A lively discussion has been taking place in the British press over the subject of an alleged government sale of 40 recently mothballed but perfectly airworthy Harriers GR9 to the United States for… spares, in order to reduce the maintenance costs for the US Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harriers. The British Harriers, as well as the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, were retired only recently following last October’s Strategic Defence and Security Review. The same document calls for withdrawn all the remaining Harriers GR9 from the RAF during 2011.

RAF Harrier GR.9
[both images via Wikimedia Commons]

The Harrier’s retirement leaves the RAF with the Tornado as the RAF’s main strike aircraft until the Typhoon matures in this role. The latter and the F-35 Lightning II are planned to constitute the RAF’s fast jet fleet in the future.

Either way, rumours about knocking off a £1 billion worth of advanced military hardware for a mere £34 million stirred many emotions. Ex-Security Minister Admiral Lord West said that whoever was behind the “joke” £34million sale was “as mad as a box of frogs”.

• Report: Marines to harvest UK Harriers for spares
  [DoD Buzz]
  The Marine Corps will buy some 40 British Harrier GR7s and GR9s to cannibalize their parts for its fleet of AV-8Bs, according to a report in The Telegraph newspaper, and some British defense types are …

• Harrier jump-jets sold ‘for peanuts’
  [Telegraph.co.uk]
  Dozens of British Harrier jump jets are to be sold to the United States Marine Corps for £34 million after more than £1 billion has been spent on them in the last decade. By Con Coughlin, and Thomas Harding The Ministry of Defence finalised the deal …

• Scrapping the Harriers is a disgrace
  [Telegraph.co.uk (blog)]
  This Government should be ashamed of itself over its handling of the Harrier issue. As we report today, the decision to sell the Harriers was taken in a fit of pique to punish Admiral Sir Mark …

• If Britain is to remain a global power, it needs a properly funded military
  [Telegraph.co.uk]
  SIR – The First Sea Lord says the Royal Navy cannot sustain its contribution in Libya (report, June 14). It is nice to see that someone in the Armed Forces is putting his head above the parapet. Adml Sir Mark Stanhope has finally acknowledged what …

• Reversing the defence cuts is one U-turn Cameron should take
  [Telegraph.co.uk ]
  The Coalition’s wanton destruction of our military effectiveness is short-sighted and inept, writes Con Coughlin. By Con Coughlin First there was the Government’s humiliating U-turn on its decision to sell large tracts of Britain’s forests. …

• MoD denies sale of Harriers to US
  [Defence Management]
  The Ministry of Defence has denied reports that Britain’s Harrier jump jets are to be sold to the US Marine Corps for spare parts. A report in The Daily Telegraph suggested a £34m deal had already been finalised, and a ‘Ministry of Defence insider’ …