contract covered modification of all RN
FRS1s to FRS2 standard. These were later
joined by 18 newly built aircraft, making a
total of 60 FRS2s.
The original Blue Fox radar was
replaced by the Blue Vixen radar needed
for the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced
Medium-Range Air-to Air Missiles) and
fitted into an enlarged and lengthened
nose. The weapons portfolio included Sea
Eagle anti-ship and Alarm anti-radiation
missiles. A longer rear fuselage was
constructed providing extra space for an
avionics bay. The Sea Harrier FRS2 had four
wing pylons and a centreline station, and
the underbelly strakes could be replaced
by gun packs or a pair of AIM-120 pylons.
The FRS2 conversion work took place at
Kingston and at the Dunsfold flight test
centre, supported by Brough. The first
production FRS2, XZ497 flew in June 1991
and the first deliveries were made to the
Fleet Air Arm in mid-1994. The Sea Harriers
FRS2 did not remain in service for long as
they were withdrawn in 2006. Altogether
the Sea Harrier served served the Navy for
25 years.The alternative Harrier 2
developments
Under their 15-year agreement made in
1969, both HSA Kingston and McDonnell
Douglas collaborated on further
developments of the Harrier. In the early
1970s they proposed the AV-16 Advanced
Harrier and a supersonic version for the UK,
an AV-16S, the aim of which was to double62 The Aircraft of British Aerospace and BAE SYSTEMS 1977 - 2017
the AV-8’s payload and range capabilities.
Owing to British Government concerns
about the cost and the small 60 aircraft
requirement for the RAF, the UK withdrew
from the project in 1975 and ceased to be
a partner of McDonnell Douglas. This
withdrawal caused ructions in the UK
where Britain was seen to be handing over
its unique V/STOL heritage concept to the
USA.
HSA and McDonnell Douglas then
independently projected different future
developments of the Harrier. HSA proposed
the GR5(K) and McDonnell Douglas the
AV-8B. The AV-8B had a larger, composite
wing, LERX (Leading Edge Extensions), lift
refinements and raised cockpit. McDonnell
Douglas began development of the AV-8B
in 1975 and the first of two YAV-8B
prototypes; modified AV-8As flew in
November 1978 to prove the modifications.
The changes doubled the AV-8’s payload/
range performance. Meanwhile Kingston
worked on a larger metal wing Harrier with
six to eight pylons and wingtip missile rails.
To the manufacturer’s disappointment the
British Conservative Government did not
support the Harrier GR5(K) and Britain’s V/
STOL technology.BAe becomes a sub-contractor
on the Harrier AV-8B
Hawker Siddeley/BAe had hoped that the
McDonnell Douglas version would not
been funded and then directly sell its own
Harrier development to the USMC. Without
Two US Marine Corps Harrier AV-8Bs on a USMC amphibious assault ship. (Hawker Archive) British Government support that could not