Originally Posted by
Just This Once...
Even 'back-in-the-day' the clearance process was not easy or a given - Tornado had to be additionally hardened (twice) and, as a fleet fit, was only cleared for 1 store from 1 shoulder pylon. Sea Harrier was even more difficult and when they say it was hard-wired to a single pylon, they really mean it! The Jag clearance was based more on hope than physics and with later EMP testing it wouldn't have stood a chance. The results of the 'late-service' test of the Bucc proved to be more embarrassing than was forecast, albeit for opposite reasons(!).
Doing it with an electric jet but not from the outset is another world of pain.
The original Sea Harrier was the FRS1 (where the S signified nuclear Strike), the upgraded version was originally going to be FRS2 but this was changed to FA2 (A being conventional Attack only) early in the development. This was because it would be too expensive to certify the aircrafts data bus to the safety standards necessary for nuclear weapon carriage. Safety standards had been increased between the FRS1s introduction in the 1970s and the FA2s in the 1990s. Qualifying an aircraft, not designed from the start for the nuclear mission, is probably a non starter.