Dead Harriers Live Again

February 19, 2008: Britain is selling four surplus Harrier aircraft to India, to be cannibalized for spare parts. In the last twenty years, India has lost half of its 30 Harrier vertical takeoff fighters to accidents, and the fifteen remaining aircraft often cannot fly because of a shortage of spares. Britain is also offering help with Harrier refurbishment.

The Harrier has the highest accident rate of any jet fighter. This is largely because of its vertical flight capabilities, which give it an accident rate similar to that of helicopters. The U.S. Marine Corps has lost a third of its 397 Harriers to such accidents in 32 years.