British carrier-based vertical take-off and landing fighter-bomber Sea Harrier FA Mk.2. "Harrier" - vertical take-off and landing aircraft: characteristics, years of operation World War II Harrier fighter

The origins of the British fighter-bomber " Harrier"(Harrier) (English hound) lie in the mid-1950s, when in a number of countries of the North Atlantic Alliance aircraft engineers carried out experimental work to study the possibility of vertical take-off of an aircraft with a fixed wing geometry.

This task faced aircraft designers due to the fact that it was during these years that it became quite obvious that large military air bases were very vulnerable to a potential attack by tactical nuclear weapons, so technological progress translated the task of reducing the area of ​​military air bases into the plane practical solution. In the UK, Hawker Siddeley, in close collaboration with Bristol Aero Engines, developed the first prototypes of an aircraft powered by a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbojet engine. The new vehicles received the designation “P.1127”, and later - “Kestrel FGA. 1" (Kestrel FGA Mk. 1). They became the “progenitors” of the multi-role fighter “ Harrier».

In 1970 the world's first Harrier plane with vertical takeoff and landing, it entered service with the 4th Squadron of the German Air Force, becoming one of the key factors in the confrontation between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries in Central Europe. The new fighter had a unique ability to maneuver at any stage of flight, which gave it a significant advantage over other aircraft. If, hypothetically, a war suddenly broke out between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries, then the Harriers could easily be dispersed in the most unexpected places, hiding in barns, large buildings of railway stations, supermarkets, warehouse complexes and other massive buildings that could be quickly re-
equip for hangars.

Everything you need for technical equipment such places were part of the Joint Rapid Deployment Forces program. At the initial stage of development of a new combat aircraft It was assumed that this fighter would be able to carry a small amount of weapons over a fairly short distance, but over time the Harrier turned into a very formidable weapon. Harrier plane II GR. 7 (Harrier II GR.7), which was in service with the British Royal Air Force, could fly at any time of the day and in any weather conditions.

This fighter was armed with two 25-mm cannons and on slings could additionally carry up to 5000 kg of external cargo, including various types of bombs, short-range missiles, air-to-air missiles, which made it possible to use the aircraft as an interceptor, as well as photographic equipment for aerial reconnaissance or nuclear weapons.

The transformation of the Harrier into a powerful combat aircraft could not take place without the participation of the US Marine Corps. After American military pilots made test flights on these fighters in 1968, the United States ordered a modification of this aircraft from Great Britain, called the AV-8A. Combined with operational mobility, retaliatory strike capability, versatility and the ability to operate both at sea and on land, the Harriers were well suited to combat operations of forward-deployed forces. New option The AV-8A Harrier fighter was produced in the UK, but was then redesigned by McDonnell-Douglas and licensed for production in the United States. Further modification of the fighter for the needs of the US Marine Corps ensured a long future for the Harrier family of aircraft.

The new, significantly larger and more complex wing of the improved AV-8B Harrier II variant made it possible to use six weapons hardpoints instead of four, which, with one central under-fuselage node, almost doubled the aircraft's combat load compared to its predecessor; and the cockpit, equipped with the latest radio-electronic equipment, has become almost a “work of art.” The controls for the main systems of the combat aircraft are located on the top panel, located under the head-up display on the windshield. New avionics made the vehicle easy to operate, and the Hughes angular velocity bombing system, combined with a laser guidance system and target display on a television screen, ensured high accuracy in hitting objects. Further modernization of the A7-8B consisted of the installation of an on-board radar and night vision systems, which made it possible to carry out night bombing.

In 1982, the aircraft carriers Invincible and Hermes, together with the Sea Harrier carrier-based fighters, took part in the war between Great Britain and Argentina for control of the Falklands (Malvinas). islands. At first glance, it may seem that the Sea Harriers, with their subsonic speeds, were inferior in flight performance to the Dagger fighter-bombers and the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk light carrier-based attack aircraft. .

