R.I.P to the Harrier Jump Jet in the UK!

[Wadders]

So today the Harrier, the aircraft that helped us recapture the Falklands and has served our Air Force and Navy since 1969, had its last flight, on it's way to being decomissioned next year as a result of the governments defence cuts. Sure, it needs replacing, but possibly not quite yet?

I reckon it's pretty sad to be honest, and will leave a carrier strike capable shaped hole in our defence until they are replaced by the JSF in 2020. 10 years is a long time to have that kind of vulnerability as fas as I'm concerned. On the other hand, money desperately needs to be saved :/

I was just wondering what your opinions are on this really and on the Harrier as a whole, would be interesting to hear what people - especially Brits - think

 

[Vrach]

The thing that can fly like a chopper from San Andreas? Much love ^^

Seriously though, it's a great plane and yeah I gotta agree, 10 years with a diminished air force capacity is a long time, but I really doubt Brits are heading for anything remotely resembling a major conflict. At most you'll be doing crap like Iraq where you just ship off a number of soldiers to support another force.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

10 YEARS? Jesus that's ridiculous. Money does need to be saved, but this seems ridiculous, money is being cut from everywhere. I always liked those jump jets too...

On one hand, they're probably assuming in this day and age that such defences aren't needed, what with our allies and all, but still, ten years is a long time.

As a Brit, I'm annoyed. That is all.

 

[Wadders]

The thing that can fly like a chopper from San Andreas? Much love ^^

Seriously though, it's a great plane and yeah I gotta agree, 10 years with a diminished air force capacity is a long time, but I really doubt Brits are heading for anything remotely resembling a major conflict. At most you'll be doing crap like Iraq where you just ship off a number of soldiers to support another force.

10 YEARS? Jesus that's ridiculous. Money does need to be saved, but this seems ridiculous, money is being cut from everywhere. I always liked those jump jets too...

On one hand, they're probably assuming in this day and age that such defences aren't needed, what with our allies and all, but still, ten years is a long time.

As a Brit, I'm annoyed. That is all.

Whilst I agree that it's likely we wont need to fire our planes off big boats at baddies again in the near future, you just never know. What happens if Argentina fancy another pop at the Falklands? It might sound paranoid, but again, you never know, and taking risks like this can only encourage such acts surely?

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I hope they're giving the S.A.S jetpacks. Flying Techno Ninja Squad would kick arse.

 

[Wadders]

I hope they're giving the S.A.S jetpacks. Flying Techno Ninja Squad would kick arse.

Yes, this is the obvious solution really.

In all honesty, if we had a regiment of highly trained and motivated experienced killers like the SAS who could zoom around the world as they were needed and drop in on baddies like Assault Marines from Dawn of War, then we could probably retire the rest of the armed forces, nobody would dare fuck with us again

 

[emeraldrafael]

I can see why the Country would do it. Jets (well, military in general, but especially jets) are incredibly expensive to maintain for any country and from what i understand, Britain is going bankrupt at an alarming rate and is either considering or already has joined militaries with France (Cookie has already been handed out).

However ten (gonna be nine soon, but still) years is a long time to leave a gap for new development. You should have something a bit more modern ready to take its place before you say that your next big hting is going to be in 2020.

 

[Private Custard]

I totally love the Harrier. Not just because it can hover, and therefore steals the limelight at pretty much avery airshow it appears at. The Harrier has been at the forefront of the military since 1969, and has owned everything it's ever been put up against.

Here in Rutland, I witnessed first hand the farewell to the Harriers today as sixteen of them flew around for about an hour over the town I work in. Four squadrons in total added their numbers to the finale and it was frankly mental.

It's really quiet now. I'm unhappy.

On the flipside, I have some great memories. My favourite was from my visit to Wales last year. I went for the jets, but I didn't expect one of my local Harriers to come blatting past me in the valleys of LFA7. I got this video and some lovely shots.

 

[AcrylicHero]

It's disheartening to see cuts in pretty much every sector.

Anyways those new carriers are gonna feel quite lonely...

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I hope they're giving the S.A.S jetpacks. Flying Techno Ninja Squad would kick arse.

Yes, this is the obvious solution really.

In all honesty, if we had a regiment of highly trained and motivated experienced killers like the SAS who could zoom around the world as they were needed and drop in on baddies like Assault Marines from Dawn of War, then we could probably retire the rest of the armed forces, nobody would dare fuck with us again

I think we've got the makings of an awesome new TV show there...

 

[Vrach]

I hope they're giving the S.A.S jetpacks. Flying Techno Ninja Squad would kick arse.

Well considering those things are even commercially available now, why the hell not

 

[Wadders]

I can see why the Country would do it. Jets (well, military in general, but especially jets) are incredibly expensive to maintain for any country and from what i understand, Britain is going bankrupt at an alarming rate and is either considering or already has joined militaries with France (cookie for the person that spots the irony there).

I dont wana sound pedantic, but t people always say we're "joining miltaries with France" but that is not exactly whats going to happen.

We signed treaties about co-operation over nuclear research and the sharing of aircraft carriers (which goes some way to negate the loss of the Harriers possibly) and a joint expeditionary force, but Britain retain "a sovereign capability" on defence. I think it's quite a good idea to be honest...

 

[emeraldrafael]

I can see why the Country would do it. Jets (well, military in general, but especially jets) are incredibly expensive to maintain for any country and from what i understand, Britain is going bankrupt at an alarming rate and is either considering or already has joined militaries with France (cookie for the person that spots the irony there).

