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BAe British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2

BAe · Carrier-Based V/STOL Fighter / Carrier Air Defence / Strike · UK · Cold War (1970–1991)

The British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 (designated Sea Harrier FRS.2 before 1996, then FA.2; preceded by the Sea Harrier FRS.1) was a British single-engine, single-seat, V/STOL (Vertical / Short Take-Off and Landing) carrier-based fighter and attack aircraft developed by British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) as a navalised derivative of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier family. The FRS.1 entered Royal Navy service in 1980 aboard the Invincible-class carriers HMS Invincible, HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, and the type provided the United Kingdom's only carrier-based fighter for 26 years until retirement in 2006. Sea Harriers earned lasting fame in the 1982 Falklands War, where Royal Navy crews achieved 23 air-to-air kills without losing a single aircraft in dogfights, flying from inadequate carrier infrastructure under demanding South Atlantic conditions.

The Sea Harrier FA2 measures 47 ft (14.2 m) long with a 25-ft (7.7 m) wingspan. Empty weight is around 14,500 lb; maximum take-off weight is 26,200 lb vertical or 35,000 lb in a short rolling take-off. A single Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 106 turbofan delivers ~21,500 lbf with full vector. Top speed is 735 mph (Mach 0.97 — subsonic), combat radius around 200 nmi on a high-low-high profile, and service ceiling 51,000 ft. Four vectoring nozzles rotate engine thrust between 0° rear and 90° downward to enable V/STOL flight. The FA2 introduced the Blue Vixen pulse-Doppler radar — a leap beyond the FRS.1's Blue Fox — and AIM-120 AMRAAM compatibility for beyond-visual-range engagement, alongside AIM-9 Sidewinder, the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile and ADEN 30mm cannon pods.

Fleet air defence and limited offensive flying from Invincible-class carriers were the Sea Harrier's principal mission. V/STOL was essential because the U.K.'s small decks lacked steam catapults and arrestor gear; instead, aircraft used a ski-jump short take-off (~600 ft deck run) and vertical landing. Three roles defined daily use: (1) air defence of the carrier strike group against enemy aircraft and anti-ship missiles; (2) limited offensive work against ground and surface targets using air-to-ground bombs and Sea Eagle; (3) reconnaissance and secondary tasks. The type extended U.K. naval-aviation reach across 1980–2006.

The Falklands War defined the Sea Harrier's reputation. Twenty-eight FRS.1s flying from HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes flew 1,435 combat sorties and confirmed 23 air-to-air kills against Argentine combat aircraft — 10 Mirage III, 9 A-4 Skyhawk and 4 Dagger / Nesher — for zero dogfight losses. That record came against a numerically superior Argentine air force and with limited fleet air-defence support. Later deployments included Operation Granby (Gulf War, 1991), Operation Allied Force (Yugoslavia, 1999) and a limited contribution to Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). Roughly 57 Sea Harrier FRS.1 / FA2 airframes were built (54 Royal Navy plus 3 of the Indian Navy variant) at British Aerospace's Kingston-upon-Thames and Brough facilities; production ended in 1991. Final retirement came in March 2006, opening a Royal Navy strike-carrier aviation gap that lasted until F-35B Lightning II entered service from 2018.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Sea Harrier was a British jet fighter that could take off straight up like a helicopter, then fly forward like a regular jet. This is called VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing). The Sea Harrier was famous for defending British forces in the 1982 Falklands War — winning 20 air battles against Argentine fighters with no losses to the enemy.

The Sea Harrier is about 47 feet long — longer than a school bus. One big Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine has four exhaust nozzles that can rotate from pointing backward (for forward flight) to pointing downward (for hovering or vertical takeoff). The pilot uses a special lever to rotate the nozzles. With the nozzles down, the airplane lifts off the ground like a helicopter.

The Sea Harrier flew off small British aircraft carriers that didn't have long runways. During the 1982 Falklands War, 28 Sea Harriers from carriers HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible defended British troops fighting to retake the islands. The Sea Harriers defeated 20 Argentine Mirage and A-4 Skyhawk fighters, plus 3 other aircraft. No Sea Harrier was defeated in air-to-air combat (though 4 were lost to other causes).

