TheBritish Aerospace Sea Harrieris a navalshort take-off and vertical landing/vertical take-off and landingjet fighter,reconnaissanceandattack aircraft.It is the second member of theHarrierfamily developed. It first entered service with theRoyal Navyin April 1980 as theSea Harrier FRS1and became informally known as the "Shar".[2]Unusual in an era in which most naval and land-based air superiority fighters were large andsupersonic,the principal role of the subsonic Sea Harrier was to provide air defence for Royal Navy task groups centred around the aircraft carriers.
The Sea Harrier served in theFalklands Warand theBalkans conflicts;on all occasions it mainly operated from aircraft carriers positioned within the conflict zone. Its usage in the Falklands War was its most high profile and important success, when it was the only fixed-wing fighter available to protect the British Task Force. The Sea Harriers shot down 20 enemy aircraft during the conflict; 2 Sea Harriers were lost to enemy ground fire. They were also used to launch ground attacks in the same manner as the Harriers operated by theRoyal Air Force.
The Sea Harrier was marketed for sales abroad, but India was the only other operator after attempts to sell the aircraft to Argentina and Australia were unsuccessful.[3][4]A second, updated version for the Royal Navy was made in 1993 as theSea Harrier FA2,improving its air-to-air abilities and weapons compatibilities, along with a more powerful engine; this version was manufactured until 1998. The aircraft was withdrawn from service early by the Royal Navy in 2006, but remained in service with theIndian Navyfor a further decade until its retirement in 2016.
A second concept for the future of naval aviation emerged in the early 1970s when the first of a new class of "through deck cruisers" was planned. These were very carefully and politically designated as cruisers, deliberately avoiding the term "aircraft carrier"[9]to increase the chances of funding in a political climate hostile to expensivecapital ships.[10]The resultingInvincible-classcarriers were considerably smaller than the CVA-01 design, but came to be widely recognised as aircraft carriers.[11][12]Almost immediately upon their construction, aski-jumpwas added to the end of the 170-metre deck, enabling the carriers to effectively operate a small number of V/STOL jets.[10][13]
The naval staff were able to build an effective political argument for acquiring V/STOL aircraft on the grounds that anti-submarine groups operating in theNATOAtlantic area, the intended main role of the through-deck cruisers, would be vulnerable to attack by Sovietanti-ship missiles.These could be launched at a considerable distance by a submarine or surface ship but needed to be guided in by amaritime patrol aircraft;fast jets carried onboard would be able to shoot these down. No mention was made of the other capabilities that these aircraft would have.[14]
TheRoyal Air Force'sHawker Siddeley Harrier GR1shad entered service in April 1969. A navalized variant of the Harrier was developed byHawker Siddeleyto serve on the upcoming ships; this became the Sea Harrier. In 1975, theRoyal Navyordered 24 Sea HarrierFRS.1(standing for 'Fighter, Reconnaissance, Strike'[13]) aircraft,[9]the first of which entered service in 1978.[10]During this time, Hawker Siddeley became part ofBritish Aerospacethrough nationalisation in 1977.[15]By the time the prototype Sea Harrier was flown atDunsfoldon 20 August 1978, the order had been increased to 34.[16]The Sea Harrier was declared operational in 1981 on board the firstInvincible-class shipHMSInvincible,and further aircraft joined the ageingHMSHermesaircraft carrier later that year.[17]
In 1984, approval was given to upgrade of the fleet toFRS.2standard (later known asFA2) following the lessons learned during the aircraft's deployment in the 1982 Falklands War. The first flight of the prototype took place in September 1988 and a contract was signed for 29 upgraded aircraft in December that year.[18]In 1990, the Navy ordered 18 new-build FA2s[19]at a unit cost of around £12 million, four further upgraded aircraft were ordered in 1994. The first aircraft was delivered on 2 April 1993.[20]
Sea Harrier FA2 ZA195 (upgrade) vector thrust nozzle – distinguishing feature of the jump jetLocations of the fournozzlesat the sides of the Pegasus engine.
