UK confirms Harrier Fleet Sold to U.S. Marine Corps for Spares

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the sale of its fleet of BAE Systems Harrier GR.9 ground attack aircraft to the US Marine Corps (USMC) on 24 November. The early retirement of the UK Harrier force, coupled with this deal, has saved the UK government about GBP1 billion (USD1.55 billion), the MoD said.

The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) is paying $180 million to buy 72 BAE Harrier GR.9 V/STOL fighters that were axed from the Royal Air Force in last year’s British defense review. The airframes, engines and other parts will be used as a spares source for the USMC’s fleet of AV-8B Harriers, which are now scheduled to continue in service until 2026, four years later than previously planned.

The UK Ministry of Defence said that the sale brought total savings from retiring the Harrier fleet to about $1.5 billion. The British Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) also withdrew the Royal Navy’s two “Harrier-carriers,” thus leaving the UK without a “carrier strike” capability until 2020, when one of two larger carriers now under construction will be equipped with F-35Cs.

The USD1.5 billion figure quoted by the MoD is the value of the sale plus the savings it says it has made from the early retirement of the aircraft in 2010 – some eight years earlier than originally planned.

British junior defense minister Peter Luff said, “Harrier served this country with great distinction, but retiring it eight years earlier than planned was the right decision. Had we taken the decision in the SDSR to decommission Tornado instead, we would not have been able to carry out the missions that were required simultaneously in Libya and Afghanistan. It was essential to retire older, less capable aircraft to allow us to invest in more modern, cutting-edge fast jets.”

It is understood that the GR.9 aircraft will help support the USMC's McDonnell Douglas AV-8B fleet as well as allowing the corps to retire some of its older model Boeing F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters.


Source: by Chris Pocock - December 2, 2011 - IHS Jane's & Aviation International News (www.ainonline.com)

Photo: The UK Royal Air Force fleet of Harrier GR.9 V/STOL fighters has been sold to the U.S. Marine Corps for spares. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

(2.12.2011)