Argentine aircraft could fly at speeds corresponding to Mach number = 2. However, the Harriers easily adapted their speed to the speed of an aircraft carrier and could take off in any weather conditions, which was somewhat problematic for conventional jet aircraft. In combat, the Harrier pilot could change the direction of the plane's movement: either sharply raise the nose of the car to avoid being hit by a missile, or, by sharply braking, turning around or accelerating his movement, make the enemy miss during an attack.

In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, Harriers provided close air support for Marine units. Three squadrons and one air wing of 6 fighters operated from land-based air bases, while squadrons of 20 aircraft took off from aircraft carriers at sea. During the ground part of the operation, AV-8B Harriers II flew 3,380 sorties, thereby achieving more than 90% success of the operation.

The transformation of the Harrier into an effective fighting vehicle took several decades, although it was often a very difficult process. However, the effectiveness of a vertical take-off and landing fighter-bomber has been proven in practice, and the Harrier experience formed the basis for the creation of future combat aircraft, in particular the F-35 Lightning II.

Sea Harrier FA2 of 801 NAS in flight at the Royal International Air Tattoo

Development and production

Operation history

General design data

Engine

Flight-tactical characteristics

Armament

Small arms and cannon

• 2 × 30 mm ADEN guns with 130 pat. on the barrel (removable).

Guided missiles

• air-to-air missiles: AIM-9, AIM-120 (FRS.2), R550 Magic (FRS.51);
• air-to-surface missiles: ALARM, AS.37 Martel, Sea Eagle.

Unguided rockets

• 4 × 18 × 68 mm SNEB missiles.

Bombs

• free-falling with a caliber of up to 454 kg.

British Aerospace Sea Harrier(English) British Aerospace Sea Harrier) - British carrier-based vertical take-off and landing fighter-bomber. Created on the basis of the land-based Harrier aircraft. Was in service with the Royal Navy from 1980 to 2006.

History of creation

In the post-war period, the Royal Navy began to infest in parallel with the collapse of the British Empire overseas and the emergence of the Commonwealth of Nations, reducing the need for larger fleet. By 1960, the last ship, HMS Vanguard, was retired from the Navy after less than fifteen years in service. Perhaps the biggest sign of the new trend towards naval rigor came in 1966, when the planned CVA-01 class of large aircraft carriers intended for the Royal Navy was cancelled; Seemingly ending the Navy's participation in carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft as World War II-era carriers, they were slowly withdrawn one by one. At this time, requirements in the Royal Navy began to take shape for a vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (STOL) carrier-based interceptor to replace the De Havilland Sea Vixen. Following the first V/STOL testing on a ship began with the P.1127 Hawker Siddeley landing on HMS Ark Royal in 1963.

Following their key role in the 1982 Falklands War, several lessons were learned from the aircraft's performance, leading to approval for the fleet upgrade to the FRS.2 (later known as FA2) Standard due to be introduced in 1984. The first flight of the prototype aircraft took place in September 1988 and a contract for 29 modernized aircraft was signed in December of the same year. In 1990 Navy ordered 18 new build FA2s, at a unit cost of approximately £12 million, four further upgrades of the aircraft were ordered in 1994, the first aircraft being delivered on 2 April 1993.

Production

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. They were very carefully and politically appointed cruisers deliberately avoiding the term "aircraft carrier", in order to increase the chances of funding from a hostile political climate from expensive capital ships, they were significantly smaller than the previously sought CVA-01. These ships were ordered as the Invincible class in 1973, and are now widely accepted as aircraft carriers. Almost immediately after their construction, a diving board was added at the end of the 170-meter deck, allowing operators to efficiently operate a small number of V/STOL jets. Royal Air Force's Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR1s entered service in April 1969. A navalised version of the Harrier was developed by Hawker Siddeley to serve on upcoming ships, this became the Sea Harrier. In 1975 the Navy ordered 24 Sea Harrier FRS.1 (stands for "Fighter, Reconnaissance, Strike") aircraft, the first of which entered service in 1978. During this time, Hawker Siddeley became part of British Aerospace through nationalization in 1977. By then, the Sea Harrier prototype had been delivered to Dunsfold 20. In August 1978 the order was increased to 34. The Sea Harrier was announced for service in 1981 aboard the first Invincible-class ship HMS Invincible, with the aircraft joining the aging aircraft carrier HMS Hermes later that year.

