British Aerospace Sea Harrier

The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval short take-off and vertical landing/vertical take-off and landing jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft; the second member of the Harrier Jump Jet family developed. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar".[2] Unusual in an era in which most naval and land-based air superiority fighters were large and supersonic, the principal role of the subsonic Sea Harrier was to provide air defence for Royal Navy task groups centred around the aircraft carriers.

Sea Harrier
A Sea Harrier FA2 of 801 NAS in flight at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
Role V/STOL strike fighter
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Hawker Siddeley
British Aerospace
Introduction 20 August 1978 (FRS1)
10 December 1983 (FRS51)
2 April 1993 (FA2)
Retired March 2006 (Royal Navy);
6 March 2016 (Indian Navy)[1]
Status Retired
Primary users Royal Navy (historical)
Indian Navy (historical)
Number built 98
Unit cost
£13.9 million (1991)
Developed from Hawker Siddeley Harrier

The Sea Harrier served in the Falklands War and the Balkans 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 the Royal Air Force.

The Sea Harrier was marketed for sales abroad, but by 1983 India was the only operator other than Britain 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 the Sea Harrier FA2, improving its air-to-air abilities and weapons compatibilities, along with a more powerful engine; this version continued manufacture until 1998. The aircraft was withdrawn from service early by the Royal Navy in 2006. The Sea Harrier remained in service for a further decade with the Indian Navy until its retirement in 2016.

Development
Main articles: Invincible class aircraft carrier and Hawker Siddeley Harrier
Harrier FRS.1 of 800 NAS using the ski-jump during takeoff from HMS Invincible in 1990
Harrier FA2 hovering. Bolt-on refuelling probe, top right

In the post-World War II era, the Royal Navy began contracting in size as the break-up of the British Empire overseas and the emergence of the Commonwealth of Nations reduced the need for a large navy. By 1960, the last battleship, HMS Vanguard, was retired from the Navy, having been in service for less than fifteen years.[5] Perhaps the biggest sign of the new trend towards naval austerity came in 1966, when the planned CVA-01 class of large aircraft carriers destined for the Royal Navy was cancelled.[6] During this time, requirements within the Royal Navy began to form for a vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) carrier-based interceptor to replace the de Havilland Sea Vixen. The first V/STOL tests on a ship began with a Hawker Siddeley P.1127 landing on HMS Ark Royal in 1963.[7][8]

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 to deliberately avoid the term "aircraft carrier",[9] in order to increase the chances of funding from a hostile political climate against expensive capital ships,[10] they were considerably smaller than the previously sought CVA-01.[11] These ships were ordered as the Invincible class in 1973,[12] and are now popularly recognised as aircraft carriers. Almost immediately upon their construction, a ski-jump was 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 Royal Air Force's Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR1s had entered service in April 1969. A navalised variant of the Harrier was developed by Hawker Siddeley to serve on the upcoming ships; this became the Sea Harrier. In 1975, the Royal Navy ordered 24 Sea Harrier FRS.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 of British Aerospace through nationalisation in 1977.[14] By the time the prototype Sea Harrier was flown at Dunsfold on 20 August 1978 the order had been increased to 34.[15] The Sea Harrier was declared operational in 1981 on board the first Invincible class ship HMS Invincible, and further aircraft joined the ageing HMS Hermes aircraft carrier later that year.[16]

Following their key role in the 1982 Falklands War,[17] several lessons were learned from the aircraft's performance, which led to approval for an upgrade of the fleet to FRS.2 (later known as FA2) standard to be given in 1984. 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]

Design
Further information: Hawker Siddeley Harrier § design
Sea Harrier FA2 ZA195 (upgrade) vector thrust nozzle – distinguishing feature of the jump jet
Locations of the four nozzles at the sides of the Pegasus engine.

