Harrier as originally envisaged was intended for a larger European Soviet conflict where major airfields had already been nuked. Forward deployment and naval use with ramps was a later thing.
This scenario was why TSR2 and similar concepts had short field requirements and once included a lifter vehicle so it could be vertical takeoff. The Shorts P.17D
https://t.co/gyJsshmRbp
It was a fun thing at Cranfield when I joined after the project was over. My Supervisors initially intended I create health management systems for it but as I discovered with my colleague Dr Heaton the gumstick flight computers were no longer in situ and restoring the avionics meant a whole new contract with the OEM we didn't have the budget for unfortunately.
@DrPhiltill Yes hence my caution regarding heating dusts.
But no everything burns. I suspect that 1200K vaporization is when it's in vacuum?
Probably ignition temperature is much lower assuming there is some oxygen present.