Tomahawk has been exported only within NATO, & only to a country which already had SLBMs. Hardly proliferation. Some other NATO members have been refused it.

Didn’t they sell some to Spain ?

The Nimrod MRA4 programme was almost complete. The only saving was the £2 billion of running costs over the next decade. The capability has gone, even though the aircraft have been bought and paid for (and now smashed to pieces). Why on earth does anyone think this anti-defence government would possibly buy a new aircraft to fulfil a role that they deem surplus to requirements? The Chancellor of the Exchequer could only bring himself to call the carriers “those things”, and would undoubtedly have cancelled them but for their watertight contracts. Do not expect anything on defence from this government. The only plan they seem to have is to pull out of Afghanistan in 2015, come hell or high water.

Because the mistake WILL have to be fixed

The way the UK runs it spending don’t be suprised if we have the A319 in operation but with Easyjet looking after the planes for us.

I have to agree with Al. complete shambles from the start.

But…. as with all of these things, it’s done now and will likely happen again with the MOD the way it is.

I like the look of the Airbus A319 MPA alot. It looks like a winner for me and if we can persuade the french to get in on the act I think we will have a winner abroad.

Lets make sure that BAE have a big part to play in it and lets flog it to everyone – lots and lots of export potential.

Repose for you-

The reason they should still look at the GR9 is that they need airframes. Tell me over the past 10 years when a Indian Harrier has actually been in action???? or likely to be before the Mig 29s are fully operational.

Now tell me if you think retiring the Harriers in UK is a good idea, no its not you lose skills. So how about India buys 15-20 GR9’s forgets about the fact that they dont have radar and uses them to fill the deck. You take 4/6 Indian Harriers out and the same GR9’s leaving the rest on rotation. You keep your pilots qualified and working off decks as well as the crew. AND you get to use a plane that’s ground attack from a carrier….something the Mig 29 can also do, so you develop you doctrine for that?

Is that such a silly idea?

Well lets sell them a Bay

There are no other sources for Harriers than the UK – Spain and Italy arent getting rid and neither are the Yanks.

The only ones avaiable that could go tomorrow are the GR9’s. India wants them they should hurry up and in my opinion they should take them at least 20 + some trainers.