The Sea Harrier is a subsonic aircraft designed to fill strike, reconnaissance and fighter roles.[21] It features a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan engine with two intakes and four vectorable nozzles.[9] It has two landing gear on the fuselage and two outrigger landing gear on the wings. The Sea Harrier is equipped with four wing and three fuselage pylons for carrying weapons and external fuel tanks.[22] Use of the ski jump allowed the aircraft to take off from a short flight deck with a heavier loadout than otherwise 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,[13] and an extended forward fuselage to accommodate the Ferranti Blue Fox radar.[9] Parts were changed to use corrosion resistant alloys or coatings were added to protect against the marine environment.[24] After the Falklands War, the Sea Harrier was fitted with the new anti-ship Sea Eagle missile.[25]

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;[26] 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 Blue Vixen formed the basis for development of the Eurofighter Typhoon's CAPTOR radar.[27] The Sea Harrier FA2 also carried the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, the first UK aircraft to be provided with this capability.[28] An upgraded model of the Pegasus engine, the Pegasus 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 increase to the air-to-air weapons load, look-down radar, increased range, and improved cockpit displays.[18]

The cockpit in the Sea Harrier includes a conventional centre stick arrangement 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 usefulness of the vertical landing capability of the Sea Harrier was demonstrated in an incident on 6 June 1983, when Sub Lieutenant Ian Watson lost contact with the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and had to land Sea Harrier ZA176[31] on the foredeck of the Spanish cargo ship Alraigo.[32]

In 1998, the UK Defence Evaluation and Research Agency test-fitted an FA2 with AVPRO UK Ltd's Exint pods, small underwing compartments intended to be used for deployment of special forces.[33][34]

In 2005, although already timetabled to be retired, 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]

Operational history

Royal Navy

Entry into service

The first three Sea Harriers were a development batch and were used for clearance trials.[15] The first production aircraft was delivered to RNAS Yeovilton in 1979 to form an Intensive Flying Trials Unit, the 700A Naval Air Squadron.[15] In March 1980 the Intensive Flying Trials Unit became 899 Naval Air Squadron and would act as the landborne headquarters unit for the type.[15] The first operational squadron 800 Naval Air Squadron was also formed in March 1980 initially to operate from HMS Invincible before it transferred to HMS Hermes.[15] In January 1981, a second operation squadron 801 Naval Air Squadron was formed to operate from HMS Invincible.[15]

Falklands War
Sea Harrier at RNAS 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 the Falklands War of 1982, flying from the aircraft carriers HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes.[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 down 20 Argentine aircraft in 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 Lieutenant David Morgan, shot down two Skyhawks in a single encounter.[39]

A number of factors contributed to the failure of the Argentinian fighters to shoot down a Sea Harrier. Although the Mirage III and Dagger jets were faster, the Sea Harrier was considerably more manoeuvrable.[40][41] Moreover, the Harrier employed the latest AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles and the Blue Fox radar.[40][42] Contrary to contemporary reports that "viffing" proved decisive in dogfights,[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 had superior air-combat training, one manifestation of which was that they thought they noticed Argentinian pilots occasionally releasing weapons outside of their operating parameters. This is now thought to have been Mirages releasing external fuel tanks rather than weapons, and turning away from conflict with the Sea Harrier. This later reduced their capability to fight an effective campaign against the Sea Harrier due to reduced range and lack of external fuel tanks.[45][46]

800 NAS Sea Harrier FRS1 from HMS Illustrious in post-Falklands War low-visibility paint scheme.

British aircraft received fighter control from warships in San 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 from Hermes been used more effectively.[47]

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 propellor-driven aircraft.[46] In addition, fears partly aroused by the bombing of Port Stanley airport by a British Vulcan bomber added to the Argentinians' decision to operate them from afar.[48] As most Argentine aircraft lacked in-flight refuelling capability, 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 of Exocet missile range and the dispersal of the fleet.[49] 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 provide Combat Air Patrol coverage for up to an hour.[46]

I counted them all out, and I counted them all back.

Brian Hanrahan, BBC reporter, on board HMS Hermes; stated after the first Harrier mission during the 1982 Falklands War[50]

The Sea Harriers were outnumbered by the available Argentinian aircraft,[46] and were on occasion decoyed away by the activities of the Escuadrón Fénix or civilian jet aircraft used by the Argentine Air Force. They had to operate without a fleet early warning system such as AWACS 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 AWACS cover resulted in air superiority as opposed to air supremacy; the Sea Harriers could not prevent Argentine attacks during day or night nor could they completely stop the daily C-130 Hercules transports' night flights to the islands.[46][53] A total of six Sea Harriers were lost during the war (2 to enemy fire and 4 to accidents/mechanical failure.[54] The total aggregate loss rate for both the Harriers and Sea Harriers on strike operations was 2.3%.[55]

