British Aerospace Sea Harrier

Sea Harrier
Grey jet aircraft with black radome hovering, undercarriage extended
A Sea Harrier FA2 of 801 NAS in flight at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
Role V/STOL strike fighter
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Hawker Siddeley
British Aerospace
Introduction 20 August 1978 (FRS1)
2 April 1993 (FA2)
Retired March 2006 (Royal Navy);
March 2016 (Indian Naval Air Arm)
Status Retired from service
Primary users Royal Navy (historical)
Indian Naval Air Arm (historical)
Number built 111
Unit cost
US$18 million in 1991
Developed from Hawker Siddeley Harrier

The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval short take-off and vertical landing/vertical take-off and landing jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft; the second member of the Harrier Jump Jet family developed. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar".[1] Unusual in an era in which most naval and land-based air superiority fighters were large and supersonic, the principal role of the subsonic Sea Harrier was to provide air defence of Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

The Sea Harrier served in the Falklands War, both of the Gulf Wars, and the Balkans conflicts; on all occasions it mainly operated from aircraft carriers positioned within the conflict zone. Its usage in the Falklands War was its most high profile and important success, where it was the only fixed-wing fighter available to protect the British Task Force. The Sea Harriers shot down 20 enemy aircraft during the conflict with one lost to enemy ground fire. They were also used to launch ground attacks in the same manner as the Harriers operated by the Royal Air Force.

The Sea Harrier was marketed for sales abroad, but by 1983 India was the only operator other than Britain after sales to Argentina and Australia were unsuccessful.[2][3] A second, updated version for the Royal Navy was made in 1993 as the Sea Harrier FA2, improving its air-to-air abilities and weapons compatibilities, along with a more powerful engine; this version continued manufacture until 1998. The aircraft was withdrawn from service early by the Royal Navy in 2006. The Sea Harrier remained in service for another decade with the Indian Navy until its retirement in 2016.

Development

In the post-war era, the Royal Navy began contracting in parallel with the break-up of the British Empire overseas and the emergence of the Commonwealth of Nations, reducing the need for a larger navy. By 1960, the last battleship, HMS Vanguard, was retired from the Navy, having been in service for less than fifteen years.[4] Perhaps the biggest sign of the new trend towards naval austerity came in 1966, when the planned CVA-01 class of large aircraft carriers destined for the Royal Navy was cancelled.[5] During this time, requirements within the Royal Navy began to form for a vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) carrier-based interceptor to replace the de Havilland Sea Vixen. Afterward, the first V/STOL tests on a ship began with a Hawker Siddeley P.1127 landing on HMS Ark Royal in 1963.[6][7]

A second concept for the future of naval aviation emerged in the early 1970s as the first of a new class of "through deck cruisers" was planned. These were very carefully and politically designated as cruisers to deliberately avoid the term "aircraft carrier",[8] in order to increase the chances of funding from a hostile political climate against expensive capital ships,[9] they were considerably smaller than the previously sought CVA-01.[10] These ships were ordered as the Invincible class in 1973,[11] and are now popularly recognised as aircraft carriers. Almost immediately upon their construction, a ski-jump was added to the end of the 170-metre deck, enabling the carriers to effectively operate a small number of V/STOL jets.[9][12] The Royal Air Force's Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR1s had entered service in April 1969. A navalised variant of the Harrier was developed by Hawker Siddeley to serve on the upcoming ships, this became the Sea Harrier. In 1975, the Royal Navy ordered 24 Sea Harrier FRS.1 (standing for 'Fighter, Reconnaissance, Strike'[12]) aircraft,[8] the first of which entered service in 1978.[9] During this time Hawker Siddeley became part of British Aerospace through nationalisation in 1977.[13] By the time the prototype Sea Harrier was flown at Dunsfold on 20 August 1978 the order had been increased to 34.[14] The Sea Harrier was declared operational in 1981 on board the first Invincible class ship HMS Invincible, and further aircraft joined the ageing HMS Hermes aircraft carrier later that year.[15]

Following their key role in the 1982 Falklands War,[16] several lessons were learned from the aircraft's performance, which led to approval for an upgrade of the fleet to FRS.2 (later known as FA2) standard to be given in 1984. The first flight of the prototype took place in September 1988 and a contract was signed for 29 upgraded aircraft in December that year.[17] In 1990, the Navy ordered 18 new-build FA2s,[18] at a unit cost of around £12 million, four further upgraded aircraft were ordered in 1994. The first aircraft was delivered on 2 April 1993.[19]

Design

Sea Harrier FA2 ZA195 (upgrade) vector thrust nozzle – distinguishing feature of the jump jet
Nozzle locations
Locations of the four nozzles at the sides of the Pegasus engine.

