British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1
Beginning in the 1960s, defense cuts and the contracting of the British Empire “east of Suez” led to the retirement of the Royal Navy’s once-significant fleet of carriers, and the cancellation of the CVA-01 class meant to replace them. This left the RN without a true means of power projection, especially since the RN also lacked surface ships heavier than a light cruiser. Before the last of the RN carriers, HMS Ark Royal, was decommissioned, however, the Fleet Air Arm had already been considering a replacement of the deHavilland Sea Vixen strike fighter with a version of the Hawker-Siddeley Kestrel, which would later evolve into the Harrier. Since the Kestrel/Harrier used thrust-vectoring to give it V/STOL capability, this would allow the FAA to keep a fixed-wing component while still allowing the retirement of the Ark Royal. With the Harrier now available, the RN planned three light carriers, the Invincible-class, to operate both them and helicopters; to avoid the notice of Ministry of Defense budget cuts, they were disguised as “through-deck cruisers.”
Since the FAA would need a more advanced aircraft than either the basic Harrier GR.1 or ground attack specialized GR.3, British Aerospace, which had absorbed Hawker-Siddeley, made a number of changes to the basic Harrier design. The Sea Harrier FRS.1 had an entirely new nose section, with a raised cockpit and bubble canopy for better all-around vision, necessary in a dogfight, since the Sea Harriers would also have to defend a task force as well as undertake strike missions. The nose was also larger and longer than the “bottlenose” GR.3, to accommodate the Ferranti Blue Fox radar, needed to guide Sea Eagle antiship missiles, the Sea Harrier’s other role. Some aluminum parts were replaced by steel to better resist corrosion at sea.
The first Sea Harrier FRS.1 entered service in 1978, going to sea aboard both the purpose-built “Harrier carrier” HMS Invincible in 1981, and the World War II-era light carrier HMS Hermes, which had been retained until the rest of the Invincibles could come on line. The Blue Fox radar left a little to be desired, but since the only air-to-air missile available to the Sea Harrier was the AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeker, this was not deemed to be a problem, especially as the Sea Harriers would be equipped with the all-aspect AIM-9L. Both carriers were fitted with “ski-jumps” at the end of the flight deck, which allowed the Sea Harriers to take off with full warloads—something not possible using strictly hover mode.
The Sea Harrier would get its first test much sooner than anticipated, however, when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982. With the demise of Britain’s fleet carriers, the Sea Harriers were the only fixed-wing aircraft available to defend the task force heading to reclaim the islands. Despite not being really designed for the job it assumed, the Sea Harrier did exceptionally well, shooting down 20 Argentine fighters for no air-to-air losses. While this was initially attributed to the Sea Harrier’s V/STOL capability, in actuality it was due to the superior training of British pilots, the Sea Harrier’s small size, and the fact that the Argentinians were fighting at the edge of their range.
Despite this, the Sea Harrier was obviously in need of upgrading if it was going to continue in the fleet defense role. After the end of the war, the FAA embarked on upgrading the Sea Harrier FRS.2 in 1988, later redesignating it the FA.2. This replaced the Blue Fox with the far superior Blue Vixen, which allowed the FA.2 to carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM, though it wouldn’t be until 1993 that the AMRAAM reached the FAA. Avionics were also upgraded and an improved ECM package fitted. This allowed the Sea Harrier to finally maximize its potential as a fleet defense fighter.
In the end, however, the Sea Harrier would never get a chance to do this, at least in British service. Though seeing action over Bosnia and Serbia in 1995 and 1999, the MoD decided to retire the Sea Harrier beginning in 2002. The FAA had already ordered the F-35B Lightning II to replace the Sea Harrier in 2012, and the MoD, despite protests from the FAA, saw no reason to perform a necessary mid-life upgrade for an aircraft to be retired. This may have proven premature, as the F-35 has since been pushed back to 2016, leaving the FAA jointly flying RAF Harrier GR.9s, which lack the ability to carry AMRAAMs; the Harrier force was retired completely due to budget cuts in 2009. The only other nation to fly the Sea Harrier is India, which acquired 25 Sea Harrier FRS.1s in 1983. These aircraft are being upgraded to carry the Rafael Derby AAM, but though India expressed interest in acquiring second-hand Sea Harrier FA.2s, this fell through due to India buying the MiG-29K Fulcrum for use on full-size carriers and the US being unwilling to supply India with the AMRAAM.
I'd wanted to do a "Shar" for awhile, and I was happy to see that the Minicraft Sea Harrier came with the colors for the aircraft I wanted to build: XZ457, better known as "Black 14." This aircraft was flown by two pilots during the Falklands War who scored three kills (two Mirage IIIs and a single A-4); two of those kills belonged to Flight Lieutenant David Morgan. Morgan was a RAF Harrier pilot seconded to the Fleet Air Arm, who lacked enough Harrier pilots. Morgan's three victories would make him the top scoring pilot of the war. XZ457 survived the war, was upgraded to FA.2 standard, and was retired in 1995. It is today preserved at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection.
The Sea Harriers at the Falklands were painted overall gunship gray, to better hide them against the sea; this scheme earned them the moniker "Black Death" from their Argentine counterparts. All other markings were removed or toned down to better hide the aircraft as well, and to keep the Argentinians guessing as to how many Sea Harriers the RN had. It is equipped with two AIM-9L Sidewinders. Aside from some decal shine, I liked how this turned out.