Operations in the 1990s
British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 of the Royal Navy on the flight deck of HMS Invincible

The Sea Harrier saw action in war again when it was deployed in the 1992–1995 conflict in Bosnia, part of the Yugoslav Wars.[20] It launched raids on Serb forces and provided air-support for the international taskforce units conducting Operations Deny Flight and Deliberate Force against the Army of Republika Srpska.[56][57] On 16 April 1994, a Sea Harrier of the 801 Naval Air Squadron, operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, was brought down by an Igla-1 surface-to-air missile[58] fired by the Army of Republika Srpska while attempting to bomb two Bosnian Serb tanks.[59] The pilot, Lieutenant Nick Richardson, ejected and landed in territory controlled by friendly Bosnian Muslims.[60]

It was used again in the 1999 NATO campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Operation Allied Force,[61] Sea Harriers which operated from HMS Invincible frequently patrolled the airspace to keep Yugoslavian MiGs on the ground.[62] They were also deployed to Sierra Leone on board HMS Illustrious in 2000, which was itself part of a Royal Navy convoy to supply and reinforce British intervention forces in the region.[20][63]

Retirement
A Sea Harrier FA2 on display at the National Maritime Museum in May 2006

The Sea Harrier was withdrawn from service in 2006 and the last remaining aircraft from 801 Naval Air Squadron were decommissioned on 29 March 2006.[64][65] The plans for retirement were announced in 2002 by the Ministry of Defence. The aircraft's replacement, the F-35 Lightning II,[66] was originally due in 2012, the MoD arguing that significant expenditure would be required to upgrade the fleet for only six years of service.[67] By March 2010, the F-35's introduction had been pushed back to 2016 at the earliest, with the price doubled.[68]

Both versions of Harrier experienced reduced engine performance (Pegasus Mk 106 in FA2 – 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 "land-on" 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 at RNAS Culdrose.[69]

The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm would continue to share the other component of Joint Force Harrier.[70] Harrier GR7 and the upgraded Harrier GR9 were transferred to Royal Navy squadrons in 2006,[20] but were retired prematurely a few years later due to budget cuts.[71] The UK plans to purchase the STOVL F-35B to be operated from the Royal Navy's Future Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.[72][73][74] 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.[75]

Indian Navy
A pair of Indian Sea Harriers fly alongside an F/A-18F Super Hornet of the U.S. Navy during Malabar 2007.

In 1977, the Indian government approved of plans to acquire the Sea Harrier for the Indian Navy; prior to this, rumours reportedly were circulating of a potential Indian purchase of the Soviet V/STOL-capable Yak-36.[76] The BAE Sea Hawk was phased out from the Indian Navy in 1978, in preparation for the purchase of Sea Harriers.[77] 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 at Dabolim Airport on 16 December 1983, and were inducted the same year.[78][77] Ten more Sea Harriers were purchased in November 1985;[79] eventually a total of 30 Harriers were procured, 25 for operational use and the remainder as dual-seat trainer aircraft.[80] Until the 1990s, significant portions of pilot training was carried out in Britain due to limited aircraft availability.[81]

The introduction of the Sea Harrier allowed for the retirement of India's previous carrier fighter aircraft, the Hawker Sea Hawk, as well as for the Navy's aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant (ex-HMS Hercules), to be extensively modernised between 1987 and 1989.[78] India has operated Sea Harriers from both the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Viraat (ex-HMS Hermes).[55] The Sea Harrier allowed several modern missiles to be introduced into naval operations, such as the British anti-ship Sea Eagle missile,[82] and the French Matra Magic missile for air-to-air combat.[81] Other ordnance has included 68 mm rockets, runway-denial bombs, cluster bombs, and podded 30 mm cannons.[81]

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.[83] 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.[84]

The Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the early 1980s, carrying Sea Harriers, Sea Hawks, Allouette and Sea King helicopters, and Alize ASW aircraft

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.[85] Neither the Sea Harrier FA2's Blue Vixen radar, the radar warning receiver or AMRAAM capability was proposed to be included; certain US software would also be uninstalled prior to shipment.[85] By October 2006, reports emerged that the deal had not materialised due to the cost of airframe refurbishment.[86]