I dont wana sound pedantic, but t people always say we're "joining miltaries with France" but that is not exactly whats going to happen.

We signed treaties about co-operation over nuclear research and the sharing of aircraft carriers (which goes some way to negate the loss of the Harriers possibly) and a joint expeditionary force, but Britain retain "a sovereign capability" on defence. I think it's quite a good idea to be honest...

Sorry. I just remember thats how it was explained to me, but then again it was second hand information and it was from someone my age, not from a more respected source. But i heard about it, so thats what it sounded like. Thanks for the clarification. we've been talking about this in global studies in my college class for the past week.

 

[Wadders]

Spoiler

I totally love the Harrier. Not just because it can hover, and therefore steals the limelight at pretty much avery airshow it appears at. The Harrier has been at the forefront of the military since 1969, and has owned everything it's ever been put up against.

Here in Rutland, I witnessed first hand the farewell to the Harriers today as sixteen of them flew around for about an hour over the town I work in. Four squadrons in total added their numbers to the finale and it was frankly mental.

It's really quiet now. I'm unhappy.

On the flipside, I have some great memories. My favourite was from my visit to Wales last year. I went for the jets, but I didn't expect one of my local Harriers to come blatting past me in the valleys of LFA7. I got this video and some lovely shots.

Wow, thanks for the pictures and video, a majestic aricraft

I found a brilliant hi-res photo of a Harrier just now, here it be:

Spoiler

If that isnt awesome, I just dont know what is.

I hope they're giving the S.A.S jetpacks. Flying Techno Ninja Squad would kick arse.

Yes, this is the obvious solution really.

In all honesty, if we had a regiment of highly trained and motivated experienced killers like the SAS who could zoom around the world as they were needed and drop in on baddies like Assault Marines from Dawn of War, then we could probably retire the rest of the armed forces, nobody would dare fuck with us again

I think we've got the makings of an awesome new TV show there...

Hell yeah!

1. Hire this guy:

2. Give him SAS training.
3. Fire him at bad guys and film it.
4. ?????
5. PROFIT!!

I can see why the Country would do it. Jets (well, military in general, but especially jets) are incredibly expensive to maintain for any country and from what i understand, Britain is going bankrupt at an alarming rate and is either considering or already has joined militaries with France (cookie for the person that spots the irony there).

I dont wana sound pedantic, but t people always say we're "joining miltaries with France" but that is not exactly whats going to happen.

We signed treaties about co-operation over nuclear research and the sharing of aircraft carriers (which goes some way to negate the loss of the Harriers possibly) and a joint expeditionary force, but Britain retain "a sovereign capability" on defence. I think it's quite a good idea to be honest...

Sorry. I just remember thats how it was explained to me, but then again it was second hand information and it was from someone my age, not from a more respected source. But i heard about it, so thats what it sounded like. Thanks for the clarification. we've been talking about this in global studies in my college class for the past week.

It's ok matey, no worries

 

[Kukakkau]

10 YEARS? Jesus that's ridiculous. Money does need to be saved, but this seems ridiculous, money is being cut from everywhere. I always liked those jump jets too...

On one hand, they're probably assuming in this day and age that such defences aren't needed, what with our allies and all, but still, ten years is a long time.

As a Brit, I'm annoyed. That is all.

Agreed, especially with china and korea acting up

Really sucks that they are getting rid of these, they're just so recognisable that they even got their own nickname

 

[Bravo 21]

JSF, yeah canada is investing in that too, and well, although OP says that money needs to be saved, these things have been dubbed here the F-35 "defecit maker", I guess we're getting screwed. Oh well, too bad about the harrier too.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Spoiler

I totally love the Harrier. Not just because it can hover, and therefore steals the limelight at pretty much avery airshow it appears at. The Harrier has been at the forefront of the military since 1969, and has owned everything it's ever been put up against.

Here in Rutland, I witnessed first hand the farewell to the Harriers today as sixteen of them flew around for about an hour over the town I work in. Four squadrons in total added their numbers to the finale and it was frankly mental.

It's really quiet now. I'm unhappy.

On the flipside, I have some great memories. My favourite was from my visit to Wales last year. I went for the jets, but I didn't expect one of my local Harriers to come blatting past me in the valleys of LFA7. I got this video and some lovely shots.

Wow, thanks for the pictures and video, a majestic aricraft

I found a brilliant hi-res photo of a Harrier just now, here it be:

Spoiler

If that isnt awesome, I just dont know what is.

I hope they're giving the S.A.S jetpacks. Flying Techno Ninja Squad would kick arse.

Yes, this is the obvious solution really.

In all honesty, if we had a regiment of highly trained and motivated experienced killers like the SAS who could zoom around the world as they were needed and drop in on baddies like Assault Marines from Dawn of War, then we could probably retire the rest of the armed forces, nobody would dare fuck with us again

I think we've got the makings of an awesome new TV show there...

Hell yeah!

1. Hire this guy:

2. Give him SAS training.
3. Fire him at bad guys and film it.
4. ?????
5. PROFIT!!

Profit indeed my friend... profit indeed.

Now we just need an intro theme...

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

T At most you'll be doing crap like Iraq where you just ship off a number of soldiers to support another force.

Just remember that the British Air Force destroyed all of the Iraqi airways so that the American ships didn't get blown out of the water.

The American Air Force declared it a "suicide mission". The Harriers did the job without a single loss.