KDR wrote:
From a mission point of view, it looks like the Sea Harrier FA2 could
be considered as a modern-day single-seat F6D Missileer in effect. Of
course Sea Harrier FA2 could bomb as well, although no better than the
Harrier GR7.

Sure, but I wonder if tactics for any modern fighter - especially in
fleet defense business - really differ from the one mentioned in Air
Power Review. From layman's point of view IR missiles are useful only
for combat in cases where there is restrictive ROE or enemy has very
sophisticated EW equipment. This is due to fact that modern BVR
missiles don't require constant radar contact, and via sensor fusion
they don't even need targetting information from firing platform's own
radar. I wonder if AMRAAM could be given targeting information via
IRST?

I would guess that IR missiles exist mainly as self-defense and backup
weapons. And the gun? Well, if there wasn't any weight in the nose the
aircraft might prove to be unstable : )

Ps. OT post, what the f...?