Harrier OSD 2018?!

[Hangar_9]

"QinetiQ has just been awarded an MOD contract worth almost £24 million over the next 10-years by the Harrier Integrated Project Team (IPT) for through-life support on the Harrier Aircraft. The contract supports the IPT in its key functions of delivering long term Harrier availability and capability, through to the Out-of-Service Date (OSD) in 2018"
MOD awards QinetiQ a 10-year, £24m contract for Harrier Through-Life Support (http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/news_releases_homepage/2008/2nd_quarter/harrier_tls.html)

Taken from QinetiQ's website...
Isnt the F-35 meant to replace the Harreir? (if we buy it of course:rolleyes:)
If so it looks as if the two would operate alongside eachother?
Or will the powers that be pull a Sepecat scenario on us and plug the Harrier before it took its final breath?

[Alber Ratman]

JSF is in service from 2018+2:D:D

[green granite]

What's the betting it'll end up costing the MOD 50 million by the end of the contract.

[ORAC]

2018 is the first year the total number of F-35s delivered breaks 60, and that's without any further slippage, and when the force could reasonably be expected to take over the operational task.

Hell, we don't break 20 till the start of 2015, and how long does it take to run up an OCU, the first front line Sqn and then reach CR? 2018 is actually rather optimistic, I'd expect an extension of the contract in due course.

ESTIMATED JSF AIR VEHICLE PROCUREMENT QUANTITIES (http://www.jsf.mil/downloads/documents/ANNEX%20A%20Revision_April%202007.pdf)

[Double Zero]

Well,

we put up with politicans retiring the Sea Harrier early...err remind me of the gap in fleet air defence -

Whlie the GR9's are doing a good job too, but of course there's not a politician living in a tent there...

Meanwhle the real F-35 has only managed a bit of a hop & awaits a long devoplement programme just to get a worthwhile engine !