WANTED: Good home for the Harrier GR9

And a large garrison of professional troops (6,000?). I fail to see how the Argentines could hope to go through them and the Tiffies with their current equipment – or have the stomach to try.

As unpleasant as these cuts are (my brother’s job may be affected) could not most tin-pot wannabes be dissuaded by RN submarine launched cruise missiles?

Apparently, Guatemala got cold feet over Belize when the two Buccs went downtown – pretty sure some tomahawk-rattling would have a similar effect. Wouldn’t even need to hit anything major, or anything at all – as in the Falklands, where the Argentines believed their own (mis)intelligence about the Vulcan being able to bomb the Argentine mainland at will, the mere possibility should give them sleepless nights.

Playing with the big boys in the sandpit or elsewhere is obviously another story with much more boots/choppers/jets/tanks/arty on the ground required.

So where next – DPRK, Iran or just a few dashing spooks running round London slotting ‘dirty foreigners’ – ‘Spooks’ is based on real events right?

Not 6,000.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091012/text/91012w0097.htm

‘Falkland Islands: Military Bases

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the size of the complement serving at the military garrison on the Falkland Islands. [291756]

Bill Rammell: There are some 1,250 UK armed forces personnel based in the South Atlantic Islands, the majority on the Falkland Islands, supported by a small detachment based on Ascension Island. This figure varies during the year due to individual posting plots and unit moves. Force levels are subject to regular review, the last having completed in July 2009, but there are no current plans to change them.’

TJ

Sorry if this has already been asked/answered, I haven’t time to read from where I left off but any news when or if they’ll be up for disposal?

Must try and see one fly before its all over

All harrier flying will cease on the 15th dec with a planned 16 ship formation sometime before that

Blimey,thought 1 Sqn were carrying on till March 2011?

The skies around Cambs will never be the same ….we very aften get the odd Harrier going accross the fens:confused: i still can’t get my head around the fact i wont see another Harrier flying after this year:(

Matt

That is unbelievable, especially knowing I may never see a Harrier fly again.
It seems when they retire a type now that it is done instantly with very little run down.

Correct.

.

Jeez, as in the 15 December this year?!

All harrier flying will cease on the 15th dec with a planned 16 ship formation sometime before that

Yes surely if you don’t like the subject you don’t have to read the thread?:confused:

Tony -I tend to rather enjoy the conversations here on whatever subject as an electronic pub chat – modern military and all the other variations of the theme tend to be a game of Top Trumps for those with uncompromising views!

yes David, but that discussion can be in the Modern Aviation forum where there are threads already.

I find this escapism here in the Historic Forum.

Historic is pretty much in the interpretation ! I guess the Typhoon prototypes in preservation are clearly historic without having even fired a round in anger. As one who has had an involvement on and off with the likes of the Harrier I would say its firmly in the historic category as its a whisker away from being in our military past . I too have experienced the downturn of military expenditure this year to the same degree of others -sadly friends wont be having a great Christmas this year with job uncertainty but I am pretty damned sure they wouldnt mind a discussion which highlights the muddled thinking of our military and political leadership -something which seems to stem through our military history.

For those of us who are involved in aviation and defence, is there any chance this sad discussion could be moved to the correct forum please?!

I don’t want to be grumpy, but this forum (historic) is somewhere we can hide from the vagaries and sadness involved in the defence cuts. Before you say the aircraft etc involved are historic, they are not yet.

it does strip a lot of very usuable spares for the Tornado fleet and must save the taxpayer a fortune!

It’s a common sense approach you mean?!
Seems to be thesame with the VC-10s and Nimrods, well until they found they weren’t getting the MRA4.

I would take an educated guess at India being an export customer for former RAF Gr.9s . As for the Tornado spares programme at Leeming – it does strip a lot of very usuable spares for the Tornado fleet and must save the taxpayer a fortune!

What will happen with the Harriers will they be sold?? or preserved just in case they are needed again?

Regarding the Falklands – we do have Typhoons out there which will hopefully dissuade Argentina.
Mike

Nice to hear they weren’t grounded for too long with the rest of the €urofighter Typhoons – maybe they just wrapped duct tape around the ejector seats – seems to work for everything else…..

Just to let everyone know the 41 Squadron Harriers finish flying at RAF Coningsby on Friday 29th October…..as for the rest of the fleet i have no idea, anyone?

Regarding the Falklands – we do have Typhoons out there which will hopefully dissuade Argentina.
Mike

And a large garrison of professional troops (6,000?). I fail to see how the Argentines could hope to go through them and the Tiffies with their current equipment – or have the stomach to try.

As unpleasant as these cuts are (my brother’s job may be affected) could not most tin-pot wannabes be dissuaded by RN submarine launched cruise missiles?

Apparently, Guatemala got cold feet over Belize when the two Buccs went downtown – pretty sure some tomahawk-rattling would have a similar effect. Wouldn’t even need to hit anything major, or anything at all – as in the Falklands, where the Argentines believed their own (mis)intelligence about the Vulcan being able to bomb the Argentine mainland at will, the mere possibility should give them sleepless nights.

Playing with the big boys in the sandpit or elsewhere is obviously another story with much more boots/choppers/jets/tanks/arty on the ground required.

So where next – DPRK, Iran or just a few dashing spooks running round London slotting ‘dirty foreigners’ – ‘Spooks’ is based on real events right?