RAF Harrier GR7As at the
NATO airbase at Kandahar have been in the forefront of NATO air support
operations in southern Afghanistan, dropping 91% of all air weapons
used by alliance combat aircraft during September 2006.
A pair of Harriers is kept on 24-hour alert, ready to respond at short notice to help NATO troops under threat.
Weapons used by the seven Harriers of IV Squadron RAF
include Bristol Aerospace CRV7 rockets, Raytheon Enhanced Paveway 2
laser/satellite guided bombs as well as standard 540 lb and 1000 lb
free fall bombs. Munitions are flown into Kandahar by RAF C-17
transports.
Flown in pairs the Harriers now usually carry on one
aircraft two 1000 lb Paveway 2 bombs and on the other two CRV7 pods,
two 540 lb bombs and a reconnaissance pod to photograph Taliban
positions.
No. IV Squadron RAF completed its tour in early October and handed over
to the first Royal Navy GR7A unit, 800 Naval Air Squadron. No.1
Squadron RAF will return to Kandahar in early 2007 with higher
performance Harrier GR9As.
The Harrier GR9 and T12 were formally accepted into
service, by Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Chris
Moran, at a ceremony at RAF Cottesmore on 10 October 2006. This
followed the delivery of 24 GR9s and one T12 out of an eventual total
of 60 GR9s and 9 T12s, under contracts worth more than £500
million.
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