Originally Posted by
ExAscoteer2
Harrier never had a RTS for Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone, and only a limited RTS for Single Mode Seeker Brimstone. Additionally it would never have got a RTS for Stormshadow.
So, if you were going to bin an aircraft it made sense to bin Harrier and keep Tornado.
Simples.
The GR9 Point was that it could deploy anywhere in the world, on a carrier, without tanker support, Tornado was replaced by typhoon, which cannot land on a carrier, the f35 was late and we have how many 8-15 usable for the next few years and lost one already.
Im not knocking the f35, worth every penny, but its like the T45 destroyer, plan for 12, order 8, cancel 2........all eggs in one basket. leaving personnel and milti-billion pound carriers at risk, and less options when things go wrong as they have. But the decision makers will carry on thinking they were right even in the face of history(libya) & current events,
Single minded decisions or not thinking with foresight, & throw in over reliance on the USA, all connected.