The Sea Harrier was a naval jet fighter and attack aircraft which was successfully used by the Royal Navy in the Falklands War, the two Gulf Wars, and in the Balkans. The Sea Harrier was a carrier-based VTOL/STOVL subsonic fighter aircraft which was developed from the Hawker Siddeley Harrier by the aviation firm British Aerospace, entering service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1.
Other than Britain, India became the only Sea Harrier operator in 1983. In 1993, a second, updated version was built for the Royal Navy, designated the Sea Harrier FA2, improving its air to air capabilities and weapons compatibilities, along with a more powerful engine. This variant was manufactured until 1998. The Sea Harrier was withdrawn early from Royal Navy service in March 2006 and temporarily replaced by the Harrier GR9. The intended replacement is Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II. The Sea Harrier is still in active use in the Indian Navy, though in the long term it will be replaced by the Mikoyan MiG.
Avionics
The Sea Harrier FA2 featured the Blue Vixen radar, which was described as one of the most advanced pulse doppler radar systems in the world. The Blue Fox radar was seen by some critics as having comparitively low performance for what was available at the time of procurement. The Blue Vixen formed the basis for development of the Eurofighter Typhoon’s CAPTOR radar. The Sea Harrier FA2 also carried the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, the first UK aircraft to be provided with this capability.
Specifications for the Sea Harris FA2
Engine: one Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan.
Maximum speed: 735 mph (1182 km/h).
Combat radius: 620 miles (1,000 km).
Ferry range: 2,000 miles (3,600 km).
Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (16,000 m).
Length: 46 ft 6 in (14.2 m).
Wingspan: 25 ft 3 in (7.6 m).
Crew: one
Weapons: two 30 mm (1.18 in) ADEN cannon pods under the fuselage; four Matra rocket pods holding eighting SNEB 68mm rockets each; two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; two Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles; up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) of a variety of unguided iron bombs.
Sea Harrier Taking Off (Video)