In 2006, the Indian Navy started upgrading up to 15 Sea Harriers in collaboration with Israel by installing the Elta EL/M-2032 radar and the Rafael 'Derby' medium-range air-to-air BVR missile.[87][88] This enabled the Sea Harrier to remain in Indian service beyond 2012, and also see limited service off the new carriers it planned to acquire by that time. By 2009, crashes had reduced India's fleet to 12 (from original 30).[89] India plans to introduce larger aircraft carriers that can operate Russian MiG-29K carrier fighters from their flight decks to replace the Sea Harrier.[90][91]

The Sea Harriers operated from INS Viraat for the last time on 6 March 2016.[92] On 11 May 2016, a ceremony was held at INS Hansa, Dabolim, Goa to commemorate the phasing out of Sea Harriers from INAS 300 ("White Tigers"). Sea Harriers and MiG 29Ks performed an air display at the ceremony, marking the final flight of the Sea Harriers in the Indian Navy. INAS 300 subsequently introduced MiG 29K/Kub fighters to replace the retired Sea Harrier fleet.[77]

Variants
Main article: List of Harrier variants
A Sea Harrier FRS 1 on HMS Invincible
Sea Harrier FRS.1
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.[93] These aircraft were later upgraded with the Elta EL/M-2032 radar and the Rafael Derby BVRAAM missiles.[94]
Sea Harrier F(A).2
Upgrade of FRS1 fleet in 1988, featuring the Blue Vixen Pulse-Doppler radar and the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.[9]

Operators
Main article: List of Harrier operators
 India
Indian Navy
Indian Naval Air Arm (1983–2016)
 United Kingdom
Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm (1978–2006)

Surviving aircraft
Sea Harrier FA2 ZE694 at the Midland Air Museum
Sea Harrier T Mk. 60 IN-654 at Rashtriya Indian Military College

Several of surviving Sea Harriers are held by museums and private owners, and some others are at the Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose and other military bases for training.[95] The following is list of those not used by the military for training.

India
On display

United Kingdom
In use
  • The Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations still uses Harriers to train Aircraft Handlers who train on the dummy deck at RNAS Culdrose.[97][75] Many are in a working condition, although in a limited-throttle setting.[97] Although they are unable to fly, they still produce a loud sound to aid training.
On display
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD610 at Aerospace Bristol
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 XZ457 at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Old Sarum, Wiltshire[98]
  • Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ493 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Somerset[99]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 XZ494 at the Castle Farm Camping and Caravanning, Wedmore, Somerset[100]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZA175 at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Norfolk.
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZA176 at the Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottinghamshire[101]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD607 at the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, Bicester, Oxfordshire[102]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD613 on the roof of a building at the Cross Green Industrial Estate, Leeds, West Yorkshire[103]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZE691 at Woodford Park Industrial Estate, Northwich, Cheshire[104]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZE694 at the Midland Air Museum, Coventry, Warwickshire[105]
Stored or under restoration
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 XZ459 with a private collection in West Sussex[106]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 XZ497 with a private collection at Charlwood, Surrey[107]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 XZ499 with the Fleet Air Arm Museum storage facility Cobham Hall, Yeovilton[108]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD582 with a private collection at Aynho, Northamptonshire[109]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD612 with a private collection at Topsham, Devon [110]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD614 with a private collection Walcott, Lincolnshire[111]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZE697 at the former RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire (as of 2016)[112]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZE698 with a private collection at Charlwood, Surrey[107]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZH799 with a private collection at Tunbridge Wells, Kent[113]
  • Sea Harrier FA.2 ZH806, ZH810 and ZH812 with a dealer near Ipswich, Suffolk[114]

United States
Airworthy
  • 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 by Art 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 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River and had to be repaired.[116] The aircraft made its first public appearance at an air show in Culpeper, Virginia, in October 2008.[117] The aircraft is the only privately owned, civilian-flown Harrier in the world.[118]

Specifications (Sea Harrier FA.2)
Sea Harrier FRS51. of the Indian Navy taking off from INS Viraat

