BAE Systems has won a UK MoD contract worth more than
£30 million for the provision of Harrier "mechanical
support on an availability basis", says the BAES newspaper,
'Response'. Translated into the English we used to write, I
think it means the immediate delivery of airframe spares to
operational aircraft as and when they are needed. It's nice
to see the old Kingston Jump-Jet still earning its crust.
BAES is also working on the Harrier JASS project - Joint
Availability Support Solution. This project, says 'Response',
has the "goal of designing and delivering an affordable,
responsive and flexible partnered aircraft support service
until the Harrier out-of-service-date in 2018." "By the end
of 2005, a cohesive JASS plan will appear. This plan will
bring together and align every milestone, work breakdown
structure and process needed to deliver a tangible
output-based support solution for Harrier." So now you know!
Response' also reports that the first Harrier GRMk9, ZG501,
has entered service with the RAF and is under test at the
Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit at RAF
Coningsby. The first evaluation flight was made by Wing
Commander Gary Waterfall, the unit Commanding Officer.
BAES's final clearance for the Harrier GRMk7A was completed
at the end of May. This Mark is characterised by an uprated
Pegasus delivering an extra 3,000 lb thrust at air
temperatures above 30 deg C, as well as having lower
maintenance requirements. This DACPA (Design Authority
Clearance for Production Aircraft) marks the end of the
cotractor's GRMk7A development and clearance programme.
On 11th May the first flight of a Harrier carrying Raytheon
Paveway IV precision guided bombs took place at Warton. The
Paveway IV will provide the RAF with an all-weather precision
bombing capability based on GPS aided inertial guidance and
laser tracking. These flight trials are part of the Harrier
upgrade programme to the GRMk9/9A standard.