British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1
Beginning in the 1960s, defense cuts and the contracting of the British Empire “east of Suez” led to the retirement of the Royal Navy’s once-significant fleet of carriers, and the cancellation of the CVA-01 class meant to replace them. This left the RN without a true means of power projection, especially since the RN also lacked surface ships heavier than a light cruiser. Before the last of the RN carriers, HMS Ark Royal, was decommissioned, however, the Fleet Air Arm had already been considering a replacement of the deHavilland Sea Vixen strike fighter with a version of the Hawker-Siddeley Kestrel, which would later evolve into the Harrier. Since the Kestrel/Harrier used thrust-vectoring to give it V/STOL capability, this would allow the FAA to keep a fixed-wing component while still allowing the retirement of the Ark Royal. With the Harrier now available, the RN planned three light carriers, the Invincible-class, to operate both them and helicopters; to avoid the notice of Ministry of Defense budget cuts, they were disguised as “through-deck cruisers.”
Since the FAA would need a more advanced aircraft than either the basic Harrier GR.1 or ground attack specialized GR.3, British Aerospace, which had absorbed Hawker-Siddeley, made a number of changes to the basic Harrier design. The Sea Harrier FRS.1 had an entirely new nose section, with a raised cockpit and bubble canopy for better all-around vision, necessary in a dogfight, since the Sea Harriers would also have to defend a task force as well as undertake strike missions. The nose was also larger and longer than the “bottlenose” GR.3, to accommodate the Ferranti Blue Fox radar, needed to guide Sea Eagle antiship missiles, the Sea Harrier’s other role. Some aluminum parts were replaced by steel to better resist corrosion at sea.
The first Sea Harrier FRS.1 entered service in 1978, going to sea aboard both the purpose-built “Harrier carrier” HMS Invincible in 1981, and the World War II-era light carrier HMS Hermes, which had been retained until the rest of the Invincibles could come on line. The Blue Fox radar left a little to be desired, but since the only air-to-air missile available to the Sea Harrier was the AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeker, this was not deemed to be a problem, especially as the Sea Harriers would be equipped with the all-aspect AIM-9L. Both carriers were fitted with “ski-jumps” at the end of the flight deck, which allowed the Sea Harriers to take off with full warloads—something not possible using strictly hover mode.
The Sea Harrier would get its first test much sooner than anticipated, however, when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982. With the demise of Britain’s fleet carriers, the Sea Harriers were the only fixed-wing aircraft available to defend the task force heading to reclaim the islands. Despite not being really designed for the job it assumed, the Sea Harrier did exceptionally well, shooting down 20 Argentine fighters for no air-to-air losses. While this was initially attributed to the Sea Harrier’s V/STOL capability, in actuality it was due to the superior training of British pilots, the Sea Harrier’s small size, and the fact that the Argentinians were fighting at the edge of their range.
Despite this, the Sea Harrier was obviously in need of upgrading if it was going to continue in the fleet defense role. After the end of the war, the FAA embarked on upgrading the Sea Harrier FRS.2 in 1988, later redesignating it the FA.2. This replaced the Blue Fox with the far superior Blue Vixen, which allowed the FA.2 to carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM, though it wouldn’t be until 1993 that the AMRAAM reached the FAA. Avionics were also upgraded and an improved ECM package fitted. This allowed the Sea Harrier to finally maximize its potential as a fleet defense fighter.
In the end, however, the Sea Harrier would never get a chance to do this, at least in British service. Though seeing action over Bosnia and Serbia in 1995 and 1999, the MoD decided to retire the Sea Harrier beginning in 2002. The FAA had already ordered the F-35B Lightning II to replace the Sea Harrier in 2012, and the MoD, despite protests from the FAA, saw no reason to perform a necessary mid-life upgrade for an aircraft to be retired. This may have proven premature, as the F-35 has since been pushed back to 2016, leaving the FAA jointly flying RAF Harrier GR.9s, which lack the ability to carry AMRAAMs; the Harrier force was retired completely due to budget cuts in 2009. The only other nation to fly the Sea Harrier is India, which acquired 25 Sea Harrier FRS.1s in 1983. These aircraft are being upgraded to carry the Rafael Derby AAM, but though India expressed interest in acquiring second-hand Sea Harrier FA.2s, this fell through due to India buying the MiG-29K Fulcrum for use on full-size carriers and the US being unwilling to supply India with the AMRAAM.
I'd wanted to do a "Shar" for awhile, and I was happy to see that the Minicraft Sea Harrier came with the colors for the aircraft I wanted to build: XZ457, better known as "Black 14." This aircraft was flown by two pilots during the Falklands War who scored three kills (two Mirage IIIs and a single A-4); two of those kills belonged to Flight Lieutenant David Morgan. Morgan was a RAF Harrier pilot seconded to the Fleet Air Arm, who lacked enough Harrier pilots. Morgan's three victories would make him the top scoring pilot of the war. XZ457 survived the war, was upgraded to FA.2 standard, and was retired in 1995. It is today preserved at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection.
The Sea Harriers at the Falklands were painted overall gunship gray, to better hide them against the sea; this scheme earned them the moniker "Black Death" from their Argentine counterparts. All other markings were removed or toned down to better hide the aircraft as well, and to keep the Argentinians guessing as to how many Sea Harriers the RN had. It is equipped with two AIM-9L Sidewinders. Aside from some decal shine, I liked how this turned out.