The Sea Harrier is a subsonic aircraft designed to fill strike, reconnaissance and fighter roles.[20] It features a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan engine with two intakes and four vectorable nozzles.[8] It has two landing gear on the fuselage and two outrigger landing gear on the wings. The Sea Harrier is equipped with four wing and three fuselage pylons for carrying weapons and external fuel tanks.[21] Use of the ski jump allowed the aircraft to take off from a short flight deck with a heavier loadout than otherwise possible, although it can also take off like a conventional loaded fighter without thrust vectoring from a normal airport runway.[22]

The Sea Harrier was largely based on the Harrier GR3, but was modified to have a raised cockpit with a "bubble" canopy for greater visibility,[12] and an extended forward fuselage to accommodate the Ferranti Blue Fox radar.[8] Parts were changed to use corrosion resistant alloys or coatings were added to protect against the marine environment.[23] After the Falklands War, the Sea Harrier was fitted with the new anti-ship Sea Eagle missile.[24]

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;[25] the Blue Fox radar was seen by some critics as having comparatively low performance for what was available at the time of procurement.[24] The Blue Vixen formed the basis for development of the Eurofighter Typhoon's CAPTOR radar.[26] The Sea Harrier FA2 also carried the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, the first UK aircraft to be provided with this capability.[27] An upgraded model of the Pegasus engine, the Pegasus Mk 106, was used in the Sea Harrier FA2; in response to the threat of radar-based anti aircraft weapons electronic countermeasures were added.[24] Other improvements included an increase to the air-to-air weapons load, look-down radar, increased range, and improved cockpit displays.[17]

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.[28][29] The usefulness of the vertical landing capability of the Sea Harrier was demonstrated in an incident on 6 June 1983, when Sub Lieutenant Ian Watson lost contact with the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and had to land Sea Harrier ZA176[30] on the foredeck of the Spanish cargo ship Alraigo.[31]

In 2005, although already timetabled to be retired, a Sea Harrier was modified with an 'Autoland' system to allow the fighter to perform a safe vertical landing without any pilot interaction. Despite the pitching of a ship posing a natural problem, the system was designed to be aware of such data, and successfully performed a landing at sea in May 2005.[32]

Operational history

Royal Navy

Entry into service

The first three Sea Harriers were a development batch and were used for clearance trials.[14] The first production aircraft was delivered to RNAS Yeovilton in 1979 to form an Intensive Flying Trials Unit (also known as 700A Naval Air Squadron).[14] In March 1980 the Intensive Flying Trials Unit became 899 Naval Air Squadron and would act as the landborne headquarters unit for the type.[14] The first operational squadron 800 Naval Air Squadron was also formed in March 1980 initially to operate from HMS Invincible before it transferred to HMS Hermes.[14] In January 1981, a second operation squadron 801 Naval Air Squadron was formed to operate from HMS Invincible.[14]

Falklands War

Line-up of Sea Harrier jet aircraft, facing left of photograph. In the distance is a tall, dull-coloured warehouse.
Sea Harrier at RNAS Yeovilton. The pre-Falklands War paint scheme seen here was altered by painting over the white undersides and markings en route to the islands.

Sea Harriers took part in the Falklands War of 1982, flying from the aircraft carriers HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes.[33] The Sea Harriers performed the primary air defence role with a secondary role of ground attack; the RAF Harrier GR3 provided the main ground attack force. A total of 28 Sea Harriers and 14 Harrier GR3s were deployed in the theatre.[34] The Sea Harrier squadrons shot down 20 Argentine aircraft in air-to-air combat with no air-to-air losses, although two Sea Harriers were lost to ground fire and four to accidents.[35] Out of the total Argentine air losses, 28% were shot down by Harriers.[33]

