Originally Posted by
sandiego89
Stilton, if I recall correctly the RAF GR.3 Harriers did carry sidewinders, but not often, during the conflict. The GR.3's were envisioned to provide air-to-ground coverage and to also augment/replace the Sea Harriers in the air-to-air role as Sea Harrier losses were predicted to be high. For much of the conflict they were allowed to concentrate on the air-to-ground mission and normally flew with cannon on the belly strakes, fuel tanks on the inner wing pylons and air to ground ordinance (several bomb types and rockets) on the outer wing stations. There were no air to air kills by the GR.3's, but a few helo's were destroyed on the ground by GR.3's.
Post conflict the GR.3's did stand as air-to-air strip alert (with Sidewinders) before the runway at Stanley could be extended for use by the Phantoms.
In actual fact, the No 1(f) Sqn GR3s did not carry sidewinders at all during the conflict, although they were fitted with a rudimentary system to allow them a "boresight" launch capability. The jettison system was also a "lash-up" and was directly responsible for serious injuries to two Sappers when a pair of missiles were jettisoned (by firing) as a GR3 got airborne at Stanley, after the conflict.
Post conflict, No 1(f) flew with AIM9Ls from Stanley, occasionally led by SHARs detached ashore.