A navalized Harrier derivative optimized for fleet air defense and strike from small aircraft carriers.
Development
British Aerospace Sea Harrier was developed by British Aerospace in United Kingdom as a fighter. The family first flew in 1978 and entered service in 1980. Its recorded airframe configuration is fixed wing, with the family classified in the archive as core combat-aircraft scope.
Operational History
Operationally, British Aerospace Sea Harrier is represented primarily in the fighter role. The sourced variant records include service with Fleet Air Arm. Its documented combat-history coverage includes Falklands War. Role tags attached to the family include carrier based and air superiority.
Variants and Lineage
Major variants represented in the structured record include Sea Harrier FRS.1, Sea Harrier FA.2 development, and Sea Harrier FA.2. Recorded lineage links identify the family as developed from Hawker P.1127 / Kestrel family and major redesign of Hawker Siddeley Harrier / AV-8A.
Variants
| Designation | Type | Role | Recorded operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Harrier FA.2 | Production | Fighter | Fleet Air Arm |
| Sea Harrier FA.2 development | Prototype | Fighter | Fleet Air Arm |
| Sea Harrier FRS.1 | Production | Fighter | Fleet Air Arm |
Representative specifications
Configuration-specific profiles are shown separately so values from different variants are not blended into one false “standard” aircraft.
Sea Harrier FRS.1 — C016 baseline technical profile
- Crew
- 1
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan
Armament: 30 mm cannon pods with air-to-air missiles and carrier strike stores.
Sources and further reading
Structured references supporting this aircraft family, variants, specifications, and narrative sections.
- Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3 — Royal Air Force Museum · Tier 2
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1978-79 — Jane’s Yearbooks · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1990-91 — Jane’s Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1993-94 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3