Originally Posted by
orca
The only discriminators were Storm Shadow and RAPTOR, and there is a compelling argument to suggest that those are key.
I don’t think that there is any truth to the lack of upgrade potential - indeed at Cap EA the Harrier was Saturn capable and had a path to a MIDS capability.
For a time the jet could carry 6 x PW4 plus Sniper whereas the Tornado could carry fewer - I think because the SMS had an issue born out of its original KRET functionality.
At the end of the day though it matters not!!
I had the pleasure of working on both SS and RAPTOR after a tour on GR7 weapons during my Sqinto years. I think on balance both fleets should have been kept and the 2 x CVF made smaller to a CVS size to take a uprevved GR9/FA2 capability. (I know - cloud cuckoo land),
The most challenging project was getting the RAPTOR data-link kit to work in the heat and dust of Basra. Much sweat and tears were expended trying to keep a dark green portacabin full of servers cool in 40 Deg heat during a sortie...