The Sea Harrier is a subsonic aircraft designed forstrike,reconnaissance and fighter roles.[21]It features a singleRolls-Royce Pegasusturbofanengine with two intakes and four vectorable nozzles.[9]It has two landing gear on the fuselage and two outrigger landing gears on the wings. The Sea Harrier is equipped with four wing and three fuselage pylons for carrying weapons and external fuel tanks.[22]The use of the ski jump allowed the aircraft to take off from a short flight deck with a heavier payload than would otherwise be possible, although it can also take off like a conventional loaded fighter without thrust vectoring from a normal airport runway.[23]
The Sea Harrier was largely based on the Harrier GR3, but was modified to have a raised cockpit with a "bubble"canopy for greater visibility and an extended forwardfuselageto accommodate theFerranti Blue Foxradar.[13][9]Parts were changed to use corrosion resistantalloys,or coatings were added, to protect against the marine environment.[24]After theFalklands War,the Sea Harrier was fitted with theSea Eagleanti-ship missile.[25]
The Blue Fox radar was seen by some critics as having comparatively low performance for what was available at the time of procurement.[25]The Sea Harrier FA2 was fitted with theBlue Vixenradar, which was described as one of the most advancedpulse doppler radarsystems in the world.[26]The Blue Vixen formed the basis of theEurofighter Typhoon'sCAPTOR radar.[27]The Sea Harrier FA2 carried theAIM-120 AMRAAMmissile, the first UK aircraft with this capability.[28]An upgraded model of the Pegasus engine, thePegasus Mk 106,was used in the Sea Harrier FA2. In response to the threat of radar-based anti-aircraft weapons electronic countermeasures were added.[25]Other improvements included an increased air-to-air weapons load, look-down radar, increased range, and improved cockpit displays.[18]
The Sea Harrier's cockpit includes a conventionalcentre stickarrangement and left-hand throttle. In addition to normal flight controls, the Harrier has a lever for controlling the direction of the four vectorable nozzles. The nozzles point rearward with the lever in the forward position for horizontal flight. With the lever back, the nozzles point downward for vertical takeoff or landing.[29][30]The utility of the vertical landing capability of the Sea Harrier was demonstrated inan incidenton 6 June 1983, when Sub Lieutenant Ian Watson lost contact with the aircraft carrierHMSIllustriousand had to land Sea Harrier ZA176 on the foredeck of the Spanish cargo shipAlraigo.[31][32]
In 2005, a Sea Harrier was modified with an 'Autoland' system to allow the fighter to perform a safe vertical landing without any pilot interaction. Despite the pitching of a ship posing a natural problem, the system was designed to be aware of such data, and successfully performed a landing at sea in May 2005.[35]
The first three Sea Harriers were a development batch and were used for clearance trials.[16]The first production aircraft was delivered toRNAS Yeoviltonin 1979 to form an Intensive Flying Trials Unit,700A Naval Air Squadron.[16]In March 1980, the Intensive Flying Trials Unit became899 Naval Air Squadronand would act as the landborne headquarters unit for the type.[16]The first operational squadron,800 Naval Air Squadron,was also formed in March 1980, initially to operate fromHMSInvinciblebefore it transferred toHMSHermes.[16]In January 1981, a second operational squadron801 Naval Air Squadronwas formed to operate from HMSInvincible.[16]
Sea Harrier atRNAS Yeovilton.The pre-Falklands War paint scheme seen here was altered by painting over the white undersides and markings en route to the islands.
Sea Harriers took part in theFalklands War(Spanish:Guerra de las Malvinas) of 1982, flying from HMSInvincibleand HMSHermes.[36]The Sea Harriers performed the primary air defence role with a secondary role of ground attack; the RAF Harrier GR3 provided the main ground attack force. A total of 28 Sea Harriers and 14 Harrier GR3s were deployed in the theatre.[37]The Sea Harrier squadrons shot down20 Argentine aircraftin air-to-air combat with no air-to-air losses, although two Sea Harriers were lost to ground fire and four to accidents.[38]Out of the total Argentine air losses, 28% were shot down by Harriers.[36]One Sea Harrier alone, flown by RAF Flight LieutenantDavid Morgan,shot down twoSkyhawksin a single encounter.[39]
A number of factors contributed to the failure of the Argentinian fighters to shoot down a Sea Harrier. Although theMirage IIIandDaggerjets were faster, the Sea Harrier was considerably more manoeuvrable.[40][41]Moreover, the Harrier employed the latestAIM-9L Sidewindermissiles and theBlue Foxradar.[40][42]Contrary to contemporary reports that "viffing"proved decisive indogfights,[40]the maneuver was not used by RN pilots in the Falklands[43]as it was only used in emergencies against enemies unfamiliar with the aircraft.[44]The British pilots noticed Argentinian pilots occasionally releasing weapons outside of their operating parameters. This is now thought to have been Mirages (IAI Neshers) releasing external fuel tanks to improve their maneuverability for air combat.[45][46][47]