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999-00[119], Wilson,[120] Bull,[121] Donald[122] Spick[123]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)
42 ft 10.25 in (13 m) with the nose folded
  • Wingspan: 25 ft 3 in (7.70 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m)
  • Wing area: 201.1 sq ft (18.68 m2)
  • Airfoil: root: Hawker 10% ; tip: Hawker 3.3%[124]
  • Empty weight: 14,585 lb (6,616 kg)
  • Maximum fuel weight, internal: 5,182 lb (2,351 kg)
  • Maximum fuel weight, 2x 100 imp gal (120 US gal; 455 l) drop tanks: 6,762 lb (3,067 kg)
  • Maximum fuel weight, 2x 190 imp gal (228 US gal; 864 l) drop tanks: 8,184 lb (3,712 kg)
  • Maximum fuel weight, 2x 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 2x 100 imp gal (120 US gal; 455 l) combat drop tanks or 2x 190 imp gal (228 US gal; 864 l) combat drop tanks or 2x 330 imp gal (396 US gal; 1,500 l) ferry drop tanks on inboard wing pylons only.
1x 50 imp gal (60 US gal; 227 l) Demineralized water aft of the engine
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Pegasus 106 vectored thrust turbofan engine, 21,500 lbf (96 kN) thrust with water injection

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 618 kn (711 mph, 1,145 km/h) / M0.94 at sea level
578 kn (665 mph; 1,070 km/h) / M0.97 at altitude
  • 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 4x AMRAAM or 2x AMRAAM + 2x ADEN cannon + 2x 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 2x ADEN cannon + 2x 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 2x BAe Sea Eagle + 2x 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 2x AMRAAM.
  • Ferry range: 1,740 nmi (2,000 mi, 3,220 km)
  • Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (16,000 m)
  • g limits: +7.8 -4.2
  • Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (250 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 130.28 lb/sq ft (636.1 kg/m2)
  • Thrust/weight: 1.22
  • Take-off run STO: 1,000 ft (305 m) at MTOW without ramp

Armament

Avionics

  • Ferranti Blue Vixen all-weather airborne radar
  • BAE Systems AD2770 Tactical Air Navigation System
  • Thales MADGE Microwave Airborne Digital Guidance Equipment
  • Allied Signal AN/APX-100 mk12 IFF
  • Marconi Sky Guardian 200 RWR
  • 2x BAE Systems AN/ALE 40 chaff/flare dipensers

Notable appearances in media
Main article: Harrier Jump Jet in fiction

The Harrier's unique characteristics have led to it being featured a number of films and video games.

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. "India Retires Sea Harriers". 8 August 2017.
  2. Ward, p. 50.
  3. Mison, Graham. "Sea Harrier Down Under". Harrier.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  4. "London almost sold arms to BA before war: Astonishing weapons sales plan for Argentina". Buenos Aires Herald. 29 June 2005. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. "No V for the Mighty Vanguard". Los Angeles Times. 20 August 1959. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
  6. "Analysis: UK navy anxiously awaits carriers". United Press International. 3 July 2002. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  7. Jenkins 1998, p. 51.
  8. Bull 2004, p. 119.
  9. Nordeen 2006, p. 11.
  10. Grove 1987, pp. 319–320.
  11. Moore 1987, pp. 22.
  12. Moore RN, Capt. John E. Warships of the Royal Navy. Jane's Publishing, 1981, ISBN 0-7106-0105-0.
  13. Bull 2004, p. 120.
  14. "Hawker Siddeley". US Centiennal of Flight Commission. Archived from the original on 25 August 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  15. Orbis `1985, pp. 3306–3312
  16. Ford, Terry (1981). "Sea Harrier – A New Dimension". Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology. Bradford, England: Emerald Group Publishing. 53 (6): 2–5. doi:10.1108/eb035729. ISSN 1758-4213. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012.
  17. Sloyan, Patrick J (23 May 1982). "Sea Harrier changes face of air warfare". Tri City Herald.
  18. "First Flight for Sea Harrier FRS2". 10 (13). Janes Defense Weekly. 1 November 1988: 767. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. Flight International 1990, p. 9.
  20. Graves, David (2 April 2002). "Sea Harrier cuts leave the fleet exposed The decision to retire the decisive weapon of the Falklands conflict means the Navy will have to rely on America for air support". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  21. Jenkins 1998, p. 52.
  22. Spick 2000, pp. 366–370, 387–392.
  23. Bull 2004, p. 121.
  24. Jenkins 1998, pp. 51–55.
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Further reading
  • Hunter, Jamie (2005). Sea Harrier: The Last All-British Fighter. Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1857802078.
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