Italian harriers in enduring freedom-part 2

[easyand]

Part one here: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20882

http://www.marinemilitari.it/fotogallery/Enduring%20Freedom%20Web/shav8b/av8b08.jpg

http://www.marinemilitari.it/fotogallery/Enduring%20Freedom%20Web/shav8b/av8b06.jpg

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http://www.marinemilitari.it/fotogallery/Enduring%20Freedom%20Web/shav8b/av8b44.jpg

http://www.marinemilitari.it/fotogallery/Enduring%20Freedom%20Web/shav8b/av8b54.jpg

http://www.marinemilitari.it/fotogallery/Enduring%20Freedom%20Web/shav8b/av8b59.jpg

http://www.marinemilitari.it/fotogallery/Enduring%20Freedom%20Web/shav8b/av8b60.jpg

http://www.marina.difesa.it/attivita/incorso/enduring/galleria/images/097.jpg

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http://www.marinemilitari.it/fotogallery/Enduring%20Freedom%20Web/garibaldi/fot32.jpg

http://www.marinemilitari.it/fotogallery/Enduring%20Freedom%20Web/shav8b/av8b20.jpg

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[big_les]

Can I ask when the Italian Harriers acquired radomes? RAF Harriers don't have them (ground attack birds) but our Sea Harrier FA.2 aircraft have radomes similar to these. Unfortunately our government has seen fit to retire all Sea Harriers (with their AMRAAM launch capability) and make do with just GR.9s :(

[easyand]

Italy haven't sea harrier but AV8B+ (like US marines),they have a specific version of the F18 radar.
PS:they can launch AMRAAM

[big_les]

I realised they weren't Sea Harriers, and AV-8Bs didn't have radomes as far as I know; that's why I was asking when the radars were fitted because I thought they must be a post-production upgrade. I see now that your guys bought AV-8B+ models with the radar already installed. It would be nice if our new GR.9 Harriers received radar kits considering the air-to-air capable SHARS are being scrapped. It's not fair, we invented the damn thing and now they'll be mud-pluggers only :(

Also, what is the squarish fairing on top of the nose with the circular aperture?

[easyand]

Also, what is the squarish fairing on top of the nose with the circular aperture?

I think it's a FLIR system