800 NASSea Harrier FRS1 from HMSIllustriousin post-Falklands War low-visibility paint scheme.
British aircraft received fighter control from warships inSan Carlos Water,although its effectiveness was limited by their being stationed close to the islands, which severely limited the effectiveness of their radar.[46]The differences in tactics and training between 800 Squadron and 801 Squadron have been a point of criticism, suggesting that the losses of several ships were preventable had Sea Harriers fromHermesbeen used more effectively.[48]
Both sides' aircraft were operating in adverse conditions. Argentine aircraft were forced to operate from the mainland because airfields on the Falklands were only suited for propeller-driven aircraft.[46]Thebombing of Port Stanley airportby a BritishVulcanbomber was also a consideration in the Argentinians' decision to operate them from afar.[49]As most Argentine aircraft lackedin-flight refuellingcapability, they were forced to operate at the limit of their range.[46]The Sea Harriers also had limited fuel reserves due to the tactical decision to station the British carriers out ofExocet missilerange and the dispersal of the fleet.[50]The result was that an Argentine aircraft only had five minutes over the islands to search for and attack an objective, while a Sea Harrier could stay near to 30 minutes waiting in the Argentine approach corridors and provideCombat Air Patrolcoverage for up to an hour.[46]
The Sea Harriers were outnumbered by the available Argentinian aircraft[46]and were, on occasion, deterred by the activities of theEscuadrón Fénixor civilian jet aircraft used by the Argentine Air Force. They had to operate without a fleetairborne early warning and control(AEW&C) system that would have been available to a full NATO fleet in which the Royal Navy had expected to operate, which was a significant weakness in the operational environment.[46]It is now known that British units based in Chile did provide early radar warning to the Task Force.[51][52]Nonetheless, the lack of AEW&C cover resulted in air superiority as opposed toair supremacy;the Sea Harriers could not prevent Argentine attacks during day or night nor could they completely stop the dailyC-130 Herculestransports' night flights to the islands.[46][53]
British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 of the Royal Navy on the flight deck of HMSInvincible
The Sea Harrier saw action in war again when it was deployed in the 1992–1995Bosnian War.[20]It launched raids on Serb forces and provided air-support for the international taskforce units conductingOperations Deny FlightandDeliberate Forceagainst theArmy of Republika Srpska.[54][55]On 16 April 1994, a Sea Harrier of the 801 Naval Air Squadron, operating from the aircraft carrierHMSArk Royal,was brought down by anIgla-1surface-to-air missile[56]fired by the Army of Republika Srpska while attempting to bomb two Bosnian Serb tanks.[57]The pilot, Lieutenant Nick Richardson, ejected and landed in territory controlled by friendly Bosnian Muslims.[58]
The Sea Harrier was withdrawn from service in 2006 and the last remaining aircraft from801 Naval Air Squadronwere decommissioned on 29 March 2006.[65][66]The MoD argued that significant expenditure would be required to upgrade the fleet for only six years of service to meet the F-35s then planned in-service date.[67]
Both versions of Harrier experienced reduced engine performance (Pegasus Mk 106 in FA2 and Mk 105 in GR7) in the higher ambient temperatures of the Middle East, which restricted the weight of payload that the Harrier could return to the carrier in 'vertical' recoveries.[20]This was due to the safety factors associated with aircraft landing weights. The option to install higher-rated Pegasus engines would not have been as straightforward as on the Harrier GR7 upgrade and would have likely been an expensive and slow process.[20]Furthermore, the Sea Harriers were subject to a generally more hostile environment than land-based Harriers, with corrosive salt spray a particular problem. A number of aircraft were retained by the School of Flight Deck Operations atRNASCuldrose.[68]
Although withdrawn from active Royal Navy service, Sea Harriers are used to train naval aircraft handlers at the Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations.[71]
In 1977, the Indian government approved plans to acquire the Sea Harrier for the Indian Navy. In November 1979, India placed its first order for six Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 fighters and two T Mk 60 Trainers; the first three Sea Harriers arrived atDabolim Airporton December 16, 1983, and were inducted the same year.[72][73]Ten more Sea Harriers were purchased in November 1985;[74]eventually a total of 30 Harriers were procured, 25 for operational use and the remainder as dual-seat trainer aircraft.[75]Until the 1990s, significant portions of pilot training was carried out in Britain due to limited aircraft availability.[76]
