Was an opportunity missed with the Sea Harrier?

[Scott Kenny]

Im glad too see someone point this out. The B wing sacrificed significant general aircraft performance to achieve its payload and range increase. [...]

Details like this post are why I love this forum!

I'd wondered why the SHAR never got the new wing.


But I kinda disagree with one of your conclusions.

However when you really dig into the numbers the B program seems like a huge waste of money. The AV-8B can only carry the exact same payload as the AV-8A about 300 more nautical miles. To cover the same distance it also has to use more fuel.

A huge waste of money to give the B/GR7/GR9 150nmi more combat radius?

Press F to doubt.

There are no advantages in the fighter role for the B over the Shar.

This one I agree with.

 

[MatrixRupture]

A huge waste of money to give the B/GR7/GR9 150nmi more combat radius?

Depends what you want really.

Remember that in order to achieve this you sacrifice 100+ knots top speed, climb rate, sustained load factor, some of the good high speed handling characteristics, fuel consumption, and vertical landing capabilities.

When carrying an actually larger payload like the B was intended to do its range is basically the same as the A with slightly less payload.

Personally I would argue that the Tech was the biggest improvement and the ability to carry more weapons on more hardpoints.

I wonder what a FA.2 with an updated MFD and a centerline sniper pod would have been like.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Depends what you want really.

Remember that in order to achieve this you sacrifice 100+ knots top speed, climb rate, sustained load factor, some of the good high speed handling characteristics, fuel consumption, and vertical landing capabilities.

Mostly things that matter for being a fighter, not being a bomb truck that also carries a pair of Sidewinders or maybe AMRAAMs on a bad day.

When carrying an actually larger payload like the B was intended to do its range is basically the same as the A with slightly less payload.

Back when I was a new aircraft mechanic, 98 and 99, my work buddy was a Harrier Mechanic. Standard B model combat load then was a pair of 1000lb bombs and a pair of Sidewinders (and IIRC a pair of drop tanks).

Though IMO the better wing was the GR7/9 wing. Those two Sidewinder rails in front of the outriggers.

Personally I would argue that the Tech was the biggest improvement and the ability to carry more weapons on more hardpoints.

I wonder what a FA.2 with an updated MFD and a centerline sniper pod would have been like.

Likely a worthwhile improvement, but as you noted the SHAR was never really seen as a striker to the people who operated it. And there were almost guaranteed to be some GR7/9s onboard if you needed something bombed, so the RN never saw the need to make the FA2 a better bomber.

 

[MatrixRupture]

Mostly things that matter for being a fighter, not being a bomb truck that also carries a pair of Sidewinders or maybe AMRAAMs on a bad day.



Back when I was a new aircraft mechanic, 98 and 99, my work buddy was a Harrier Mechanic. Standard B model combat load then was a pair of 1000lb bombs and a pair of Sidewinders (and IIRC a pair of drop tanks).

Though IMO the better wing was the GR7/9 wing. Those two Sidewinder rails in front of the outriggers.





Likely a worthwhile improvement, but as you noted the SHAR was never really seen as a striker to the people who operated it. And there were almost guaranteed to be some GR7/9s onboard if you needed something bombed, so the RN never saw the need to make the FA2 a better bomber.

Yes that’s what I gathered from docs and talking with some aircrew as well.

The Shar did have some ATG capabilities but it was always preferred to let the mud movers do the brunt of the ATG work.

It makes sense.

Unfortunately I feel like the Shar airframe still had some more capabilities left in it that we never got to see because of that. (They dry fit a Mk408 (mk107) Pegasus in the FA.2 and it was deemed possible but expensive) along with the engine you could have integrated smart weapons and the lot.

Had the UK never purchased and joined the Harrier 2 program maybe it would have been possible to see FA.2 with LJDAM, brimstone, and things of that nature.