Description of design

Vertical take-off and landing aircraft, single-seat all-metal high-wing aircraft.

Fuselage

Compared to FRS. Mk 1, F/A. The Mk 2 was externally distinguished by a less pointed antenna nose cone, a longer rear fuselage, redesigned antennas and external suspensions, and larger slats.

Wing and tail

The wings are fastened using 6 units installed in pairs on three frames. When replacing the engine, the wing will have to be removed. The vertical and horizontal tails were removable.

Chassis

When the engine is operating on the ground, the nozzle is deflected to a position corresponding to vertical takeoff or takeoff with a short run. The main landing gear is located centrally under the fuselage, 2 landing gear legs are located at the ends of the wing. This design made it possible not to take any special measures to ensure normal operation of the landing gear, taking into account the heating of the space under the fuselage by exhaust gases from the engine nozzles. The racks are equipped with a hydraulic control system that allows rotation to the right and left by 45 degrees. The nose wheel rotates freely 179 degrees.

Power point

The central section of the fuselage houses the engine and its components. The side air intakes of the engine are equipped with additional flaps in the front part of the shell, designed to increase air flow at low flight speeds, and also serve to drain the boundary layer along the perimeter of the cabin with an exit at the rear of the canopy. The additional flaps at the front are hinged and operate automatically between the inner and outer shock-absorbing stops.

Weapons and equipment

5 weapon suspension systems were installed. The main small arms and cannon weapons were 2 × 30 mm ADEN cannons with 130 pat. on the trunk. Also air-to-air guided missiles AIM-9, AIM-120 (FRS.2) and air-to-surface missiles ALARM, AS.37 Martel, Sea Eagle. It was possible to install unguided rockets 4 × 18 × 68 mm SNEB missiles.

Design

The Sea Harrier is a subsonic aircraft designed to fill strike, reconnaissance and fighter roles. It has one Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan engine with two strokes and four vectorable nozzles. It has two landing gear on the fuselage and two outriggers on the wings. The Sea Harrier is equipped with four wings and three fuselage pylons with weapons and external fuel tanks. The use of a ski-jump allowed the aircraft to take off from a short runway deck with heavier gear than would otherwise be possible, although it could also take off like a conventional loaded fighter without vectoring thrust from a normal airport runway.

The Sea Harrier is based largely on the Harrier GR3, but has been modified to have a raised cockpit with a "bubble" canopy for greater visibility, and a stretched forward fuselage to accommodate a Ferranti Blue Fox radar. parts have been switched to use corrosion-resistant alloys or coatings have been added to protect against the marine environment. After the Falklands War, the Sea Harrier was equipped with the new Sea Eagle anti-ship missile.

The Sea Harrier FA2 featured the Blue Vixen radar, which has been described as one of the most advanced pulse Doppler radar systems in the world; The Blue Fox radar was considered by some critics as having the comparatively poor performance that was available at the time of procurement. The Blue Vixen formed the basis for the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon's Captor radar. The Sea Harrier FA2 also carried the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, the first British aircraft to be equipped with this capability. An improved model of the Pegasus engine, the Pegasus Mk 106, was used in the Sea Harrier FA2; in response to threat to radar-based anti-aircraft weapons, electronic countermeasures were added. Other improvements included an increase in air-to-air weapons load, look-down radar, increased range, and improved cockpit displays.

The cockpit in the Sea Harrier includes a conventional center stick layout and left hand throttle. In addition to conventional flight controls, the Harrier has a lever to control the direction of four vectorable nozzles. The jets point backwards using the lever to the forward position for horizontal flight. When installing the rear jet lever from top to bottom for vertical takeoff and landing. The usefulness of the vertical landing capability in 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 a Sea Harrier ZA176 on the forecastle of the Spanish freighter Alraigo.

In 2005, although already scheduled for retirement, the Sea Harrier was modified with An's "Autoland" system to allow the fighter to perform a safe vertical landing without pilot interaction. Despite the ship's pitching, creating a natural problem, the system was designed to be aware of such data and successfully landed at sea in May 2005.

