US or India 'could buy Harriers'

[CONNAN]

US or India 'could buy Harriers' - Defence Management

Monday, November 01, 2010

Overseas buyers are being sought for the UK's Harrier aircraft following their withdrawal from service.

Defence procurement minister Peter Luff told the Financial Times that there are overseas markets for the Harrier, versions of which are operated by other countries.

Discussions are also said to be ongoing regarding disposal of the Nimrod MRA4 marine reconnaissance aircraft, also cancelled in the SDSR, although export deals are said to be unlikely.

"I don't want to speculate about the market," said Luff. "I don't want them to feel as if they are being bounced. But we are looking at the options quite carefully at the moment. There are overseas markets, particularly for the Harrier."

India and the US are said to be the most likely customers for the Harrier, with Italy and Spain also operating versions of the aircraft.

The Nimrod MRA4 may be more difficult to dispose of, however, with its surveillance technology making it difficult to export.

Unions have speculated that despite the £3bn spent on the project to date, the planes could become the MoD's "most expensive scrap metal".

One Nimrod had been completed and a further five are said to have been in the late stages of production when the order was scrapped in the defence review.

Kevin French, Unite chairman at BAE's Woodford, Cheshire site said that the Nimrods would probably end up being cut up for their scrap value.

"They will probably bring in a big company to crush them and cut them up, chop their wings off. It will be as crude as that. It will be the most expensive scrap metal they will have ever paid for.

"It is such a waste of money - why would you pay almost £4bn and not put the planes into service?"

BAE and MoD spokespeople said that they were both engaged in talks about the future of the Nimrods and could not confirm what would happen to the aircraft.

 

[ganimi kawa]

This could be a great opportunity to bolster the naval air arm. These can also operate from the new flat tops IN is going to procure.

However,these are the ground attack version unlike the harriers IN has (GR7 and GR9 without radars). it would take a lengthy refit to bring them to LUSH standard, if at all it is possible. We can try them out at A&N command!

Still a good buy if offered at low enough price; which is quite likely.

 

[palash_kol]

Source

This could be a great opportunity to bolster the naval air arm. These can also operate from the new flat tops IN is going to procure.

No more harriers....IN suffered a lot for this plane...Out of 30, only 10 left......

 

[Abhishek_]

I thought Naval LCA is supposed to replace the Harriers

 

[ganimi kawa]

No more harriers....IN suffered a lot for this plane...Out of 30, only 10 left......

I don't know what IN thinks about the plane, however here is a report from 2006..

Navy not to purchase used Royal Navy Sea Harrier fighter jets
2006-10-13

The Indian Navy has declined to buy eight British Sea Harrier FA.2 fighter jets that were phased out of the Royal Navy in March 2006.

According to a report in the October issue of the defence magazine India Strategic, the eight Harriers, which were also the last to serve the Royal Navy, were on offer but without some vital components like missiles and the Blue Vixen fire control radar.

The prime consideration was to use them to train pilots and to fill in the gaps caused by the loss of six Harriers in the Indian Navy due to accidents spread over more than 20 years.

Indian Navy pilots and defence ministry representatives inspected and assessed the aircraft for technical and financial evaluation but it was decided not to go in for them as the jets needed considerable expense in upgrading their avionics and arming them.

As for the Royal Navy Harriers, the Indian Navy was initially enthusiastic, but then felt that "devoid of their offensive systems, they wouldn't be of much use". For training "the navy is already considering either the BAe Hawks or Boeing/BAe Goshawks", a source said.

Harrier jets played a decisive and proven role in the Falklands crisis of 1982. The last naval variant, the FA.2, was armed with US AIM 20 AMRAAM (advanced medium range air-to-air missile) and the Ferranti ARI.50019 Blue Vixen radar that enabled it to engage four targets simultaneously.

The Indian Navy plans to use the Sea Harriers till around 2020.

I don't think the IN has any objection to getting more SHars.

