The Great Harrier Shortage
April 5, 2008: The British Royal Navy's two carriers were built to carry sixteen Harrier GR9 aircraft each. Normally they carry eight, but because of the reduction of the Harrier force (two dozen older Sea Harriers were retired in 2006), and merging Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Harriers into a joint task force, plus the demand for Harriers in Afghanistan, and aircraft sidelined for maintenance and upgrades, there is a shortage. Thus one British carrier recently put to sea with only four Harriers. The Royal Navy is building two new 65,000 ton carriers, to replace the three current 21,000 ton carriers (one of them inactive and in reserve). Britain is buying American F-35C vertical takeoff aircraft, and the new carriers will carry 24 F-35Cs each. But these aircraft, and the new carriers, won't be in service for another 6-8 years. So the Harrier shortage will be a problem for a while.
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States 1924-1929
Boy, that article is soooo full of mistakes it's kinda funny!
Quote:Normally they carry eight
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pathetic ...
"Normally", they don't provide a forward presence like the USN carriers. Eight (plus RW) isn't ideal, but is okay for conducting training and exercises. Don't forget the UK's Harrier force is rather busy right now conducting LIVE operations in 'Stan!
The Invincibles were the first purpose built STOVL carriers, and part of the problem of being on the "leading edge" of technology is that the initial product almost always leaves something to be desired. With the Forrestal supercarriers it was retarded elevator placement, and with the Invincibles it was a piss poor hanger design that wasn't "Harrier friendly".
No, seven. But that's not the most important factor. There are 16 pilots operating the Harriers in 'Stan which is more than the standard number of pilots in a full Harrier squadron. Once you add roulement into the equation (as the Harrier deployment is currently a standing task), then you are left with few pilots to deploy regularly on the carriers at present. However, if there were a crisis that required a CVS with a dozen or so fast jets, then I'm sure the Joint Force Harrier would be able to do it.
If there are UK 10 Harriers in Afghanistan. That will probably have up to 30 aircraft busy with training for, operating in and standing down after Afghanistan. Add to that that there is an upgrade on going from GR7/7A to GR9/9A that probably ties another 10 or so at any one time currently, that leaves the UK with about 30 Harriers of which of course not all will be operational at any one time.
It's entirely possible that the number deployed has crept up... the last official statement I read put it at seven, but I know the RAF and MOD have remained coy about how many are actually in theatre. Certainly with 16x crews out there at any time, then 11x airframes would be a more usual number.
The number does vary with jet swaps but the last I heard it was 9, mind you with the amount of taskings creeping up an addition to that wouldn't be a surprise. The Herrick detachment is starting to bleed JFH dry though, with the lack of other airframes for exercises and other detachments being the proof. At the moment so much on the fleet is focussed on the medium/low level CAS skills that there is starting to be the risk of fade in other areas. That makes their replacement in the summer so important, although they are the best platform for the mission out there, which makes it a pity.
Whats going to replace them? GR4s would be the safe bet, but with an LIII underneath they are underarmed for the role the harriers have filled. I'm sure they've looked at putting the harriers snipers on the GR4s as the tonka fleet doesn't have enough LIII's for another tasking! With the Typhoons unlikely to get the clearences for the LIII in time, they could use the GR4s to buddy spike in the manner of the Rafale/Mirage, but while that gets more bombs airborne its less than ideal, even more so than when the French do it. Quite a sad state of affairs really! And this is the fleet to man the 'supercarriers'!
1. The Invincibles deploy with whatever force is needed for the task they are going to perform, some have deployed with just helicopters when fast jets weren't needed.
2. They were built to carry Sea Harriers not Harrier GR9. GR9 didn't exist then.
3. The UK is buying F35B's not F35C's
4. The new carriers will carry a tailored airgroup of 12-36 Harriers though it's easily possible to put 48 onboard.
5. JSF will replace Harrier, not be in addition to them so I dont see how this will reduce any "shortage".
Normally they carry eight
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pathetic ...
More or less pathetic than the US needing to resort to relying of "pathetic" British forces to help fight it's war on terror?
