I totally agree with all the comments on this page. UORs often gave us (still do) what we needed in short timescales and when the defence budget (which has ALWAYS been squeezed) couldn't do everything the MoD wanted. And, yes, we always knew there were some risks. Usually better to run the UORs on rather than remove the kit altogether.
In the 80s and in some cases the 90s we weren't allowed to rely on our own EID to engage aircraft - largely because of the points made here. But it was better to have it for pesonal protection and to aid tgt ID. At least we and other friendlies could eliminate blues from the target list.
As I (think I) mentioned, the incident in questin was dreadful, but how many lives were saved because we had the kit? Without the "bolt ons" we wouldn't have been allowed to play with the big boys anyway.
Sorry if last night's post didn't make my points clearly. I was on a roll!
Courtney