A number of factors contributed to the failure of the Argentinian fighters to shoot down a Sea Harrier. Although the Mirage III and Dagger jets were faster, the Sea Harrier was considerably more manoeuvrable.[36][37] Moreover, the Harrier employed the latest AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles and the Blue Fox radar.[36][38] Contrary to contemporary reports that "viffing" proved decisive in dogfights,[36] the maneuver was not used by RN pilots in the Falklands[39] as it was only used in emergencies against enemies unfamiliar with the aircraft.[40] The British pilots had superior air-combat training, one manifestation of which was that they thought they noticed Argentinian pilots occasionally releasing weapons outside of their operating parameters. This is now thought to have been Mirages releasing external fuel tanks rather than weapons, and turning away from conflict with the Sea Harrier. This later reduced their capability to fight an effective campaign against the Sea Harrier due to reduced range and lack of external fuel tanks.[41][42]

Grey jet aircraft with black radome and large engine inlet hovering with undercarriage extended. It is obscuring another identical jet in the distance. Near the bottom of the photograph, taken out at sea, is the horizon
800 NAS Sea Harrier FRS1 from HMS Illustrious in post-Falklands War low-visibility paint scheme.

British aircraft received fighter control from warships in San Carlos Water, although its effectiveness was limited by their being stationed close to the islands, which severely limited the effectiveness of their radar.[42] The differences in tactics and training between 800 Squadron and 801 Squadron has been a point of criticism, suggesting that the losses of several ships were preventable had Sea Harriers from Hermes been used more effectively.[43]

Both sides' aircraft were operating in adverse conditions. Argentine aircraft were forced to operate from the mainland because airfields on the Falklands were only suited for propellor-driven transports.[42] In addition, fears partly aroused by the bombing of Port Stanley airport by a British Vulcan bomber added to the Argentinians' decision to operate them from afar.[44] As most Argentine aircraft lacked in-flight refuelling capability, they were forced to operate at the limit of their range.[42] The Sea Harriers also had limited fuel reserves due to the tactical decision to station the British carriers out of Exocet missile range and the dispersal of the fleet.[45] The result was that an Argentine aircraft could only allow five minutes over the islands to search and attack an objective, while a Sea Harrier could stay near to 30 minutes waiting in the Argentine approach corridors and provide Combat Air Patrol coverage for up to an hour.[42]

I counted them all out, and I counted them all back.

“
”

Brian Hanrahan, BBC reporter, on board HMS Hermes following the first Harrier mission during the 1982 Falklands War[46]

The Sea Harriers were outnumbered by the available Argentinian aircraft,[42] and were on occasion decoyed away by the activities of the Escuadrón Fénix or civilian jet aircraft used by the Argentine Air Force. They had to operate without a fleet early warning system such as AWACS that would have been available to a full NATO fleet in which the Royal Navy had expected to operate, which was a significant weakness in the operational environment.[42] However, it is now known that Chile did provide early radar warning to the Task Force.[47][48] The result was that the Sea Harriers could not establish complete air superiority and prevent Argentine attacks during day or night, nor could they completely stop the daily C-130 Hercules transports' night flights to the islands.[42][49] A total of six Sea Harriers were lost during the war to either enemy fire, accidents or mechanical failure.[50] The total aggregate loss rate for both the Harriers and Sea Harriers on strike operations was 2.3%.[51]

Operations in the 1990s

British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 of the Royal Navy on the flight deck of HMS Invincible

The Sea Harrier saw action in war again when it was deployed in the 1992–1995 conflict in Bosnia, part of the Yugoslav Wars.[19] It launched raids on Serb forces and provided air-support for the international taskforce units conducting Operations Deny Flight and Deliberate Force against the Army of Republika Srpska.[52][53] On 16 April 1994, a Sea Harrier of the 801 Naval Air Squadron, operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, was brought down by a Igla-1 surface-to-air missile[54] fired by the Army of Republika Srpska while attempting to bomb two Bosnian Serb tanks.[55] The pilot, Lieutenant Nick Richardson, ejected and landed in territory controlled by friendly Bosnian Muslims.[56]

It was used again in the 1999 NATO campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Operation Allied Force,[57] Sea Harriers which operated from HMS Invincible frequently patrolled the airspace to keep Yugoslavian MiGs on the ground.[58] They were also deployed to Sierra Leone on board HMS Illustrious in 2000, which was itself part of a Royal Navy convoy to supply and reinforce British intervention forces in the region.[19][59]