About 80 Sea Harriers were built between 1978 and 1998. The UK Royal Navy retired its last Sea Harrier in 2006. India bought 23 Sea Harriers in the 1980s — they served until 2016. The Sea Harrier's job is now done by the F-35B Lightning II, which can also take off short and land vertically. The Sea Harrier proved that VTOL fighters could work in real combat.

Fun Facts

The Sea Harrier can take off straight up like a helicopter, then fly forward like a regular jet.
It defeated 20 Argentine fighters in the 1982 Falklands War without losing any in air-to-air combat.
The Sea Harrier has 4 rotating exhaust nozzles — the pilot uses a lever to point them down for vertical takeoff.
About 80 Sea Harriers were built between 1978 and 1998.
The Sea Harrier flew from small British carriers that didn't have long runways.
Indian Sea Harriers served on the Indian Navy carrier INS Viraat until 2016.
The F-35B Lightning II now does the Sea Harrier's old job — it can also take off short and land vertically.

Kids’ Questions

How does the Sea Harrier hover?

The Sea Harrier's Pegasus engine has four exhaust nozzles — two on each side, near the wings. Normally the nozzles point straight backward, pushing the airplane forward. But the pilot can rotate the nozzles using a special lever next to the throttle. When the nozzles rotate to point straight down, the engine's thrust pushes the airplane straight up off the ground — like a helicopter. The pilot uses small reaction-control jets (near the wingtips, nose, and tail) to keep the airplane stable while hovering. Once airborne, the pilot rotates the nozzles back to the rear and flies forward like a regular jet. Landing reverses the process.

Did Sea Harriers really win the Falklands War?

Sea Harriers were essential to the British victory in the 1982 Falklands War — though many other forces also helped. Britain's two aircraft carriers (HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible) sent 28 Sea Harriers and Harriers to defend British troops landing on the Falkland Islands. The Sea Harriers defeated 20 Argentine fighters in air battles, plus 3 more aircraft. Without them, Argentine fighters could have attacked British troops and ships without challenge. Argentine pilots were brave and skilled but flew older aircraft (Mirages and Skyhawks) without modern air-to-air missiles. The Sea Harrier's combination of brand-new AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles and vertical-takeoff carrier operations decided most engagements.

Variants

Sea Harrier FRS.1 (initial, 1980): Original 1980 production variant with Blue Fox radar and AIM-9 Sidewinder plus cannon armament. About 30 delivered. The FRS.1 flew the 1982 Falklands War and posted the 23-0 dogfight kill record. Retired in 1995 as the FA2 reached frontline service.
Sea Harrier FA2 (FRS.2, mature 1993): Upgraded variant from 1993 with Blue Vixen pulse-Doppler radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM compatibility and a revised cockpit. Around 24 delivered, mostly converted from FRS.1 airframes. Formed the backbone of Royal Navy carrier fighter strength through the 2006 retirement.
Sea Harrier FRS.51 (Indian Navy): Indian Navy variant. Around 30 delivered between 1983 and 1991, operating from INS Vikrant and INS Viraat. Retired in 2016 as the Indian Navy transitioned to the MiG-29K.
Hawker Siddeley Harrier (predecessor land-based): Land-based Harrier family — a separate aircraft. The Royal Air Force operated GR.1, GR.3, GR.5, GR.7 and GR.9 variants from 1969 to 2010. Mission profile differed (land-based ground attack rather than naval fleet defence). See the separate Harrier GR entry.
Bridge to F-35B Lightning II: After Sea Harrier retirement in 2006 the Royal Navy went without a carrier-based fighter for 12 years, until the F-35B Lightning II entered service in 2018 with the Royal Navy and RAF. U.K. defence analysts have criticised the resulting carrier-aviation gap as a serious shortfall.

Notable Operators

Royal Navy (former): Sole U.K. operator. Around 54 Sea Harrier FRS.1 / FA2 served the Royal Navy from 1980 to 2006. Operating units included 800 Naval Air Squadron 'A' Flight (HMS Invincible), 800 NAS 'B' Flight (HMS Illustrious), 801 NAS (HMS Ark Royal) and 899 NAS (training). Final retirement was in March 2006 with 800 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset.
Indian Navy (former): Major foreign operator. About 30 Sea Harrier FRS.51s served the Indian Navy from 1983 to 2016 with INAS 300 'White Tigers' aboard INS Vikrant and INS Viraat. Retired in 2016 as the Indian Navy transitioned to the MiG-29K and the LCA Tejas Naval (under development).
Preservation / museums: Around eight surviving Sea Harrier FA2 / FRS.1 airframes are preserved at U.K. and Indian aviation museums, including the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum (RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset) and Imperial War Museum Duxford (Cambridgeshire), with further examples at U.K. Royal Air Force museums.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Sea Harrier's Falklands kill record?

