How would the big-wing Harrier change things for the Navy, and how would an FA2 built on that airframe affect capability and service life?
Short answerA big-wing Harrier would gain range and weapons carriage, but its service life would still be shaped by post-Cold War decisions.
NotesA larger wing would give Sea Harrier more range and greater weapons carriage. The extra ordnance capacity could make FA2 the basis of a longer-lived Harrier force in place of the GR variants. Its historical retirement was shaped by the post-Cold War belief that the major threat had passed, so technical improvement would probably leave that pressure intact. The proposal would also probably bring earlier development of shipborne rolling landings.