Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e)

This page is about the British strike aircraft Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e). For the squadron version, see Sea Harrier FRS.1. For other versions, see Harrier (Family).

Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e)

Scimitar F Mk.1

Phantom FG.1

Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e)

Scimitar F Mk.1

Phantom FG.1

Britain

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.0	10.7	10.7

Class:

Strike aircraft

Naval aircraft

Research:260 000

Purchase:710 000

Show in game

Description

The British Aerospace Sea Harrier was a VTOL fighter-bomber based on the successful Harrier GR.3. It entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS.1. This aircraft was equipped with a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan engine, as well as a Ferranti Blue Fox radar. The early service variant of the FRS.1 included a bubble canopy that would characterize later variants of the Sea Harrier, it also featured AIM-9L AAMs for self defence, later variants of the Sea Harrier introduced modifications to the pylons, to be able to carry more AIM-9L sidewinders, as well as Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles after the Falklands War.

It was introduced in Update "Sons of Attila". The Sea Harrier FRS.1 Early is not very different from many other Harriers in-game in terms of gameplay. It has very good acceleration, meaning that it is one of the first to take off from the runway, while also having access to a decent radar and 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinders. Like all Harriers, it features VTOL. It lacks any sort of guided ordnance for ground battles, but its 5 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough to destroy a base in air battles, or a couple of ground targets if used properly, though for this task more specialized attackers like the Jaguar are more recommended.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 0 m1 159 km/h

Turn time32 s

Max altitude12 192 m

EngineRolls-Royce Pegasus Mk.104

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight13 t

The Sea Harrier has a very similar performance to other Harriers in-game. It has an excellent low speed acceleration, and good agility at high speeds, at the cost of energy retention, which is very poor. This aircraft is also capable of vertical landings and take-off without heavy payloads.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 0 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,150	1,144	12192	32.5	34.0	70.2	68.5	550
Upgraded	1,168	1,159		31.5	32.0	105.2	87.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
X	✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1191	648	-	829	556	~14	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 650	< 950	< 790	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk.104		1	6,258 kg		462 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		9 m fuel	20 m fuel	30 m fuel
1650 kg	Vectored-thrust low-bypass turbofan		6,959 kg	7,661 kg	8,363 kg	11,409 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel	MGW
Stationary	9,150 kgf	9,709 kgf	1.40	1.27	1.16	0.85
Optimal	9,150 kgf (0 km/h)	9,709 kgf (0 km/h)	1.40	1.27	1.16	0.85

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural1 191 km/h

Gear648 km/h

The Sea Harrier lacks any sort of armour, and it has a mediocre survivability, since the engine is pretty large and vulnerable because it is located at the centre of the aircraft. However it does feature 60 x countermeasures for defence against radar and IR guided missiles.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 072 → 4 500

RB8 476 → 12 417

SB9 723 → 14 244

Total cost of modifications227 000

353 000

Talisman cost2 800

Crew training200 000

Experts710 000

Aces2 800

Research Aces1 080 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 310 / 600 %

232 / 232 / 232 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 330 New boosters Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 390 Wings repair Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 420 Engine Research: 25 000 Cost: 39 000 740	Fuselage repair Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 330 G-suit Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 390 Airframe Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 390 Cover Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 420 EFS Research: 25 000 Cost: 39 000 740	aden_belt_pack Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 330 Flares/Chaff Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 330 1000 LB Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 390 aden_new_gun Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 420 AIM-9L Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 420 Matra №7 Mk 1 Research: 25 000 Cost: 39 000 740

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e) is armed with:

• 2 x 30 mm ADEN Mk.4 cannons, belly-mounted (130 rpg = 260 total)
• 60 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5
1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs		1, 2	1	1, 2
1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 No.117 bombs		1, 2	1	1, 2
RP rockets		36		36
AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles	1				1
AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles	1				1

Default weapon presets
Without load 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles 72 x RP rockets 3 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs (3,000 lb total) 3 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 No.117 bombs (3,000 lb total) 4 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs (4,000 lb total) 4 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 No.117 bombs (4,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

Fighter Role:

The Sea Harrier sits at a BR where supersonic fighters start to become very common, however the Sea Harrier does have access to a set of powerful missiles. The early AIM-9G Sidewinders are good but they lack all-aspect seekers, the AIM-9L fixes this issue, while also having much better manoeuvrability. When playing as a fighter, it can be a good idea to climb to high altitudes in downtiers, then launch your IR missiles at enemies within range, since both the AIM-9G and AIM-9L have good range for a small IR missile, they can be launched at enemies within 3-4 km, even more if the enemies are at a low energy state. In uptiers, fighting close to the ground is more recommended, since SARH missiles start to become deadlier and more common, however the idea stays the same, launching missiles at enemies without flares or at a low energy state from distance. The Harrier has good performance at high speeds but becomes more sluggish below 800 km/h, so it is highly recommended staying at those speeds.

Bomber/Strike Aircraft Role:

As a strike aircraft, the Sea Harrier can be used with some success, in downtiers or slight uptiers, it can be used to destroy a single base when carrying a custom loadout of 5 x 1,000 lb bombs, you can also carry 2 x AIM-9Ls alongside your bombs. When doing this, flying close to the team is very recommended, since the Harrier's already lacklustre flight performance is hampered by the addition of heavy payload, the Sea Harrier also loses the ability to take off vertically with a heavy loadout. The good low speed acceleration means that even with the bombs attached, it will be one of the first to take off from the runway, however the rest of the team will quickly catch up. Doing bomb runs in uptiers is not recommended, since much faster strike aircraft will outrun you and destroy most valuable bases and ground targets before you do. For ground battles, the Sea Harrier lacks access to guided ordnance or rockets with a HEAT warhead, the RP rockets use a HE warhead that is extremely underpowered even against lightly armoured targets.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Very good low speed acceleration
• Access to vertical landing/take-off
• Good agility at high speeds
• Access to 2 x AIM-9L all aspect missiles
• Access to a radar, unlike most Harriers
• Modern RWR with ability to detect track, launch and TWS modes

Cons:

• Can't use VTOL mode with heavy payload
• Lacks any sort of guided ordnance against ground targets
• Poor agility below 800 km/h
• Limited WEP
• Relatively underpowered radar when compared to more advanced fighters around its BR

History

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Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

British Aerospace plc
Strike Aircraft	Harrier GR.7 · Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e) · Sea Harrier FRS.1 · Sea Harrier FA 2
See also	British Aircraft Corporation · Hawker Aircraft Limited