The introduction of the Sea Harrier allowed for the retirement of India's previous carrier fighter aircraft, theHawker Sea Hawk,as well as for the Navy's aircraft carrier,INSVikrant,to be extensively modernised between 1987 and 1989.[72]India has operated Sea Harriers from both the aircraft carriers INSVikrantandINSViraat.[77]The Sea Harrier allowed several modern missiles to be introduced into naval operations, such as theSea Eagleanti-ship missile,[78]and theMatra Magicair-to-air missile.[76]Other ordnance has included 68 mm rockets, runway-denial bombs, cluster bombs, and podded 30 mm cannons.[76]
There have been a significant number of accidents involving the Sea Harrier; this accident rate has caused approximately half the fleet to be lost with only 11 fighters remaining in service. Following a crash in August 2009, all Sea Harriers were temporarily grounded for inspection.[79]Since the beginning of operational service in the Indian Navy, seven pilots have died in 17 crashes involving the Sea Harrier, usually during routine sorties.[80]
In 2006, the Indian Navy expressed interest in acquiring up to eight of the Royal Navy's recently retired Sea Harrier FA2s in order to maintain their operational Sea Harrier fleet.[81]Neither the Sea Harrier FA2's Blue Vixen radar, theradar warning receiveror AMRAAM capability would have been included; certain US software would also be uninstalled prior to shipment.[81]By October 2006, reports emerged that the deal had not materialised due to the cost of airframe refurbishment.[82]
In 2006, the Indian Navy started upgrading up to 15 Sea Harriers, installing theEltaEL/M-2032radar and theRafael'Derby' medium-range air-to-air BVR missile.[83]This enabled the Sea Harrier to remain in Indian service beyond 2012. By 2009, crashes had reduced India's fleet to 12 (from original 30).[84]
India purchased the deactivated Russian aircraft carrierAdmiralGorshkovin 2004. After refurbishment and trials, the ship was formally inducted into the Indian Navy asINSVikramadityain June 2014.[85]Sea Harriers operated from INSViraatfor the last time on 6 March 2016.[86]
On May 11, 2016, a ceremony was held at INS Hansa, Dabolim, Goa to commemorate the phasing out of Sea Harriers fromINAS 300"White Tigers" and their replacement by theMiG-29K/KUBfighters. Aircraft of both types performed an air display at the ceremony, marking the final flight of the Sea Harriers after 33 years of service in the Indian Navy.[87][73]The Indian Navy operates MiG-29K/KUBSTOBARfighters fromVikramaditya.
57 FRS1s were delivered between 1978 and 1988; most survivors converted to Sea Harrier FA2 specifications from 1988.[9]
Sea Harrier FRS.51
Single-seat fighter, reconnaissance, and attack aircraft made for the Indian Navy, similar to the British FRS1. Unlike the FRS1 Sea Harrier, it is fitted with Matra R550 Magic air-to-air missiles.[88]These aircraft were later upgraded with theEltaEL/M-2032radar and theRafael DerbyBVRAAM missiles.[89]
Sea Harrier F(A).2
Upgrade of FRS1 fleet in 1988, featuring theBlue Vixenpulse-doppler radar and the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.[9]
Several surviving Sea Harriers are held by museums and private owners, and some others are at the Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations atRNAS Culdroseand other military bases for training.[90]The following is list of those not used by the military for training.
The Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations still uses Harriers to train Aircraft Handlers on the dummy deck atRNAS Culdrose.[94][71]Many are in a working condition, although in a limited-throttle setting.[94]Although they are unable to fly, they still produce a loud sound to aid training.
A decommissioned Sea harrier, FRS 51 (IN-621) at the Naval Aviation Museum (India) in Goa, India[91]Sea Harrier FA.2XZ457at theBoscombe Down Aviation Collection,Old Sarum, Wiltshire[95]
Sea Harrier FA.2ZH803,formerly at SFDO at RNAS Culdrose, is owned by FLY HARRIER Ltd. and gained civil registration with the CAA on August 7 August 2019 asG-RNFA.[104]As of July 2020, it is listed as being at St Athan Airport in Wales.[105]
Sea Harrier FA.2XZ497with a private collection at Charlwood, Surrey[106]
Sea Harrier FA.2ZD582with a private collection at Aynho, Northamptonshire[108]
Sea Harrier FA.2ZD612with a private collection at Topsham, Devon[109]
Sea Harrier FA.2ZD614with a private collection Walcott, Lincolnshire[110]
Sea Harrier FA.2ZE697at the former RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire (as of 2016)[111]
Sea Harrier FA.2ZE698with a private collection at Charlwood, Surrey[106]
Sea Harrier FA.2ZH798,formerly at RNAS Culdrose, was auctioned off in 2020[112]to Jet Art Aviation, who restored the aircraft to be taxi- and ground-run capable.[113]
Sea Harrier FA.2ZH799with a private collection at Ballarat, Australia.
