Harriers are Rubbish
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Truro
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There are a heap of guys who survived the Falklands Campaign because of the skill and bravery of the crews added to the technical abilities of the Harrier. Perhaps the Journo should consider doing two things; get his backside in one, then print a retraction, secondly educate himself by reading Sharky Wards book,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Harrier-.../dp/0304355429
Donations to a charity should ensue.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Harrier-.../dp/0304355429
Donations to a charity should ensue.
He should read Jerry Pook's Harrier Ground Attack Falklands and Dave Morgan's In Hostile Skies before the good Cdr Ward's book, otherwise he might believe some of the er.... interesting interpretations contained in SHAR over the Falklands and induce more hoots of contempt from contributors to this board when he prints slightly doubtful observations as matters of fact. 
I would be interested to hear how the precision bombing capability can be improved on an aircraft which can already carry JDAM and Paveway 3 which - we were told - can put a bomb through the average suburban house's front door.
Now yes I know it won't quite do that but...
Now yes I know it won't quite do that but...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Aberystwyth
Age: 38
Posts: 42
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Upgrading only 104 airframes - weren't there 142 Tornados brought up to the GR4 spec?
Obviously some have been lost in accidents (I can think of at least 2, but someone will know the numbers), one is a BAE test aircraft, and some may even have been reduced to hangar queens in the quest for spares and have been cannibalised beyond economical repair, but can't believe 38 have 'gone' through these. Some retirements due soon or will they not bother upgrading all the fleet for cost reasons?
As for what weapons capability it will add, I'm intrigued - Paveway IV in its 500lb form would be most welcome as the current weapons used are a bit on the heavy side, risking collateral damage, apart from which only carrying a single weapon when toting a targetting pod is somewhat limited compared to some other coalition aircraft)
GR4 with Litening III and say 6 or 4 Paveway IVs (loaded side by side on double racks) would be an excellent CAS platform I'd say, though saying that not sure if you could get 6 onto the aircraft - not a weight issue, but a length one!
Obviously some have been lost in accidents (I can think of at least 2, but someone will know the numbers), one is a BAE test aircraft, and some may even have been reduced to hangar queens in the quest for spares and have been cannibalised beyond economical repair, but can't believe 38 have 'gone' through these. Some retirements due soon or will they not bother upgrading all the fleet for cost reasons?
As for what weapons capability it will add, I'm intrigued - Paveway IV in its 500lb form would be most welcome as the current weapons used are a bit on the heavy side, risking collateral damage, apart from which only carrying a single weapon when toting a targetting pod is somewhat limited compared to some other coalition aircraft)
GR4 with Litening III and say 6 or 4 Paveway IVs (loaded side by side on double racks) would be an excellent CAS platform I'd say, though saying that not sure if you could get 6 onto the aircraft - not a weight issue, but a length one!
Perhaps some were already upgraded?
or
Perhaps that's what the RAF say they will need to cope with current and possible future tasks?
or
Perhaps that's all we can afford?
or
Perhaps that's what the RAF say they will need to cope with current and possible future tasks?
or
Perhaps that's all we can afford?