Flight performance

Operational history

Commissioning The first three Sea Hounds were batch development and were used for design testing. The first production aircraft was delivered to RNAS Yeovilton in 1979 to form the Intensive Flight Trials Unit (also known as 700A Naval Air Squadron). In March 1980, the intensive Flight Test Group became the 899 Naval Air Squadron and would operate as the type's landborne headquarters unit. The first operational squadron of 800 Naval Air Squadron was also formed in March 1980 initially to operate from HMS Invincible before it was transferred to HMS Hermes. In January 1981, a second operation, 801 Naval Air Squadron, was established to operate from HMS Invincible.

Falkland Islands War Line of Sea Harrier jets standing to the left of the photograph. In the distance is a tall, dull-colored warehouse. Sea Harrier at RNAS Yeovilton. The pre-Falklands War paint scheme seen here was modified, painting over the white undersides and markings along the route to the islands. Sea Hound took part in the 1982 Falklands War, operating from the aircraft carriers HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes. Sea Hounds played the main role of air defense with a secondary role of attack aircraft. RAF Harrier GR3s provided the main ground attack force, with a total of 28 Sea Harriers and 14 Harrier GR3s deployed in theatre. 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 fires and four accidents. Of the total Argentine air losses, 28% were shot down by hounds.

A number of factors contributed to the failure of the Argentine fighters to shoot down the Sea Harrier. Although the Mirage III and Dagger Jet were significantly faster, the Sea Harrier was significantly more maneuverable. Tactics such as "Vectored in Level Flight" using a nozzle commonly used for vertical flight for braking and other routes have proven decisive in dogfights, although at least one authoritative source told Viffing was not used by RN pilots in the Falkland Islands. In addition, the Harrier used the latest AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles and Blue Fox radar. The British pilots had excellent air combat training, one manifestation of which was that they thought they noticed Argentine pilots sometimes releasing weapons outside their operating parameters. It is now believed that the Mirages were releasing external fuel tanks rather than weapons, and turning away from the conflict with the Sea Harrier. This later reduced their ability to fight an effective campaign against the Sea Harrier due to reduced range and lack of external fuel tanks.

Combat use

Falklands War (1982) During the war with Argentina, Great Britain used 28 Sea Harriers. According to official data, the British Harriers accounted for 31 Argentine aircraft (mostly Mirage III), without losses on their part. According to other sources - 21 air victories, with the loss of one shot down by Dagger (Mirage-5). A total of 6 Sea Harriers were lost during the war.

Yugoslav War (1994-1995, 1999) Royal Navy Sea Harriers were used to attack the Bosnian Serbs in 1994. On April 16, one plane was shot down and the pilot ejected, landing in Bosnian Muslim territory.

In 1999, during NATO's Operation Allied Force, British aircraft patrolled the skies over Kosovo, trying to block its skies from Serbian MiGs.

Literature and sources of information

Ilyin V. E., Levin M. A. Modern fighters. - Moscow: “HOBBYBOOK”, 1994. - pp. 12-15. - 288 p. - 15,000 copies. - ISBN 5-85561-014-4.

Image gallery

Fighter BAE Systems Sea Harrier FRS.51 (tail number IN623, modernized under the LUSH program) from the 300th Naval Aviation Squadron of the Indian Navy during active service. Hansa (Goa), 2013 (c) www.zone5aviation.com

Retirement of S aircraft ea Harrier is caused by the upcoming withdrawal from the Indian Navy of an aircraft carrier R 22 Viraat(formerly British Hermes, acquired from the Royal Navy in 1986) from which these fighters were used. March 6, 2016 from on boardViraat, who returned to Mumbai from his last tour to participate in the naval parade in Visakhapatnam, were unloadedsix aircraft on the carrier S ea Harrier, after which preparations began for the ship for its final decommissioning, scheduled for June.

The 300th squadron should soon begin re-equipment with the MiG-29K/KUB ship-borne fighters with ski-jump take-off and horizontal landing received from Russia. The squadron is expected to reach operational readiness status at MiG-29K/KUB in 2018-2019, when the new aircraft carrier Vikrant, which is under construction, is to be commissioned into service in the Indian Navy.

