Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots died after a Jaguar fighter aircraft crashed in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Tuesday. The pilots were identified as Squadron Leader Lokendra Singh Sindhu (44) and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh (23).

Two Indian Air Force pilots, identified as Squadron Leader Lokendra Singh Sindhu (44) and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh (23), died when a Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan’s Churu district.

In April, a two-seater Jaguar fighter aircraft of IAF had crashed in an open field in Suvarda village of Jamnagar district in Gujarat, killing one of the pilots.

Rishi Raj Singh was aboard the Jaguar trainer aircraft with Squadron Leader Lokender Singh Sindhu, who became a father just a month ago.

Squadron Leader Sindhu was a native of Rohtak in Haryana, while Flight Lieutenant Singh was from Pali in Rajasthan.

The IAF pilot, who belonged to the Kheri Sadh village in Haryana's Rohtak, joined the Indian Air Force in 2015.

Two fighter pilots were killed after a Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Churu in Rajasth

Squadron Leader Lokendra Singh Sindhu, an Indian Air Force pilot, died in a Jaguar fighter jet crash near Rajasthan, a month after becoming a father. His family, in the midst of celebrating his newborn son's birth,

Both of the aviators were killed in the crash—reigniting a debate about the continued use of outdated and aging aircraft in everyday roles.

The latest crash of an IAF Jaguar aircraft raises questions about the longevity of India's ageing fleet. With a history of accidents and ongoing debates about upgrades, the Jaguar's relevance in modern warfare is under scrutiny.