However,as I said earlier, the capability and the cost of these planes will make or brake the deal. Not the safety issue!

 

[Chanakyaa]

They are now outdated.

Get Navel LCA or Rafales.

 

[siegecrossbow]

When F-35 is coming out???

 

[Abhishek_]

They are now outdated.

Get Navel LCA or Rafales.

Navel LCA?? Is this another version DRDO is developing now
sorry Xinix, had to say that

 

[Super Falcon]

well not sure about USA if USA goes for harriers i think they are bigger fool better jet in F 35 will arrive in few years time thrice better than harrier why go for this

 

[The Clarifier]

US wouldn't go for harrier...

In my opinion it's not a good choice... perhaps lower the price even more, they might be worth having around.

 

[Chanakyaa]

Navel LCA?? Is this another version DRDO is developing now
sorry Xinix, had to say that

Yes Brother.... I think u Missed This :

India's first indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), designed specifically for the Navy, rolled out from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility here on Tuesday.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony described the milestone as “memorable” and urged the project team to conduct the first flight of NP1, the LCA trainer aircraft (Navy), by the year-end.

By 2015, the aircraft will be deployed aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier that is being built at the Cochin Shipyard. The LCA has to undergo systems integration tests, ground runs, taxi trials and eventually flights, before it will be ready for deployment, officials said.

The aircraft, developed under the auspices of the Naval Programme of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), will fly with a U.S.-made engine. It has been designed to make ‘ski jump' take-off and arrested landings aboard an aircraft carrier. A source in the ADA said the aircraft required “a new design” that would “knock out 300-400 kg from the next prototype.” The NP2, the aircraft being specially designed for the Navy, is expected to fly for the first time in 2011, sources said.

HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak said the team has “taken longer [time] than planned earlier because of several technical challenges, important of them being “designing an integrated fuel tank and bigger landing gear.”

He sought “early go-ahead” from the government for the next prototype, pointing out that the lead time for this would be three years.

Mr. Antony said the Shore Based Test Facility at the naval air base in Goa was being used to simulate take-offs and arrested landings aboard carriers. It would also train pilots of the LCA's naval version. “It is already being used for training pilots aboard MiG-29K fighter jets, bought from Russia, which are to be deployed aboard aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.”

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma said the LCA induction would give the Navy a “multidimensional force capability.”

R.K. Singh, Secretary, Defence Production, said the HAL would need to create separate production lines to keep pace with the defence requirements. The HAL would have a role to play in the development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft and the medium combat aircraft, a multirole stealth fighter.

Addressing journalists later, Mr. Antony said: “A chain of 46 radars for coastal surveillance will be ready soon.”

Referring to Kashmir, he said: “The situation is a matter of concern, but not grim.” “Tourist arrivals in the valley are much higher than last year.”

Asked whether the armed forces would play a more active role in fighting Maoists, Mr. Antony said: “Using the Army for law and order is always the last resort.” However, the Army would provide security personnel fighting the Maoists with logistics support and training.

Keywords: naval version, LCA, Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, shore based test facility, ADA

 

[Chanakyaa]

The Roll Out Ceremony of First Navel LCA :

 

[SpArK]

Sorry XiniX adding these too

Some of features of "Naval LCA Version":


Aircraft carrier operation with ski-jump and arrested landing
Nose drooped for better cockpit vision
Additional aerodynamic features like LEVCON and fore plane to reduce carrier landing speed
Maximum take off weight from carrier—12.5 tons
External store carrying capacity from carrier—3.5 tons
Strengthened fuselage
Stronger undercarriage due to higher sink rate
Arrestor hook for deck recovery
Fuel dump system

 

[Super Falcon]

well congrats too india and where do india uses their old harriers when LCA will be avaialable for use for indian navy

 

[Chanakyaa]

well congrats too india and where do india uses their old harriers when LCA will be avaialable for use for indian navy

Ans : A Museum.