Currently, MiG-29K/KUB fighters (of which India has ordered 45 aircraft under two contracts, the delivery of the last six of which is expected in 2016) are armed with the 303rd "Black Panthers" squadron of the Indian Navy, also stationed in Hansa. This squadron is based on an aircraft carrier R 33 Vikramaditya(rebuilt former Russian heavy aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov").

In total, the Indian Navy aviation from 1983 to 1990 received 27 Sea Harrier fighters, newly built by the British association British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) - 23 single-seat Sea Harrier FRS.51 (Indian numbers IN601 to IN623) and four two-seater Sea Harrier T.60 (IN651 to IN654). In 2002, three “land” Harrier T.4 “sparks” were also received from the stock of the British Air Force, of which two were put into service (as IN655 and IN656), and one was used for spare parts. In 2006-2010 several single-seat aircraftSea Harrier FRS.51 were modernized under the LUSH program and equipped with the Israeli Elta EL/M-2032 airborne radar.

In Indian Navy aviation, Sea Harrier aircraft, in addition to the 300th squadron, were also used by the 551st combat training squadron at Hansa. During Indian operation, 17 Sea Harrier aircraft were lost, with seven pilots killed. The fighter number IN621 was used for spare parts and in 2005 was transferred to the Indian Naval Aviation Museum in Goa.

In the Royal Navy, Sea Harrier aircraft were withdrawn from service in 2006.

The British Aerospace Sea Harrier carrier-based vertical take-off and landing fighter-bomber was created on the basis of the land-based Harrier aircraft. Was in service with the Royal Navy from 1980 to 2006.
In order to increase the combat potential of the Sea Harrier aircraft, British Aerospace specialists made a number of changes to the design of the aircraft - the result was the Sea Harrier FA Mk.2, one of the best ship-based fighters.

In January 1985, British Aerospace received a contract for the modernization of the Sea Harrier, within the framework of which it was planned to convert two Sea Harrier FRS Mk.1 aircraft to the FRS Mk.2 (then FA Mk.2) standard. It was initially announced in 1984 that the Ministry of Defense intended to provide £200 million to BAe and Ferranti to modernize the entire Sea Harrier fleet, but already in 1985 the number of modernized vehicles was reduced to 30.

The FA Mk.2 differs externally from the FRS Mk.1 with a less pointed antenna nose cone, a longer rear fuselage, redesigned antennas and external suspensions, and larger slats.
The modernization included the installation of a Blue Vixen pulse-Doppler radar, an integrated tactical information distribution system, an improved radar exposure warning system and the ability to use the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. At first, BAe also proposed to provide the ability to suspend Sidewinder missiles on the wingtips, but then this and a number of other improvements were excluded from the project, but the aerodynamic ridge and enlarged slats were left.
The first of the converted aircraft (ZA195) took off on 19 September 1988, followed by the second aircraft (XZ439) on 8 March 1989. The aircraft was equipped with an additional compartment for avionics and the nose was redesigned - due to the installation of the Blue Vixen radar, the nose cone became less pointed, but overall the new FA Mk.2 turned out to be 0.61 m shorter than its predecessor - due to the fact that the nose rod was removed PVD.

The wingspan remained the same, but the underwing suspension units were redesigned - the modernized vehicle could now hang a pair of 864-liter PTBs, as well as one Hughes AIM-120 AMRAAM (or BAe ALARM) missile on the external pylons. A total of five weapons suspension systems were installed on the aircraft, based on the LAU-106A and LAU-7 multi-purpose aircraft launchers. When performing strike missions, the aircraft can carry Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles (range - more than 50 miles, speed - 0.3 km per second) and ALARM anti-radar missiles.

