naval short vertical landing vertical landing jet fighter reconnaissance attack aircraft second member jump jet family developed entered service royal_navy april informally known unusual era naval land based air superiority fighters large principal role provide air defence royal_navy aircraft carriers served war balkans conflicts occasions mainly operated aircraft carriers positioned conflict zone usage war high profile important success fixed wing fighter available protect shot enemy aircraft conflict lost enemy ground fire launch ground attacks manner operated royal_air_force marketed sales abroad india operator britain sales argentina australia unsuccessful second updated version royal_navy improving air air abilities weapons powerful engine version continued manufacture aircraft withdrawn service early royal_navy remained service decade retirement ending career historic british jet development post war era royal_navy began contracting parallel break british empire overseas emergence reducing need larger navy battleship retired navy having service years biggest sign new trend naval came planned class large aircraft carriers destined royal_navy cancelled time requirements royal_navy began form vertical short landing carrier based replace afterward tests ship began landing second concept future naval aviation emerged early 1970s new class deck cruisers planned carefully politically designated cruisers deliberately avoid term aircraft carrier order increase chances funding hostile political climate expensive capital ships considerably smaller previously sought ships ordered invincible class popularly recognised aircraft carriers immediately construction ski jump added end metre deck enabling carriers effectively operate small number jets royal_air_force entered service april variant developed serve upcoming ships royal_navy ordered sea standing fighter reconnaissance strike aircraft entered service time time prototype flown august order increased declared operational board invincible class ship hms invincible aircraft joined aircraft carrier later year following key role war lessons learned aircraft performance led approval upgrade fleet later known standard given flight prototype took place september contract signed upgraded aircraft december year navy ordered new build unit cost million upgraded aircraft ordered aircraft delivered april design aircraft designed fill strike reconnaissance fighter roles features single rolls engine landing gear fuselage landing gear wings equipped wing fuselage carrying weapons external fuel tanks use ski jump allowed aircraft short flight deck heavier possible like conventional loaded fighter thrust normal airport runway largely based modified raised cockpit bubble canopy greater visibility extended forward fuselage accommodate blue fox radar parts changed use resistant added protect marine environment war fitted new anti ship sea eagle missile featured radar described advanced pulse radar systems world blue fox radar seen critics having comparatively low performance available time formed basis development radar carried missile aircraft provided capability upgraded model engine response threat radar based anti aircraft weapons electronic added improvements included increase air air weapons load look radar increased range improved cockpit displays cockpit includes conventional centre stick arrangement left hand throttle addition normal flight controls controlling direction point forward position horizontal flight point downward vertical takeoff landing vertical landing capability demonstrated incident june sub lieutenant lost contact aircraft carrier land sea spanish cargo ship retired sea modified system allow fighter perform safe vertical landing pilot interaction despite pitching ship posing natural problem system designed aware data successfully performed landing sea operational history royal_navy entry service development batch clearance trials production aircraft delivered form known naval air squadron march naval air squadron act headquarters unit type operational squadron formed march initially operate hms invincible transferred january second operation squadron formed operate hms invincible war took war flying aircraft carriers hms sea performed primary air defence role secondary role ground attack raf provided main ground attack force total deployed theatre squadrons shot argentine aircraft air air combat air air losses lost ground fire accidents total argentine air losses shot number factors contributed failure fighters shoot iii dagger jets faster considerably employed latest missiles blue fox radar contrary contemporary reports proved decisive maneuver pilots enemies unfamiliar aircraft british pilots superior air combat training manifestation thought noticed pilots occasionally releasing weapons outside operating parameters thought releasing external fuel tanks weapons turning away conflict later reduced capability fight effective campaign reduced range lack external fuel tanks british aircraft received fighter control warships effectiveness limited stationed close islands severely limited effectiveness radar differences tactics training squadron squadron point criticism suggesting losses ships effectively sides aircraft operating adverse conditions argentine aircraft forced operate mainland airfields suited driven transports addition fears partly aroused bombing port stanley airport british vulcan bomber added decision operate argentine aircraft lacked flight capability forced operate limit range limited fuel reserves tactical decision station