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From The Times
December 18, 2002

Heat may spell the end for Sea Harrier

By Michael Evans
Navy chiefs face a quandary over whether to send Sea Harrier jump-jets to the Gulf because hot weather could render the ageing planes inoperable.

The Sea Harrier FA2 is needed to protect British warships, but it has only a single underpowered engine and struggles to land on an aircraft carrier in intense heat. The problem has been compounded by the replacement of the aircrafts’ Sidewinder missiles with much heavier Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Amraam). Navy sources said that the biggest challenge was landing the Sea Harrier if it was returning to the carrier with its Amraam weapons still attached. Sometimes the missiles, costing £260,000 each, have to be ditched in the sea.

Leaving the Sea Harriers behind would effectively sign the operational death warrant of a fighter jet that came into service in 1980 and performed valiantly in the 1982 Falklands War. It is scheduled to be phased out prematurely by 2006. Sources said the alternative was to rely on American carrier-based F14 Tomcats to protect British warships.

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