Retirement

A Sea Harrier FA2 on display at the National Maritime Museum in May 2006

The Sea Harrier was withdrawn from service in 2006 and the last remaining aircraft from 801 Naval Air Squadron were decommissioned on 29 March 2006.[60][61] The plans for retirement were announced in 2002 by the Ministry of Defence. The aircraft's replacement, the F-35 Lightning II,[62] was originally due in 2012, the MoD arguing that significant expenditure would be required to upgrade the fleet for only six years of service.[63] By March 2010, the F-35's introduction had been pushed back to 2016 at the earliest, with the price doubled.[64] The decision to retire the Sea Harrier early has been criticised by some officers within the military.[65]

Both versions of Harrier experienced reduced engine performance (Pegasus Mk 106 in FA2 – Mk 105 in GR7) in the higher ambient temperatures of the Middle East, which restricted the weight of payload that the Harrier could return to the carrier in 'vertical' recoveries.[19] This was due to the safety factors associated with aircraft "land-on" weights. The option to install higher-rated Pegasus engines would not have been as straightforward as on the Harrier GR7 upgrade and would have likely been an expensive and slow process.[19] Furthermore, the Sea Harriers were subject to a generally more hostile environment than land-based Harriers, with corrosive salt spray a particular problem. A number of aircraft were retained by the School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose.[66]

The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm would continue to share the other component of Joint Force Harrier.[67] Harrier GR7 and the upgraded Harrier GR9 were transferred to Royal Navy squadrons in 2006,[19] but were retired prematurely a few years later due to budget cuts.[68] The UK plans to purchase the STOVL F-35B to be operated from the Royal Navy's Future Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.[69][70][71] Although withdrawn from active Royal Navy service, Sea Harriers are used to train naval aircraft handlers at the Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations.[72]

Indian Navy

Two similar grey jet aircraft with high-mounted wing flying in formation with another red-tail fighter, which is leading and is furthest from photo. The leading jet is carrying an external fuel tank under fuselage.
A pair of Indian Sea Harriers fly alongside an F/A-18F Super Hornet of the U.S. Navy during Malabar 2007.

In 1977, the Indian government approved of plans to acquire the Sea Harrier for the Indian Navy; prior to this, rumours reportedly were circulating of a potential Indian purchase of the Soviet V/STOL-capable Yak-36.[73] In 1979, India placed its first order for 6 Sea Harriers, the first three of which arrived at Dabolim Airport on 16 December 1983.[74] A separate deal for a further ten Sea Harriers were purchased in November 1985;[75] eventually a total of 30 Harriers were procured, 25 for operational use and the remainder as dual-seat trainer aircraft.[76] Until the 1990s, significant portions of pilot training was carried out in Britain due to limited aircraft availability.[77]

The introduction of the Sea Harrier allowed for the retirement of India's previous carrier fighter aircraft, the Hawker Sea Hawk, as well as for the Navy's aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant (ex-HMS Hercules), to be extensively modernised between 1987 and 1989.[74] India has operated Sea Harriers from both the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Viraat (ex-HMS Hermes).[51] The Sea Harrier allowed several modern missiles to be introduced into naval operations, such as the British anti-ship Sea Eagle missile,[78] and the French Matra Magic missile for air-to-air combat.[77] Other ordnance has included 68 mm rockets, runway-denial bombs, cluster bombs, and podded 30 mm cannons.[77]

There have been a significant number of accidents involving the Sea Harrier; this accident rate has caused approximately half the fleet to be lost with only 11 fighters remaining in service. Following a crash in August 2009, all Sea Harriers were temporarily grounded for inspection.[79] Since the beginning of operational service in the Indian Navy, seven pilots have died in 17 crashes involving the Sea Harrier, usually during routine sorties.[80]

The Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the early 1980s, carrying Sea Harriers, Sea Hawks, Allouette and Sea King helicopters, and Alize ASW aircraft

In 2006, the Indian Navy expressed interest in acquiring up to eight of the Royal Navy's recently retired Sea Harrier FA2s in order to maintain their operational Sea Harrier fleet,[81] Neither the Sea Harrier FA2's Blue Vixen radar, the radar warning receiver or AMRAAM capability was proposed to be included; certain US software would be also be uninstalled prior to shipment.[81] By October 2006, reports emerged that the deal had not materialised due to the cost of airframe refurbishment.[82]

