BAE Sea Harrier
The BAE Systems Sea Harrier is a naval VTOL/STOVL jet
fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker
Siddeley Harrier. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980
as the Sea Harrier FRS1. The last version was the Sea Harrier FA2.
Informally known as the "Shar", the Sea Harrier was withdrawn from
Royal Navy service in March 2006 and replaced by the Harrier GR9.
In 1966 the planned CVA-01 class aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy
were cancelled, apparently ending the Royal Navy's involvement in
fixed-wing carrier aviation. However, beginning in the early 1970s, the first
of a new class of "through deck cruisers" was planned, carefully named to
avoid the term "aircraft carrier" to increase the chances of funding. These
ships would eventually become the Invincible class aircraft carriers. With
little modification, a 'ski-jump' was added to the end of the 170 m deck,
enabling the carriers to operate a small number of V/STOL jets.
A Sea Harrier FRS 1 on HMS InvincibleThe Royal Air Force's Hawker
Siddeley Harrier GR1s had entered service in April 1969. In 1975 the
Royal Navy ordered 34 Sea Harrier FRS.1s (later FRS1), the first of which
entered service in 1978. In total 57 FRS1s were delivered between 1978
and 1988.
The Harrier T4N is not strictly a variant of the Sea Harrier, but is a
two-seat naval training version of the Harrier T2. Four Harrier T4N were
purchased by the Royal Navy for land-based training. It did not have radar
and had a few Sea Harrier instruments, but was used for pilot conversion
training for the Sea Harrier FRS1.
Sea Harrier FRS51. of the Indian Navy taking off from INS
ViraatSingle-seat fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft. The Sea
Harrier FRS51 is similar to the FRS1. Unlike the British Sea Harrier, it is
fitted with Matra R550 Magic air-to-air missiles. The first of twenty-three
FRS51s were delivered to the Indian Navy in 1983.
Export version of the T4N two-seat training version for the Indian Navy.
At least four Harrier T60s were purchased by the Indian Navy for
land-based training.
Sea Harrier FA2 ZE694 at the Midland Air Museum Sea Harrier FA2 ZA195 (upgrade) vector thrust nozzle - distinguishing
feature of the jump jetLessons learned from the aircraft's performance in
the Falklands led to the requirement for an upgrade of the fleet,
incorporating increased air-to-air weapons load, look-down radar,
increased range, and improved cockpit displays. Approval for an upgrade
to FRS.2 standard was given in 1984. First flight of the prototype took
place on September 1988 and a contract was signed for 29 upgraded
aircraft in December that year, with the upgraded aircraft to be known as
the F/A.2 (later FA2). In 1990 the Navy ordered 18 new-build FA2s, at a
unit cost of around £12 million, and a further 5 upgrades were ordered in
1994. 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. The Blue Vixen formed the basis for development of the
Eurofighter Typhoon's CAPTOR radar. The Sea Harrier FA2 carries the
AIM-120 AMRAAM missile and was the first UK aircraft to be provided
with this capability. The first aircraft was delivered on 2 April 1993 and the
first operational deployment was in April 1994 as part of the UN force in
Bosnia.
The final new-build Sea Harrier FA2 was delivered on 18 January 1999.
Seven Harrier T4s two-seat trainers updated with Sea Harrier FA2
instrumentation but no radar. Retired from service in March 2006.
DesignThe Sea Harrier was largely based on the Harrier GR3, but was modified
to have a raised cockpit with a "bubble" canopy (to give better visibility for
the air defence role) and an extended forward fuselage to accommodate the
Ferranti (now BAE Systems) Blue Fox radar. Parts were changed to use
corrosion resistant alloys or coatings were added to protect against the
marine environment.
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.
Please help improve this section by expanding it with:Add details. Further information might be found on the talk page. (August
2008)
fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker
Siddeley Harrier. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980
as the Sea Harrier FRS1. The last version was the Sea Harrier FA2.
Informally known as the "Shar", the Sea Harrier was withdrawn from
Royal Navy service in March 2006 and replaced by the Harrier GR9.
In 1966 the planned CVA-01 class aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy
were cancelled, apparently ending the Royal Navy's involvement in
fixed-wing carrier aviation. However, beginning in the early 1970s, the first
of a new class of "through deck cruisers" was planned, carefully named to
avoid the term "aircraft carrier" to increase the chances of funding. These
ships would eventually become the Invincible class aircraft carriers. With
little modification, a 'ski-jump' was added to the end of the 170 m deck,
enabling the carriers to operate a small number of V/STOL jets.
A Sea Harrier FRS 1 on HMS InvincibleThe Royal Air Force's Hawker
Siddeley Harrier GR1s had entered service in April 1969. In 1975 the
Royal Navy ordered 34 Sea Harrier FRS.1s (later FRS1), the first of which
entered service in 1978. In total 57 FRS1s were delivered between 1978
and 1988.
The Harrier T4N is not strictly a variant of the Sea Harrier, but is a
two-seat naval training version of the Harrier T2. Four Harrier T4N were
purchased by the Royal Navy for land-based training. It did not have radar
and had a few Sea Harrier instruments, but was used for pilot conversion
training for the Sea Harrier FRS1.
Sea Harrier FRS51. of the Indian Navy taking off from INS
ViraatSingle-seat fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft. The Sea
Harrier FRS51 is similar to the FRS1. Unlike the British Sea Harrier, it is
fitted with Matra R550 Magic air-to-air missiles. The first of twenty-three
FRS51s were delivered to the Indian Navy in 1983.
Export version of the T4N two-seat training version for the Indian Navy.
At least four Harrier T60s were purchased by the Indian Navy for
land-based training.
Sea Harrier FA2 ZE694 at the Midland Air Museum Sea Harrier FA2 ZA195 (upgrade) vector thrust nozzle - distinguishing
feature of the jump jetLessons learned from the aircraft's performance in
the Falklands led to the requirement for an upgrade of the fleet,
incorporating increased air-to-air weapons load, look-down radar,
increased range, and improved cockpit displays. Approval for an upgrade
to FRS.2 standard was given in 1984. First flight of the prototype took
place on September 1988 and a contract was signed for 29 upgraded
aircraft in December that year, with the upgraded aircraft to be known as
the F/A.2 (later FA2). In 1990 the Navy ordered 18 new-build FA2s, at a
unit cost of around £12 million, and a further 5 upgrades were ordered in
1994. 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. The Blue Vixen formed the basis for development of the
Eurofighter Typhoon's CAPTOR radar. The Sea Harrier FA2 carries the
AIM-120 AMRAAM missile and was the first UK aircraft to be provided
with this capability. The first aircraft was delivered on 2 April 1993 and the
first operational deployment was in April 1994 as part of the UN force in
Bosnia.
The final new-build Sea Harrier FA2 was delivered on 18 January 1999.
Seven Harrier T4s two-seat trainers updated with Sea Harrier FA2
instrumentation but no radar. Retired from service in March 2006.
DesignThe Sea Harrier was largely based on the Harrier GR3, but was modified
to have a raised cockpit with a "bubble" canopy (to give better visibility for
the air defence role) and an extended forward fuselage to accommodate the
Ferranti (now BAE Systems) Blue Fox radar. Parts were changed to use
corrosion resistant alloys or coatings were added to protect against the
marine environment.
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.
Please help improve this section by expanding it with:Add details. Further information might be found on the talk page. (August
2008)
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