Wasn't the Jag supposed to retire in October anyway? Why so much bother over 12 or so weeks early?
By my reckoning 6 months early. The fuss really is about the shabby way 6 were treated, the guys only relocated April last year and I understand that that was a c*$k up in terms of family life, quarters as far away as Cranwell being used as CGY didn't have any ready, on top of which as several posts here have alluded to, the aircraft had a potential life of a few more years life (certainly sufficient to maintain two squadrons at full strength) if the maintenance programme had continued instead of being chopped at its original MOB and DARA St Athan. The aircraft could also have provided relief for the hardworked Harrier team at least during the winter months and given very effective CAS cover. The decisions made for this aircraft have been short sighted in the extreme (or for the conspiracy theorists amongst us part of a long term plan to reduce the UK armed forces to a glorified militia!).