SEPECAT was an Anglo-French aircraft manufacturer. Established in 1966, its aim was to handle the development and commercialization of the Jaguar, an attack and training aircraft.[1] Organised as a Société Anonyme, the company was a joint venture between British Aircraft Corporation and Breguet.
History
The Jaguar programme began in the early 1960s, in response to a British requirement (Air Staff Target 362) for an advanced supersonic jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat T.1 and Hawker Hunter T.7, and a French requirement (ECAT or École de Combat et d'Appui Tactique, "Tactical Combat Support Trainer") for a cheap, subsonic dual-role trainer and light attack aircraft to replace the Fouga Magister, Lockheed T-33 and Dassault Mystère IV.[2] A memorandum of understanding was signed in May 1965 between the two countries to develop two aircraft, a trainer based on the ECAT, and the larger AFVG (Anglo-French Variable Geometry).