Death of the Harriers

Today the government have sold 72 Harrier Jump Jets to the USA for £180 million. It is a good deal for UK taxpayers says Defence Minister Peter Luff. Who is he? These aircraft will be used by the Americans as a source of spares for their own fleet of Harriers. I don't doubt that it is a good deal for them. It will provide a pretty hefty source of spare parts which they would otherwise have had to buy new from the British manufacturers. And since every company makes lots of money from selling spares I think the total cost would come out at much above £180 m. But is it a good deal for us? I think not. These aircraft were supposed to be suitable for use until 2025 and they are virtually irreplaceable. They have proved themselves to be remarkable aircraft with a tremendous record in operational service and a unique capability of vertical take off and landing. Now we have got rid of our aircraft carriers and their aircraft and in a few years time [2020] we will have the two biggest aircraft carriers that we have ever built - but with no aircraft. Is this a programme for the defence of the realm or just for wasting money? Selling the Harriers will save us £1 billion per year says Mr Luff. He may be right but I suspect that he is not and some time in the near future we will come to regret not having these Harriers and the Ark Royal.

Incidentally, why is it taking so long to build the new aircraft carriers? Or have we just slowed down the building programme - at extra cost, of course - in order not to have them sailing around for too long without any aircraft. Pretty vulnerable things aircraft carriers without aircraft. Is it all true or is just a MOD joke?

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