TTH,
Yours is another of the many posts on PPrune that state 'as a fact' that the RN ditched the Sea Harrier. Sorry, wrong.
To use your words, the RN had 'put its hand in its pocket', 'bloody well prioritised' and paid for the Sea Harrier, and then the FA2. By 2000, that aircraft was, by some distance, the UK's most effective in service AD aircraft. Fact.
In 2000, that fleet of aircraft was transferred to the RAF to form Joint Force Harrier, with a complementary strike (GR7) and AD (FA2) capability. Fact. No contest over 'which aircraft was best', but a force with both capabilities capable of both land and sea based ops. There was no 'threat to light blue aviation' from the Sea Harrier. The RAF owned it as of 1 Apr 2000. Fact.
It was the RAF who decided to offer up the Sea Harrier to pay for the GR9 programme. Fact. They owned it. It wasn't a Navy decision. Fact.
In 2010, the RAF (CAS and CDS) decided that 'maritime strike' was a capability that had to go to support the RAF's budget. Fact.
Opinion is one thing. These forums are full of them, and long may that continue. But facts, people, are supposed to be sacred.
Best Regards as ever to those (of all cloths) trying to pick up the pieces,
Engines