Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:05:14-4:05:34

Making Harrier the carrier aircraft was a calculated gamble

The Royal Navy understood that centering carrier aviation on Harrier involved risk, but key advocates made the choice knowingly rather than by accident.

Aircraft CarriersCarrier AviationHarrier Jump JetNaval ProcurementRoyal Navy
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Question

Did the Royal Navy know what it was doing when it made Harrier its primary carrier aircraft?

Short answer

Yes, but it was a deliberate gamble rather than a risk-free choice.

Notes

The decision to make Harrier the primary carrier aircraft was a gamble. The people involved understood the risk and what the choice meant for the future fleet. One of the advocates later became important in defending the carriers that depended on the aircraft. Harrier adoption was a conscious procurement bet whose institutional consequences were understood by at least some of its sponsors.