In 2006, the Indian Navy was in the process of upgrading up to 15 Sea Harriers in collaboration with Israel by installing the Elta EL/M-2032 radar and the Rafael 'Derby' medium-range air-to-air BVR missile.[83][84] This will enable the Sea Harrier to remain in Indian service until beyond 2012, and also see limited service off the new carriers it will acquire by that time frame. By 2009, crashes had reduced India's fleet to 12 (from original 30).[85] India plans to introduce larger aircraft carriers that can operate Russian MiG-29K carrier fighters from their flight decks to replace the Sea Harrier.[86][87]

The Indian Navy retired its Sea Harrier fleet in March 2016.[88]

Variants

Black-and-white photograph of jet aircraft making a takeoff run at sea, approaching a ski-jump, which is a curved surface assisting aircraft in taking off
A Sea Harrier FRS 1 on HMS Invincible
Sea Harrier FRS.1
57 FRS1s were delivered between 1978 and 1988; most survivors converted to Sea Harrier FA2 specifications from 1988.[8]
Sea Harrier FRS.51
Single-seat fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft made for the Indian Navy, similar to the British FRS1. Unlike the FRS1 Sea Harrier, it is fitted with Matra R550 Magic air-to-air missiles.[89] These aircraft were later upgraded with the Elta EL/M-2032 radar and the Rafael Derby BVRAAM missiles.[90]
Sea Harrier F(A).2
Upgrade of FRS1 fleet in 1988, featuring the Blue Vixen Pulse-Doppler radar and the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.[8]

Operators

 India
Indian Navy (1983-2016)
 United Kingdom
Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm (1978–2006)

Survivors

Sea Harrier FA2 ZE694 at the Midland Air Museum

A number of surviving Sea Harrier airframes are held by museums and private owners, and some others are at the Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose.[91] The following is an incomplete list of some of the surviving aircraft.

India
United Kingdom
United States

Specifications (Sea Harrier FA2)

Jet aircraft on deck of aircraft carrier. Its refuelling receptacle is extended near the pilot's canopy
Sea Harrier FRS51. of the Indian Navy taking off from INS Viraat

Data from Wilson,[104] Bull,[105] Donald[106] Spick[107]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Avionics

Notable appearances in media

The Harrier's unique characteristics have led to it being featured a number of films and video games.

