PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Decision to axe Harrier is "bonkers".
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Old 14th Apr 2011, 12:51
  #547 (permalink)  
Gaz ED
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: North West England
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To re-iterate for the ill-informed/un-initiated oh, and dear Sharkey:-

Typhoon has replaced Tornado F3 and Jaguar.

Primary role is Air Defence with secondary Air to Ground capability, currently PW2 and Litening 3 capable, along with a working 27mm cannon.

Paveway 4, Brimstone (dual and single mode),E/PW 3, and Storm Shadow are in development for future upgrades.

Harrier was trialled for Brimstone carriage but never fired it (contrary to some media reports that it was fired in AFG, it was a Tornado).

Harrier can carry one Storm Shadow but is un-balanced and requires a 540lb on the other pylon.

Tornado GR4 is due to be replaced by JSF/Lightning originally 2025, but now sooner.

GR4 currently is the only aircraft capable of the Deep Strike mission. Typhoon is scheduled to acheive this in 2018. Problem is the Flight Control System software has to be modified to each particular munition, as Typhoon is a computer-controlled unstable aircraft. This is safety-critical software and takes time to test and approve.

Sharkey Ward is silly.
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