Electronic equipment includes a radar warning system Sky Guardian 200 from Marconi Electronic Systems, a jamming system - AN/ALE-40, a communication system - AD120 VHF Marconi Electronic Systems and AN/ARC-164, a friend-or-foe identification system AN/ APX-100 MK12 or PTR 446 IFF, AD 2770 Tactical Air Navigation System Tacan Marconi Electronic Systems and MADGE Microwave Airborne Digital Guidance Equipment from Thomson Thorn. For surveillance, an F.95 camera installed in the bow is used.

The FA Mk.2 cockpit instrumentation includes new multifunction displays on cathode ray tubes, and the aircraft controls are arranged according to the HOTAS principle, which allows you to fly the aircraft without removing your hands from the control stick and throttle. The FA Mk.2 received more powerful Pegasus Mk 106 engines - the so-called “dampened” version of the Mk 105 engine installed on the AV-8B, without the use of magnesium in its design.
On December 7, 1988, a contract was issued for the conversion of 31 FRS Mk.1 aircraft to the Mk.2 standard, and on March 6, 1990, a contract was issued for the construction of 10 new FA Mk.2s.
In January 1994, a new contract was signed for 18 new FA Mk 2s and the conversion of a further five FRS Mk.1s. Aircraft conversions were carried out at Dunsfold and Brough - final assembly of the modernized aircraft was carried out at Dunsfold.

Sea trials of the modernized fighter were carried out on board the aircraft carrier Ark Royal in November 1990 and confirmed all the calculated data and the possibility of a safe takeoff from the bow ramp with a landing angle of 12 degrees. Two pre-production aircraft took part in the tests, but only one of them had a radar.
To more effectively train pilots, a two-seat version of the T Mk 8N was created - in 1996, four of these machines replaced the Harrier T Mk 4N. The vehicle had almost a complete set of avionics of the FA Mk.2 variant, with the exception of the radar.
The main air-to-air guided missile for the Sea Harrier FA Mk.2 was the Hughes AIM-120, and the new Blue Vixen radar (Model A) was tested on the BAC 1 - 11 and BAe 125 aircraft until August 1988.

Another BAe 125 was equipped with a full set of instrumentation equipment from the FA Mk.2 aircraft - it was installed in the right seat, and in 1989 it was equipped with a Blue Vixen radar (model “B”) for testing. During testing of the AIM-120 missile launcher, 10 launches were carried out; unmanned targets MQM-107 and QF-106 were used as targets. The tests were nearly derailed when, on January 5, 1994, one of two aircraft equipped with the new radar was lost during an accident.
In June 1993, the first experimental unit was formed at Boscombe Down, and on the basis of the 899th Air Squadron, the Navy created a group to conduct evaluation tests of the Sea Harrier FA Mk.2 - four of its aircraft made a cruise aboard the aircraft carrier Invincible in 1994 year. In January 1995, the 801st Squadron departed on the aircraft carrier USS Illustrious for its first full combat service. The aircraft also entered the 800th squadron, which then took part in the operation against Yugoslavia.
The aircraft was generally considered to have performed well during Operations Deny Flight and Operations Allied Force, but one aircraft was lost to ground fire on 16 April 1994. The pilot was saved.

Flight characteristics of Sea Harrier FA Mk.2:
Crew: 1 (pilot);
Length, m: 14.17;
Wingspan, m: 7.7;
Height, m: 3.71;
Wing area, m2: 18.68;
Empty weight, kg: 6097;
Curb weight, kg: 6374 (without combat load);
Normal take-off weight, kg: for vertical take-off – 8620, for take-off run – 10210;
Maximum take-off weight, kg: 11880;
Fuel mass in internal tanks, kg: 2295 (+ 2404 kg in PTB);
Powerplant: 1 x Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk.104 turbofan engine;
Thrust, kN: 1 x 95.6 (9750 kgf);
Maximum speed, km/h: 1190;
Combat radius, km: with vertical take-off - 135, with take-off run - 795 (with take-off weight 9700 kg);
Duration of patrol, min: with vertical take-off - 24, with take-off run - 94;
Practical ceiling, m: 15300;
Armament: 2 x 30 mm ADEN cannons with 130 pat. on the barrel (removable)
Guided missiles: air-to-air missiles - AIM-9, AIM-120 (FRS.2), R550 Magic (FRS.51); air-to-surface missiles - ALARM, AS.37 Martel, Sea Eagle; rockets - 4 x 18 x 68 mm unguided rockets SNEB

Moving away from the holidays, as always, it is better to accelerate slowly. Of course, big holidays require rest and rehabilitation :-))) Mine ended without much casualties or destruction: I went snowboarding and visited the German Museum and its two branches (transport and aviation). Let us remember again Oshkosh 2010. One of the very interesting exhibits here was the Sea Harrier FA2. What is known about it:

As always, I use information from sites
http://www.airwar.ru
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki
and other sources I found on the Internet and literature.

