T
he British Aerospace Sea Harrier was the purpose-built
naval variant of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier strike fi ghter,
an aircraft famed for its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)
and short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities. It
worked by adopting the revolutionary single-engine thrust
vectoring technology of the regular harrier (see ‘Degrees of power’
boxout) and partnering it w ith a modifi ed f uselage – to allow the
installation of the superb Blue Fox radar system – bubble-st yle
canopy (larger, allow ing greater v isibilit y) and a signifi cantly
improved arms load out.
These factors, partnered w ith the aircraft carrier’s abilit y to
launch the aircraft from its ski-jump, allowed the Sea Harrier to
perform to a high standard at sea, carrying more weight, detecting
enemies sooner and taking them dow n quickly and effi ciently.
This was demonstrated most v iv idly during the Falklands War of
1982, when 28 Sea Harriers operating off British aircraft carriers
shot down 20 Argentine aircraft in air-to-air combat without
suffering a single loss. The Sea Harrier squadron achieved this due
to their high manoeuvrability and tactics while in dogfi ghts – for
example, braking/changing direction fast by vectoring their
thrust nozzles while in for ward fl ight – as well as their pilots’
superior training and early-warning/detection systems.Sea Harrier
Before being retired in 2006,
the Sea Harrier dominated
the subsonic jet fi ghter fi eld,
changing the dynamics
and operation of the strike
fi ghter role forever
Thrust vectoring
To achieve VTOL capabilities, the
Sea Harrier’s engine thrust was
directed through four vectoring
nozzles, which could rotate
through 98.5 degrees from
vertically downwards to
horizontal.Second-generation Sea Harriers
on board an aircraft carrier in
the Persian GulfTwo Indian Nav y Sea Harriers fl y alongside
a US Nav y F/A-18F Super Hornet© John Batchelor / w w w.johnbatchelor.comProtection
Due to the testing marine operating
conditions, par ts of the Sea Harrier
were changed to use corrosion-resistant
alloys or protective coatings.MILITARY