A question came up on another board which I would like to throw open here.
"Does the Harrier GR9A offer any credible air defence capability for the fleet following the demise of the Shar?" - Discuss.
In my opinion, the answer is "no". When used without the support of an AEW platform the GR9 would not be able to intercept any target except by luck. In daylight and With the support of a SK7 it come close to the capability of a FRS.1 of 10 years ago. So, in theory the FRS1 tactics of 80s are still valid.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but even with SK7 support, the GR9 would be unusable as a fighter at night or in bad weather. So, if our potential enemy chose to come by day then the GR9 has some potential, if he was inconsiderate enough to come by night then he has nothing but Sea Dart and Sea Wolf to stop him completing his mission.
I'm sure the FAA's AWIs are scratching their heads wondering how they are going make a silk purse out of sow's ear, but I'm sure they will come up with something creative.