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Ward, p. 50.
  2. ↑ Mison, Graham. "Sea Harrier Down Under". Harrier.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  3. ↑ "London almost sold arms to BA before war: Astonishing weapons sales plan for Argentina". Buenos Aires Herald. 29 June 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "No V for the Mighty Vanguard". Los Angeles Times. 20 August 1959.
  5. ↑ "Analysis: UK navy anxiously awaits carriers". United Press International. 3 July 2002. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Jenkins 1998, p. 51.
  7. ↑ Bull 2004, p. 119.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nordeen 2006, p. 11.
  9. 1 2 3 Grove 1987, pp. 319–320.
  10. ↑ Moore 1987, pp. 22.
  11. ↑ Moore RN, Capt. John E. Warships of the Royal Navy. Jane's Publishing, 1981, ISBN 0-7106-0105-0.
  12. 1 2 3 Bull 2004, p. 120.
  13. ↑ "Hawker Siddeley". US Centiennal of Flight Commission. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Orbis `1985, pp. 3306–3312
  15. ↑ Ford, Terry (1981). "Sea Harrier – A New Dimension". Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology (Bradford, England: Emerald Group Publishing) 53 (6): 2–5. doi:10.1108/eb035729. ISSN 1758-4213.
  16. ↑ Sloyan, Patrick J (23 May 1982). "Sea Harrier changes face of air warfare". Tri City Herald.
  17. 1 2 "First Flight for Sea Harrier FRS2" 10 (13). Janes Defense Weekly. 1 November 1988: 767. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
  18. ↑ Flight International 1990, p. 9.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Graves, David (2 April 2002). "Sea Harrier cuts leave the fleet exposed The decision to retire the decisive weapon of the Falklands conflict means the Navy will have to rely on America for air support". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  20. ↑ Jenkins 1998, p. 52.
  21. ↑ Spick 2000, pp. 366–370, 387–392.
  22. ↑ Bull 2004, p. 121.
  23. ↑ Jenkins 1998, pp. 51–55.
  24. 1 2 3 "Navy puts more punch in its Harriers". New Scientist (London, UK: Reed Business Information) 98 (1362): 780. 16 June 1983. ISSN 0262-4079.
  25. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (9 May 2006). "Harrier high". Flightglobal. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  26. ↑ "Captor Radar (International), Airborne radar systems". Jane's Avionics. 30 March 2010.
  27. ↑ "Pilot shortage hits Harriers". Glasgow Herald. 31 July 1987.
  28. ↑ Markman and Holder 2000, pp. 74–77.
  29. ↑ Jenkins 1998, p. 25.
  30. ↑ "Modern-day veteran". http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk. External link in |work= (help)
  31. ↑ Wright, Tim (November 2008). "Oldies & Oddities: The Alraigo Incident". Air & Space. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Sea Harrier jets land on autopilot". New Scientist (London, UK: Reed Business Information) (2501). 28 May 2005. ISSN 0262-4079.
  33. 1 2 Duffner, Robert W. (March–April 1984). "Conflict in the South Atlantic: the impact of air power". Air University Review (Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Department of the Air Force). ISSN 0002-2594.
  34. ↑ "AV-8B Harrier Operations". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  35. ↑ Grant 2005, p. 38.
  36. 1 2 3 "That Magnificent Flying Machine". TIME. 7 June 1982. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007.
  37. ↑ Dyer, Gwynne (28 April 1982). "Britain Air Blockade? Those Harriers Are Able To Do The Job". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
  38. ↑ Posey, Carl (September 2002). "Air War in the Falklands". Air & Space. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  39. ↑ Jane's Fighter Combat – Combat in the Jet Age, ISBN 0004708229
  40. ↑ Parsons, Gary (2007). "Harrier Heroes". Air-Scene UK. Retrieved 1 August 2015. No-one used viffing in combat - it's very much a last-ditch manoeuvre. It can be useful if the guy behind hasn't seen it before and doesn't know what you're going to do. You can decelerate from 450 knots down to 150 in about three or four seconds, and that is enough to fly people out in front - however, if he sees it coming, all he has to do is go vertical and just sit around on top of you. You end up with no energy at all and he's got all the time in the world to take you out.
  41. ↑ Ward, p. 209.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Corum, James S. (20 August 2002). "Argentine Airpower in the Falklands War". Air & Space Power Journal (Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Air University Press) XVI (3). ISSN 1555-385X. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  43. ↑ "The rivalry that cost lives". Northern Echo. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "Britain's Jets, Bomber Hit Falklands' Airfields; Key Site Called 'Cratered'". Toledo Blade. 2 May 1982.
  45. ↑ Blanche, Ed (21 May 1982). "British following 'boxer' strategy in Falklands". Kingman Daily Miner.
  46. ↑ Dunnell 2011, p. 20.
  47. ↑ Chilean Air Force Chief interview. edant.clarin.com
  48. ↑ "The Official History of the Falklands Campaign" by Sir Lawrence Freedman. spyflight.co.uk
  49. ↑ Mine, Douglas Grant (15 April 1982). "Argentine troops run the British blockade by air, sea". Miami News.
  50. ↑ "Harriers lost in the Falklands". naval-history.net. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  51. 1 2 Nordeen 2006, p. 14.
  52. ↑ "Weather worries pilots preparing for Bosnia Raid". St Louis Post-Dispatch. 18 February 1994.
  53. ↑ "Refugees flee attacks on Bihac". Milkwaukee Sentinel. 24 November 1994.
  54. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3146139.stm