Sea Harrier FA.2ZH806,ZH810,andZH812with a dealer near Ipswich, Suffolk[114]
Sea Harrier FA2 registered N94422 (formerly Royal Navy serial number XZ439) Nalls Aviation,St Mary's County,Maryland.[115]The former Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA2 was purchased in 2006 byArt Nalls,who spent the next two years restoring it to flying condition. In December 2007, it was damaged in a hard landing, while undergoing testing atNaval Air Station Patuxent Riverand had to be repaired.[116]The aircraft made its first public appearance at an air show inCulpeper, Virginia,in October 2008.[117]The aircraft is the only privately owned, civilian-flown Harrier in the world.[118]
2× 100 imp gal (120 US gal; 455 L) drop tanks:6,762 lb (3,067 kg)
2× 190 imp gal (228 US gal; 864 L) drop tanks:8,184 lb (3,712 kg)
2× 330 imp gal (396 US gal; 1,500 L) drop tanks:10,396 lb (4,716 kg)
Max takeoff weight:26,200 lb (11,884 kg) STO
17,620 lb (7,992 kg) VTO
Fuel capacity:630 imp gal (757 US gal; 2,864 L) internal fuel in 5 fuselage and two wing integral tanks; provision for 2× 100 imp gal (120 US gal; 455 L) combat drop tanksor2× 190 imp gal (228 US gal; 864 L) combat drop tanksor2× 330 imp gal (396 US gal; 1,500 L) ferry drop tanks on inboard wing pylons only.
Combat range:400 nmi (460 mi, 740 km) high-altitude intercept with 3 minutes combat and reserves for VL
250 nmi (288 mi; 463 km) for ground attack missions
Combat profiles:from carrier with 12° ramp at ISA + 15°C, with 20 kn (23 mph; 37 km/h) WOD
Combat air patrol:
Up to 1 hour 30 minutes on station at 100 nmi (115 mi; 185 km) carrying 4×AMRAAMor2×AMRAAM+ 2×ADEN cannon+ 2× 190 imp gal (228 US gal; 864 L) combat drop tanks; Deck run 450 ft (137 m)
Reconnaissance:
Low-level cover of 130,000 sq nmi (172,158 sq mi; 445,888 km2) at a radius of 525 nmi (604 mi; 972 km), out and return at medium level carrying 2×ADEN cannon+ 2× 190 imp gal (228 US gal; 864 L) combat drop tanks; Deck run 350 ft (107 m)
Surface attack:
(hi-lo-hi) Radius of action 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) to missile launch carrying 2×BAe Sea Eagle+ 2×ADEN cannon;Deck run 300 ft (91 m)
Interception:
Deck-launched against M0.9 target at 116 nmi (133 mi; 215 km), or a M1.3 target at 95 nmi (109 mi; 176 km), with initial radar detection at 230 nmi (265 mi; 426 km), at 2 minute alert status carrying 2×AMRAAM.
Hardpoints:4× under-wing pylon stations, and 1 fuselage pylon on centerline plus 2 attach points for gun pods with a total capability of 8,000 lb (3,630 kg) of payload.
Rockets:4× Matra rocket pods with 18SNEB68 mm rockets each
^Jane's Fighter Combat – Combat in the Jet Age,ISBN0004708229
^Parsons, Gary (2007)."Harrier Heroes".Air-Scene UK. Archived fromthe originalon 4 August 2015.Retrieved1 August2015.No-one used viffing in combat – it's very much a last-ditch manoeuvre. It can be useful if the guy behind hasn't seen it before and doesn't know what you're going to do. You can decelerate from 450 knots down to 150 in about three or four seconds, and that is enough to fly people out in front – however, if he sees it coming, all he has to do is go vertical and just sit around on top of you. You end up with no energy at all and he's got all the time in the world to take you out.
^Tellis, Ashley J. (1985). "The Naval Balance in the Indian Subcontinent: Demanding Missions for the Indian Navy".Asian Survey.25(12). Berkeley, California: University of California Press: 1186–1213.doi:10.2307/2644281.ISSN0004-4687.JSTOR2644281.
^Munson, Kenneth, ed. (1999).Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999-00(90th ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. pp. 515–516.ISBN978-0710618986.
^Witney, Nicholas K. J. (1994). "British Nuclear Policy After the Cold War".Survival.36(4). London, UK: Institute for Strategic Studies: 96–112.ISSN1555-385X.
Jenkins, Dennis R. (1998).Boeing/BAe Harrier.Warbird Tech. Vol. 21. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press.ISBN978-1-58007-014-0.
Markman, Steve; Bill Holder (2000). "MAC-DAC/BAe AV-8 Harrier Vectored Thrust VTOL".Straight Up: A History of Vertical Flight.Schiffer Publishing.ISBN978-0-7643-1204-5.
Moore, Captain John E. (1981).Warships of the Royal Navy.Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Publishing.ISBN978-0-7106-0105-6.