british carriers missile range dispersal fleet result argentine aircraft allow minutes islands search attack objective sea stay near minutes waiting argentine approach corridors provide coverage hour outnumbered available aircraft occasion away activities civilian jet aircraft operate fleet early warning system available nato fleet royal_navy expected operate significant weakness operational environment known chile provide early radar warning task force result establish complete air superiority prevent argentine attacks day night completely stop daily hercules transports night flights islands total lost war enemy fire accidents mechanical failure total aggregate loss rate strike operations operations 1990s saw action war deployed conflict bosnia yugoslav wars launched raids forces provided air support international units conducting operations deny flight april operating aircraft carrier brought surface air missile fired attempting bomb tanks pilot lieutenant ejected landed territory controlled friendly muslims nato campaign operated hms invincible frequently patrolled ground deployed board royal_navy convoy supply reinforce british intervention forces region retirement withdrawn service remaining aircraft decommissioned march plans retirement announced aircraft replacement lightning originally arguing significant expenditure required upgrade fleet years service march introduction pushed earliest price doubled decision retire early criticised officers military versions experienced reduced engine performance higher ambient temperatures middle_east restricted weight return carrier vertical safety factors associated aircraft land weights option install higher rated engines straightforward upgrade likely expensive slow process furthermore subject generally hostile environment land based salt spray particular problem number aircraft retained royal_navy fleet air arm continue share component upgraded transferred royal_navy squadrons retired prematurely years later budget cuts plans purchase operated royal_navy future queen elizabeth class aircraft carrier withdrawn active royal_navy service train naval aircraft indian government approved plans acquire prior rumours reportedly circulating potential indian purchase soviet capable phased preparation purchase november india placed order sea fighters trainers arrived airport december inducted year purchased november eventually total operational use remainder dual seat trainer aircraft 1990s significant portions pilot training carried britain limited aircraft availability introduction allowed retirement india previous carrier fighter aircraft navy aircraft carrier hms hercules extensively india operated aircraft carriers hms allowed modern missiles introduced naval operations british anti ship sea eagle missile french magic missile air air combat ordnance included rockets runway denial bombs cluster bombs cannons significant number accidents involving accident rate caused approximately half fleet lost fighters remaining service following crash august temporarily grounded inspection beginning operational service seven pilots died crashes involving usually routine sorties expressed interest acquiring royal_navy recently retired order maintain operational fleet sea radar radar warning receiver capability proposed included certain software prior shipment october reports emerged deal cost airframe refurbishment process upgrading sea collaboration israel installing radar medium range air air missile enable remain indian service limited service new carriers acquire time frame crashes reduced india fleet original india plans introduce larger aircraft carriers operate carrier fighters flight decks replace sea operated time march ceremony held ins commemorate sea white tigers performed air display ceremony marking final flight subsequently inducted fighters replace retired sea fleet variants delivered survivors converted specifications single seat fighter reconnaissance attack aircraft similar british unlike fitted magic air air missiles aircraft later upgraded radar missiles upgrade fleet featuring radar missile operators survivors number surviving held museums private owners following incomplete list surviving aircraft india sea preserved india india united_kingdom sea november stored exhibited public display sea moved april sea preserved restored public display displayed preserved private owner near airport sea written accident november later restored non condition suffolk believed privately owned manchester area united_states sea serial number build number aviation mary county maryland purchased spent years restoring flying condition december damaged hard landing undergoing testing naval air station river repaired aircraft public appearance air virginia october aircraft privately owned civilian flown world recently purchased sea data wilson bull general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight max takeoff weight powerplant lbf performance maximum speed knots mph combat radius nmi ferry range nmi service ceiling rate climb min armament guns cannon pods fuselage rounds wing stations fuselage centerline plus attach points gun pods total capability rockets rocket pods rockets missiles air air missiles magic sea air surface missile alarm anti radiation missile arm missile arm anti ship missiles variety iron bombs including practice bombs reconnaissance pods auxiliary drop tanks ferry flight extended range time weather airborne radar notable appearances media unique characteristics led featured number films video games
British Aerospace Sea Harrier