23-0 in air-to-air combat. The 28 deployed Sea Harrier FRS.1s flying from HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes confirmed 23 kills of Argentine combat aircraft during the 1982 Falklands War — 10 Mirage III / Mirage IIIEA, 9 A-4 Skyhawk and 4 Dagger / Nesher / IAI Nesher (Israeli-built Mirage III derivatives). Confirmed Sea Harrier dogfight losses were zero. Two Sea Harriers were lost in the conflict — one to ground anti-aircraft fire, one to weather or unknown causes — but neither in dogfights. The 23-0 ratio ranks among the most lopsided in modern aviation history. Crews used the AIM-9L all-aspect Sidewinder and ADEN 30mm cannon, which proved decisive against Argentine aircraft.

Why was the Sea Harrier retired?

Royal Navy budget pressure combined with RAF / Royal Navy procurement consolidation. Retirement in 2006 was part of broader U.K. defence-budget reductions, with the Joint Strike Fighter programme selected as replacement. JSF — now F-35B Lightning II — did not enter service until 2018, leaving a 12-year carrier-aviation gap (2006-2018) during which the Royal Navy operated no carrier-based fighter. The decision was controversial; many U.K. defence analysts argued retirement should have been deferred until the F-35B was in frontline service.

What is V/STOL?

Vertical / Short Take-Off and Landing — the Harrier family's defining trait. The Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine has four vector-thrust nozzles that rotate from 0° (full rearward thrust for cruise) to 90° (full downward thrust for vertical take-off and landing), with intermediate settings for transition flight. This delivers: (1) vertical take-off from any flat surface, removing the runway requirement; (2) short rolling take-off (~600 ft deck run with ski-jump assistance) for carrier launch without catapults; (3) vertical landing for carrier recovery without arrestor gear. V/STOL has been essential for U.K. Royal Navy carrier flying from the Invincible-class (no catapults or arrestors), U.S. Marine Corps amphibious-assault ship operations and other STOVL tasks. The F-35B Lightning II carries the concept forward today.

What is the Blue Vixen radar?

The Ferranti (later GEC-Marconi, BAE Systems) Blue Vixen pulse-Doppler radar was the principal sensor on the Sea Harrier FA2 and a major step beyond the FRS.1's Blue Fox. It provided (1) beyond-visual-range air-target detection out to ~50+ nmi, (2) track-while-scan against multiple simultaneous targets and (3) compatibility with the AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range missile. The jump from Blue Fox to Blue Vixen gave the FA2 the modern BVR air-defence reach the FRS.1 had lacked. Its development paralleled the Foxhunter radar used on the Tornado F.3.

What weapons did Sea Harrier carry?

Primary armament for air combat was the AIM-9 Sidewinder (2 on the FRS.1, 4 on the FA2) and the AIM-120 AMRAAM (2-4 on the FA2 for BVR engagement). Air-to-ground stores included BL755 cluster bombs (legacy), the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile (2 on the FA2 as the principal anti-shipping weapon), Mk 80 series and GBU-12 Paveway II conventional bombs, the AS.30L laser-guided missile and the BAE ALARM anti-radiation missile. Gun armament was 2× 30mm ADEN cannon in under-fuselage gun pods. The mix gave the Sea Harrier credible multi-role utility — air defence, anti-shipping and light strike — though it remained limited compared with dedicated multi-role fighters of the era.

Where can I see a Sea Harrier today?

The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, England is the premier U.K. naval-aviation museum and holds a comprehensive Sea Harrier exhibit including airframes from the Falklands War. Other U.K. venues include the Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire and the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in Shropshire, alongside additional U.K. and Indian aviation museums. Around eight surviving Sea Harriers are on public display globally, and the type is well represented in U.K. naval-aviation collections.

Sources

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum — Sea Harrier
BAE Systems — Sea Harrier heritage
Wikipedia — British Aerospace Sea Harrier — Source extract used for grounding; CC BY-SA attribution.