Should we sell the AV8 Harrier Jump Jet and the OH-58 Kiowa Scout Helicopter to our friends and allies in Asia?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 18:18:34 -0400

The Asian partners & allies like Japan, Taiwan, the Phillipines and Thailand need to protect the areas by the disputed South China Sea. Selling all of them the 8 Squadrons of AV8 Harrier Jump Jets and the many OH-58 Kiowas could help them. Japan and Thailand have LHAs that can use the Harrier. The Phillipines can use the Harriers on their islands. Taiwan is buying the Harrier. What do you think?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2016 6:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 18:19:49 -0400

We are already selling kiowas to allies, I think Turkey is first on the list, then Croatia as well

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2016 6:49 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 18:49:34 -0400

This an LHA for Army and Air Force people who may not know.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 18 at 2016 7:27 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 19:27:58 -0400

Keep some for spare parts but Hell Yeah I'm a firm believer in sharing or giving them a friend of the family discount on some.

Response by 1st Lt Karl Kratt made Jun 18 at 2016 9:28 PM

1st Lt Karl Kratt — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 21:28:21 -0400

Uhm... The Kiowa is basically a Bell 206 with UHF radios and a gun. Bell already has a far superior helicopter on the market that could be militarized. The Harrier isn't even in production, not to mention Boeing doesn't actually own the rights to the aircraft, they only hold a production license, and BAe already sells export versions plus what the RAF and RNAF have been decommissioning.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 20 at 2016 2:59 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 14:59:46 -0400

Sure we could sell them a lot of stuff.....but the bigger questions are a) do they have the appropriate level of training to actually employ them effectively? and b) do they have the support systems in place to maintain this equipment? For nations like Japan and Taiwan, the answer is yes....but they have their own industries in place where they can develop their own weapon systems.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 23 at 2016 12:39 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 12:39:54 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member Why shouldn't we?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 23 at 2016 2:19 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 14:19:11 -0400

I think it makes sense to sell "excess" AV8 Harrier jump jets and the OH-58 Kiowa Scout helicopters to our faithful allies such as Japan, Korea and Thailand. The Philippines have been on our side and opposed to us depending on the government. In any event if we sell these airframes it needs to be through a Foreign Military sales (FMS) contract vehicle where our industries can benefit by continuing to have airframes to support for spares [reparable and specialized consumable] LTC Private RallyPoint Member Thanks for mentioning me COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Response by 1st Lt Karl Kratt made Jun 23 at 2016 3:20 PM

1st Lt Karl Kratt — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 15:20:38 -0400

I think everyone seems to forget that India already has the Sea Harrier, so training on the AV-8B could easily be done there. As for training on the Kiowa, you only need to get someone trained on using a Observation Ball. Finding someone to fly or train people to fly the Kiowa is the simple part. It's a common helicopter for commercial use, and you have to remember that the OH-58 and the T-57 are the same airframe.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2016 11:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 23:22:45 -0400

This was kind of a no brainer question the way you have the choices worded. Either way our allies need to be helped.