British firms asked to work on Harrier replacement

THE US has invited British firms to join in the development of a supersonic and stealthy replacement for the Harrier, the fighter that proved so successful in the Falklands war.

The US Advanced Research Projects Agency has issued a draft agreement on collaboration to the Ministry of Defence. The MoD confirmed that it had already approached British companies but added that the initiative was at a very early stage.

The US firms Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas have been awarded contracts totalling pounds 50m to investigate engine possibilities for the new advanced jump-jet, which would enter service around 2010. Rolls- Royce is involved in both studies.

While the subsonic Harrier proved remarkably versatile in the 1982 Falklands war, it is felt that it would be disadvantaged in future operations without a supersonic capability.

The replacement will also possess 'Stealth' characteristics - materials and contours to absorb radar - making the aircraft far more difficult to detect. The US F-117A Stealth fighter, the only aircraft to operate over Baghdad in the Gulf war, proved the decisive advantages of Stealth technology.

The studies, part of the ASTOVL (Advanced Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing) programme, are consistent with the Clinton administration's initiative to encourage more use of commercial technology.

Rolls-Royce has won a pounds 35m order to build Pegasus engines for eight new Harrier jump jets for the Spanish navy, the company said yesterday.