Sea Harrier FA2 is a modernized version of the carrier-based fighter Sea Harrier FRS Mk.1 created for the Royal Navy of Great Britain and the Indian Navy by the English company British Aerospace Military Aircraft Limited.

The main task of the aircraft is to provide air cover for the fleet, especially against low-flying strike aircraft armed with long-range air-to-surface missiles. The aircraft's design is optimized for air combat with secondary patrol capabilities and air-to-sea and air-to-ground strike capabilities.
cabin

Contract for the modernization of 29 Mk 1 into F/A. Mk 2 was signed by the British Ministry of Defense on December 7, 1988. And the first flight of the F/A. Mk 2 flew on September 19, 1989.

The nose landing gear is mounted on two high-strength titanium alloy units on the front and rear beams made of aluminum alloy. The stand is retracted against the flight into the space between the engine air intakes behind the rear sealed wall of the cabin. The nose strut is self-orienting, steerable, with a linkage suspension and one wheel located at the rear. The stand is equipped with a hydraulic control system that allows rotation to the right and left by 45 degrees. In self-orientation mode, the nose wheel rotates freely 179 degrees in both directions.
front chassis

Refurbishment began at Kingston in October 1990 and continued at Dunsfold and Brough. Delivery began on April 2, 1993. Sea Harrier F/A. The Mk 2s entered service in March 1995, arriving aboard HMS Illustrious. The first operational mission was completed on December 25, 1995. In total, by November 1998, 26 F/A were in service. Mk 2.
exhaust

F/A. The Mk 2 is externally different from the FRS. Mk 1 with a less pointed antenna nose cone, a longer rear fuselage, redesigned antennas and external suspensions and larger slats.

When the engines operate on the ground, the nozzles are usually deflected to a position corresponding to vertical takeoff or short takeoff. Therefore, the aircraft's landing gear has an unusual configuration with one main landing gear located centrally under the fuselage, landing gear at the wing tips, and a conventional nose gear. This design made it possible not to take any special measures to ensure normal operation of the landing gear, taking into account the heating of the space under the fuselage by exhaust gases from the engine nozzles.
underwing landing gear

The aircraft is equipped with a Blue Vixen pulse-Doppler radar developed by Marconi Electronic Systems. The radar is optimized for joint use of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile launcher, which reduces the pilot’s workload and is protected from the effects of electronic warfare systems.

The aircraft is equipped with 5 weapons suspension systems based on the LAU-106A and LAU-7 multi-purpose launchers. The main weapon of the aircraft is the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile with an active radar seeker and a powerful explosive warhead. The range is more than 50 nautical miles, the missile's flight speed is 1.2 km per second. To intercept air targets at close range, the AIM-9M(L) Sidewinder missile is used. When performing strike missions, the aircraft can carry Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles (range - more than 50 miles, speed - 0.3 km per second) and ALARM anti-radar missiles.

The wing is fastened using six units installed in pairs on three frames. When replacing the engine, the wing is dismantled. This entire operation is completed in 5 hours 30 minutes. Vertical and horizontal tail also removable.
wing

The Ministry of Defense is also considering the possibility of using more powerful Pegasus 11-61 engines instead of Pegasus 11-21.
tail

All aircraft are based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, where three squadrons are located: two combat and a training squadron, whose tasks are the training of young pilots and additional training (retraining) of flight personnel. The other two squadrons provide air wings for Invicible class aircraft carriers.

