The GR9 could carry PW3, couldn't carry Stormshadow and was in the process of being fitted with Brimstone. GR9 does have a smaller range than the Tornado however that makes little difference in Afghanistan where it would appear sortie lengths without refuelling are similar.
Isn't this kind of thinking the problem with the SDSR. Talking of Afghanistan as the only conflict which we'll ever encounter ever again. If the Harrier is the best aircraft for Afghanistan then one wonders just why its been ditched?? This country clearly cannot afford to defend itself as far afield as Afghanistan. Another thing if we'd gotten rid of the Tornado GR4 instead of the Harrier, surely we'd have virtually no air force left. 1 sqn of Harriers and 3 of Typhjoons? Never mind comparisons with Belgium, we'd compare unfavourably with just about any western air arm. Personally, I think a lot of what is said about the Harrier is simply the British soft spot for the "jump jet" Perhaps this is why a criminal amount of money was wasted on the utterly useless F35B version. Perhaps if we had someone who knew what they were about for a change in defence procurement... well we've heard it so many times before eh!
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