedicated to the maritime attack role, the type is set to remain in the IAF for some time to come anyway. So why not fit the ground attackers with new avionics? Doing what they do best, only better, for some more years. It's not the biggest investment in the world of upgrades, LOL, and I have more faith in HAL upgrading the Jaguar again than going at it alone for some Russian bird.
All capable fighter jets including the Mirage 2000 will be busy securing air dominance over the battlefield and air defence in an Indian war scenario whether it's China or Pakistan, the capable fighterbombers will be busy bombing strategic targets, you need jets like the Jaguar then to go down and dirty and stop the enemy ground forces in their track or offer close air support to friendlies and then they even still need a light fighter such as the MiG-21 for point defence of strategic assets. This total war scenario calls for a very diverse fleet of aircraft, unless you have enough precision-striking multi-rolers, which the IAF does not have yet. Swing-role capability of modern fighters is great, but that doesn't mean you can be everywhere at the same time.
Anyone else? It's always me and nonpilot alone that dare to touch the IAF topics?
Jaguar must be the safest bet they made in a long time.