Navy's £5bn Harrier jet replacement 'unable to land on aircraft carriers'

[Jazzy]

The Royal Navy's multi-billion pound fighter plane programme is under threat amid claims that its new all-purpose jets cannot land on aircraft carriers, it has emerged.

Leaked Pentagon documents claim a design flaw in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has caused eight simulated landings to fail.



The “F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Concurrency Quick Look Review” claimed the flaw meant that the “arrestor” hook, used to stop the plane during landing, was too close to the plane’s wheels.



When a fighter lands on an aircraft carrier an arrestor cable catches the hook on the back of the aircraft, preventing it from overshooting and ditching into the sea.



The documents warn of major consequences to the aircraft’s structure and cast doubt on the readiness of the JSF to provide close-air support, which is seen as critical to a carrier’s role in providing amphibious landings.



The review further suggests the planes will be unable to fire the British Asraam air-to-air missile.



Full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...ment-unable-to-land-on-aircraft-carriers.html



That's a whole lot of money wasted if they can't fix these flaws!

 

[Evil Eye]

Maybe they could design a new sort of carrier while they're at it...