Page 98 - History of War - Issue 10-14

WAR IN NUMBERS: THE SEA HARRIER

I

Theadvancedjetfighterof
2
choice from the Falklands War
to the modern era

TheunitcostofaSeaHarrierin1979.Therehave
beenseveralimprovementsmadetothedesignand
electronicsofthebeyonditsretirementin2006.

Argentinean aircraft shot down
by Sea Harriers during the conflict.
Though Argentinean pilots were
fearless and highly skilled, their
planes were inferior to the harriers.

46.5 feet:
length of a
Sea Harrier,
withatotal
wingspan of
25 feet.
Sea Harrier FRS.51s
were delivered to the
Indian Navy in 1983 and
upgraded versions of the
SeaHarrierslosttoair planes are still operated by
combat during the Falklands Indian pilots today.
War. However, 6 were lost to
ground fire and accidents.
7 PH 28YEARS

ThelengthoftimetheSeaHarrierservedintheRAFand
The top speed of a Sea Harrier. Though they RoyalNavybeforeeventuallybeingretiredin2006.
were far slower than their Argentinean rivals,
their sidewinder armament was unmatched. Sea Harriers built
1 Sidewinder 111 to date, including
The number of
AIM-9L
air-to-air
the more-
advanced FA2.
missiles supplied to the
This features
RAF and Royal Navy.
superior weapons
These were crucial in
and navigation.
winning air superiority.
98