  55. ↑ Cook, Nick (1 March 2002). "Plus ca change ..? NATO aircraft are still particularly vulnerable to attack from certain forms of guided missiles". Interavia Business & Technology. HighBeam Research (subscription required).
  56. ↑ "Downed British Jet's Pilot Rescued in Bosnia". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 17 April 1994.
  57. ↑ Kempster, Norman; Kraul, Chris (11 April 1999). "U.S. Sends More Planes to Balkans". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  58. ↑ Tegel, Simeon (13 May 1999). "Harriers' cat and mouse game with MiGs". Birmingham Post (HighBeam Research (subscription required)).
  59. ↑ "British Navy ships arrive in Sierra Leone". New Straits Times. 15 May 2000.
  60. ↑ Kimmons, Sean (10 February 2006). "Sea Harriers fly with F-15s one last time". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  61. ↑ "Last Sea Harriers' flight at base". BBC News. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  62. ↑ Maggie, Fox (14 January 2000). "Aircraft carrier deal is far from plain sailing". Birmingham Post (HighBeam Research (subscription required)).
  63. ↑ Cook, Nick (1 April 2002). "Royal Navy: Sea Harrier FA2 STOVL fighters to be retired". Interavia Business & Technology. HighBeam Research (subscription required).
  64. ↑ "Joint Strike Fighter price now double". Copenhagen Post. 12 March 2010.
  65. ↑ Captain Clapp, Michael (19 February 2010). "It's the bitter truth: We couldn't send a task force to the Falklands today". Daily Mail. UK.
  66. ↑ "RNAS Culdrose: Royal Navy School of Flight Deck Operations". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 29 November 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  67. ↑ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000%20-%201029.html
  68. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (15 November 2010). "UK defence chiefs stand by Harrier retirement decision". Flightglobal. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  69. ↑ Adams, Christopher (25 July 2007). "MoD gives nod for aircraft carriers". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  70. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (13 July 2010). "FARNBOROUGH: BAE to ramp up work on JSF production". Flightglobal. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  71. ↑ "Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review." HM Government, 19 October 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  72. ↑ "School of Flight Deck Operations". Royal Navy. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  73. ↑ Smith 1994, p. 97.
  74. 1 2 Hiranandani 2000, p. 276.
  75. ↑ Kapur, Harish (October 1987). "India's foreign policy under Rajiv Gandhi". The Round Table 76 (304): 469–480. doi:10.1080/00358538708453838.
  76. ↑ Tellis, Ashley J. "The Naval Balance in the Indian Subcontinent: Demanding Missions for the Indian Navy". Asian Survey (Berkeley, California: University of California Press) 25 (12): 1186–1213. doi:10.1525/as.1985.25.12.01p0326t. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 2644281.
  77. 1 2 3 Hiranandani 2012, p. 154.
  78. ↑ Hiranandani 2000, p. 287.
  79. ↑ "Navy grounds Sea Harrier fleet after crash". Times of India. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  80. ↑ Gandhi, Jatin (25 December 2007). "Sea Harrier crashes, pilot safe". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  81. 1 2 "Hover and out: UK Royal Navy retires the Sea Harrier". Flightglobal. 28 March 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  82. ↑ "Navy not to purchase used Royal Navy Sea Harrier fighter jets". India Defence. 13 October 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2006.
  83. ↑ "India's Sea Harrier Shortage". Defense Industry Daily. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  84. ↑ Raghuvanshi, Vivek (16 April 2009). "Indian Sea Harrier Tests BVR Missile". Defense News.
  85. ↑ "With third Sea Harrier crash this year, Navy's fighter arm down to 12". Indian Express. 25 December 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  86. ↑ Wing Commander R Sukumaran (4 February 2004). "Flying the MiG-29K onto the Gorshkov". Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies.
  87. ↑ Karnozov, Vladimir (9 July 2012). "MiG-29s Begin Sea Trials Aboard India's New Aircraft Carrier". AIN Online. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  88. ↑ Indian Navy Retires Sea Harriers 21 March 2016. Accessed 3 April 2016.
  89. ↑ "Heralding the Next Gen weapons". Financial Express. 7 February 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  90. ↑ Bharat-Rakshak.com: The White Tigers of Rewa
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  94. ↑ "Our Aircraft – Full Listing". Midland Air Museum. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
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  97. ↑ "British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 (XZ499)". Fleet Air Arm Museum. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  98. ↑ http://www.demobbed.org.uk/image_view.php?a=27769&s=zh796.jpg
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  101. ↑ Scott, Phil. Air and Space. January 2009 "Updates" page 12.
  102. ↑ Nalls Aviation
  103. ↑ "Ex-Royal Navy Harrier T.8 Trainer to Fly in USA". 9 November 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  104. ↑ Wilson 2000, p. 23.
  105. ↑ Bull 2004, pp. 220–221.
  106. ↑ Donald 1997, pp. 215–216.
  107. ↑ Spick 2000, pp. 391–92, 414.
  108. ↑ Witney, Nicholas K. J. (1994). "British Nuclear Policy After the Cold War". Survival (London, UK: Institute for Strategic Studies) 36 (4): 96–112. ISSN 1555-385X.

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Further reading

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