Our aircraft was built in 1979 as Sea Harrier FRS Mk.1 cn XZ439, this was actually the aircraft on which the entire series was tested, and also 912002/db2 mode s code 53217275 belongs to Nalls Aviation Inc, a Rolls-royce MK-104 engine is installed. This The plane was the first to take off from a ramp into the sea on October 30, 1980. In October 1989, it was the first to be modified into the Sea Harrier FA2 by installing the Blue Vixen pulse-Doppler radar and the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

The Rolls-royce MK-104 that is on this aircraft is the Rolls-royce pegasus 11, it differed from the previous version 10 by increased air flow with a fan with modified blades. The exhaust gas temperature was increased to 1511 degrees Celsius. It had a service life of 800 hours.

In general, to understand the pedigree of these machines, you need to understand this: Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1/GR.3 and AV-8A are the first generation of the British Harrier fighter-bomber family. Developed in the 1960s, the Harrier was the world's first production vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Serial production began in 1967. It was in service with Great Britain, the USA and several other countries. The Americans ordered 102 Harrier aircraft from Hawker Siddeley. In the USA, the Harrier was named AV-8A (English designation - Harrier Mk.50).
Further development of the aircraft are the BAE Sea Harrier, BAE Harrier II, and AV-8B Harrier II, produced at British Aerospace (UK) and McDonnell Douglas (USA).
shield

The central section of the fuselage houses the engine and its components. This compartment has a U-shaped section, open at the top, which allows the engine to be installed or removed after removing the fairing and wing. The side air intakes of the engine are equipped with additional flaps in the front part of the shell, designed to increase air flow at low flight speeds, and also serve to drain the boundary layer along the perimeter of the cabin with an exit at the rear of the canopy. The additional flaps at the front are hinged and operate automatically between the inner and outer shock-absorbing stops.

The front pair of nozzles, through which relatively cold air flows from the fan circuit, is mounted on the fuselage using a large-diameter single-row ball bearing. The second pair of nozzles, intended for hot gases, is mounted on the engine using the same bearing and is not connected to the fuselage structure. The nozzles are rotated by a pneumatic motor from a horizontal position at an angle of about 100 degrees, changing the position of the thrust vector from propulsion to takeoff (90 degrees) and then to braking.

The fuselage skin just aft of the rear engine nozzles is protected by a low ratio stainless steel shield thermal expansion. This screen is attached to reinforced points on the side surface of the fuselage with screws and anchor nuts, under which thermal insulation is laid.

Four air ducts extend from the high-pressure compressor from below - on the wing console to the landing gear fairings, where the roll control nozzles are located, as well as to the nose and tail of the aircraft. The tail boom has several nozzles: - for pitch control together with the nose one and for heading control. The thrust control system is activated when the engine nozzles are moved 20 degrees or more from horizontal during low-speed flight or vertical takeoffs and landings.

Electronic equipment includes a radar warning system Sky Guardian 200 from Marconi Electronic Systems, a jamming system - AN/ALE-40, a communication system - AD120 VHF Marconi Electronic Systems and AN/ARC-164, a friend-or-foe identification system AN/ APX-100 MK12 or PTR 446 IFF, AD 2770 Tactical Air Navigation System Tacan Marconi Electronic Systems and MADGE Microwave Airborne Digital Guidance Equipment from Thomson Thorn. For surveillance, an F.95 camera installed in the bow is used.
cabin

Initially, these planes had an informal nickname “Shar”, I couldn’t translate it!!! Tell me, what does this mean?

air intakes

In the next two posts we will look at cars made by McDonell-Douglas from the museum in Pensacola
Flight characteristics: Modification of Sea Harrier FA2 Wing span, m 7.70 Aircraft length, m 14.17 Aircraft height, m ​​3.61 Wing area, m2 18.68 Weight, kg empty aircraft 6616 take-off weight during vertical take-off 7992 take-off weight during take-off with a running start 10210 maximum take-off weight 11880 Fuel mass, kg internal 2295 in PTB 2404 (2 x 1500 l) Engine type and 1 turbojet Rolls Royce Pegasus Mk106 Maximum thrust, kN 1 x 95.6 Maximum speed, km/h.