Sea Harrier

Sea Harrier
Name	Sea Harrier
Caption	A Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA2
Type	V/STOL multirole fighter
Manufacturer	Hawker Siddeley / British Aerospace
Designer	Ralph Hooper
First flight	20 August 1978
Introduction	1980
Retired	2006 (Royal Navy), 2016 (Indian Navy)
Status	Retired
Primary users	Royal Navy, Indian Navy
Number built	111
Developed from	Hawker Siddeley Harrier

Sea Harrier. The Sea Harrier is a naval V/STOL jet fighter, reconnaissance, and attack aircraft, a derivative of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. Developed for the Royal Navy in the late 1970s, it entered service as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became famous for its service in the Falklands War. The aircraft served as the primary air defence fighter for the Royal Navy until its retirement, with a later upgraded variant, the FA2, seeing further development and service.

Development and design

The Sea Harrier emerged from a Royal Navy requirement for a modern fixed-wing fighter to operate from its invincible-class aircraft carriers, which lacked conventional catapults. Based on the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the design was led by Ralph Hooper at Hawker Siddeley, which later became part of British Aerospace. Key modifications included a raised cockpit for better visibility, a revised radar system (initially the Ferranti Blue Fox), and the incorporation of corrosion-resistant materials for maritime operations. The design leveraged the Rolls-Royce Pegasus vectored thrust turbofan engine, enabling short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations from confined flight decks. This capability was critical for operations from ships like HMS *Invincible* and allowed the aircraft to deploy without the need for large, traditional aircraft carrier infrastructure.

Operational history

The Sea Harrier entered service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in 1980. Its most significant combat deployment came during the Falklands War in 1982, where it provided essential air defence and strike capabilities from HMS *Hermes* and HMS *Invincible*. Sea Harriers achieved a notable combat record, including victories against Argentine Air Force aircraft like the Dassault Mirage III and IAI Dagger. The aircraft later saw service in the Bosnian War enforcing the no-fly zone over the former Yugoslavia, and during the Iraq War. The Indian Navy also operated the Sea Harrier, deploying it from INS *Viraat* and using it in various exercises and contingencies. The final Royal Navy squadron was disbanded in 2006, with its role largely assumed by the Harrier II and later the F-35 Lightning II.

Variants

Two main variants of the Sea Harrier were produced. The initial production model was the Sea Harrier FRS1 (Fighter, Reconnaissance, Strike), which entered service in 1980. An upgraded version, the Sea Harrier FA2, entered service in 1993; it featured a more powerful Blue Vixen radar, the ability to carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range missile, and improved Rolls-Royce Pegasus engines. A small number of FRS1 aircraft were converted to a trainer configuration, designated Sea Harrier T4N. The Indian Navy operated the Sea Harrier FRS51, which was similar to the FRS1, and later upgraded some to the FRS51 standard with elements of the FA2's avionics.

Operators

The primary operator was the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, which flew the aircraft from the 800 Naval Air Squadron, 801 Naval Air Squadron, and 899 Naval Air Squadron, among others. The only export customer was the Indian Navy, whose aircraft served with the Indian Naval Air Arm's INAS 300 "White Tigers" squadron, operating from the carrier INS *Viraat*. Both nations have since retired their Sea Harrier fleets.

Specifications (Sea Harrier FA2)

* Crew: 1 * Length: 14.17 m (46 ft 6 in) * Wingspan: 7.70 m (25 ft 3 in) * Height: 3.71 m (12 ft 2 in) * Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 106 vectored thrust turbofan * Maximum speed: 735 mph (1,183 km/h) * Range: 1,500 mi (2,400 km) * Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (16,000 m) * Armament: 2 × 30 mm Aden cannon pods, up to 5,000 lb (2,270 kg) of ordnance on five hardpoints, including AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and Sea Eagle missiles.

Aircraft on display

Several Sea Harriers are preserved in museums. Examples include an FA2 (ZH803) at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, an FRS1 (XZ451) at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, and an FRS1 (XZ439) at the Yorkshire Air Museum. The Indian Navy has also placed aircraft on display, including at the Naval Aviation Museum in Goa.

Category:Military aircraft