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Newsletter 25
Autumn 2009
Updated on 11Oct2009
Published by the Hawker Association
for the Members.
Contents © Hawker Association

Contents
Editorial
America - Washington DC
Book Reviews
Correction
Demon News
F-35 lightning II News
Harrier 40th Anniversary
Harrier News
Hawk News
Hawkers In The '50s Part 2
    Incidents
    Filming
    Racing
    Engines
Kestrel Evaluation Squadron
Members
Programme
Sea Fury News
Summer Barbecue
    BAES has been awarded a £574 million Harrier Platform Availability Contract (HPAC) under which BAES takes over responsibility for the maintenance of the UK Harrier fleet until the aircraft go out of service, currently expected to be in 2018. The maintenance work will be carried out jointly with RAF and RN personnel at RAF Cottesmore. The contract also covers the provision of spares and technical advice. Existing contracts in operation at Cottesmore, such as the Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Programme (JUMP), are incorporated in HPAC. To date, every achievement milestone has been met by BAES.
    A National Audit Office report on fast jet support states that existing BAES contracts with the Ministry of Defence have already reduced the cost of Harrier maintenance by £109 million, have helped cut the cost per flying hour by 44%, and made an additional eleven aircraft available to the front line.
Harrier News

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    After five years, more than 22,000 flying hours and 8,500 sorties, the Harriers have returned to Cottesmore from Afghanistan. Operation Herrick was completed when the Harriers of No.1(F) Squadron returned to their home base, the first aircraft, GR9 ZD322, landing on 1 July.
    Joint Force Harrier (JFH), represented by No. 3(F) Squadron deployed to Kandahar in Helmand Province in August 2004 to relieve the USMC AV-8Bs based there. The most significant role of JFH was close air support where more than 2,000 missions were flown.
    Working with tactical air controllers the Harriers supported the troops, fighting the Taliban, with CRV7 rockets, Paveway precision guided bombs, and 1,000lb free-fall bombs.
    Other roles included surveillance, reconnaissance, ‘show of force’ and anti-drug operations. In one strike against the Taliban drug trade the world’s biggest drugs haul was accomplished with 260 tons of hashish and 2.5 tons of opium destroyed; value £200 million.
    Some Herrick highlights: August 2004 - No.3(F) Squadron deploys for the first time; December 2004 - No.1(F) Squadron deploys for the first time; April 2005 - No.IV(AC) Squadron deploys for the first time; June 2006 - 24 hour operations commence; September 2006 - No.800 Naval Air Squadron deploys for the first time; January 2007 - first GR9s deploy; October 2007 - Naval Strike Wing deploys for the first time; December 2008 - first all-GR9 force in Kandahar; July 2009 - JFH returns to RAF Cottesmore.