The Sea Harrier was the fixed-wing fighter the Royal Navy was not supposed to have, an interim adaptation of an old 1960s design that turned out, nevertheless, to be highly effective. Although developed for land-based operations in order to circumvent the vulnerability of fixed bases to nuclear attack, the P.1127 had touched down on HMS Ark Royal on 8 February 1963, less than 18 months after the first transitions had been concluded.
Numerous deck trials were successfully completed on carriers by the US Marine Corps and Spanish Navy in the early 1970s. This constantly expanding fund of experience added strong support for a dedicated naval Harrier for the Royal Navy. In fact, the RN had begun studies of a possible carrier-based variant in 1969 (the year the GR1 entered service with the RAF), but it was three years before a study contract was ordered.
The background to this contract was an MOD decision that, since the RAF would guarantee to provide air cover for RN ships by means of land-based aircraft, there was to be no replacement for carriers such as HMS Ark Royal. However, a new ‘through-deck cruiser’ was being built and the Sea Harrier itself was something of an afterthought.
In 1975 it was announced that twenty-four Sea Harriers would be purchased for the Royal Navy. The basic Harrier GR3 was given a new nose, with Blue Fox radar, a raised cockpit commanding a better view and a Pegasus Mk 104 engine to create a neat, low-cost interceptor that did not require a runway. These were comprised of three development aircraft and twenty-one production FRS1s. In addition, the RN funded one Harrier T4A, based at Wittering, where Fleet Air Arm pilots were to be given V/STOL conversion. By 1978 a further ten FRS1s were added. In June 1982, following the Falklands campaign, fourteen more Sea Harriers were ordered, half of that number being attrition replacements. Two years later, nine further FRS1s were ordered to allow the number of aircraft in each operational squadron to be raised from five to eight. Added to this total were three two-seat Harrier T4Ns.
The ‘FRS’ designation indicated that the primary role of the Sea Harrier was as a fighter, followed by reconnaissance and nuclear strike. However, it is important to note that the term ‘fighter’ was used to indicate the interception of large, low-performance Soviet aircraft shadowing the battle group or convoy and that, in NATO exercises, Sea Harriers were routinely supported by US Navy E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft.
In order to meet Fleet Air Arm requirements, the Harrier clearly needed a forward-looking radar capable of detecting and tracking medium-level aircraft and large ships. The radar selected was Ferranti Blue Fox. While the front fuselage was being redesigned to accommodate the radar antenna, the floor of the cockpit was raised by 10in to provide, for the first time, some rear view over the ‘elephant’s ears’ engine intakes, as well as more equipment space.
The first production Sea Harrier FRS1 (XZ450), which weighed 517lb (235kg) more than the GR3, had its maiden flight on 20 August 1978. XZ451 was the first of the series to be delivered to RNAS Yeovilton on 18 June 1979. Flying training was facilitated by the loan of an RAF T4, then by the arrival of the three T4Ns, and subsequently by three T4As.
It was found that the aircraft’s warload-radius could be enhanced significantly by giving the carrier deck an upward inclination at the bow. The resulting ‘ski-jump’ take-off gave the aircraft more time to accelerate to a speed at which height could be maintained by a combination of jet and wing lift.
The Indian Navy was the only export customer for the Sea Harrier. Initially six Sea Harrier Mk 51s were ordered in December 1979, together with two T60s. Two further batches were ordered in 1985 and 1986, which brought the total to twenty-three Mk 51s and four T60s. Two more T60s, modified from RAF surplus T4s, were obtained in the 1990s to replace aircraft written off.
The Indian Mk 51 was based on the Sea Harrier FRS1, but had a modified radar system and Indian-specified radios and IFF. They employed the French Matra Magic AAM in place of the Sidewinder. These Mk 51s were operated from the carrier Vikrant (ex HMS Hercules) from 1991 until it was retired in 1996, and the Viraat (the former HMS Hermes fitted with a 12° ski-jump). They were flown by No. 300 ‘White Tigers’ Squadron. The Indian Navy explored the possible purchase of eight former RN Sea Harrier FA2s in 2006. The aircraft were available after being retired by the Royal Navy following the rationalisation of the Harrier force onto the Harrier GR7/7A and GR9/9A. Indian Navy pilots and defence representatives inspected and assessed the aircraft but it was decided not to proceed as the FA2s needed a substantial upgrade to their avionics and to be fitted with a weapons system. The Navy had stripped out these systems before the Sea Harriers were stored.
By the end of 2007, all twenty-two surviving Indian Navy FRS51s will have completed a Hindustan Aeronautic upgrade, which equips them with Elta’s EL/M-2032 fire-control radar and Rafael’s Derby beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. Present plans are for the aircraft to remain in service until 2020.