The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval short take-off and vertical landing/vertical take-off and landing jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft. It is the second member of the Harrier family developed. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS1 and became informally known as the "Shar".Unusual in an era in which most naval and land-based air superiority fighters were large and supersonic, the principal role of the subsonic Sea Harrier was to provide air defense for Royal Navy task groups centered around the aircraft carriers.

The Sea Harrier served in the Falklands War and the Balkans conflicts; on all occasions it mainly operated from aircraft carriers positioned within the conflict zone. Its usage in the Falklands War was its most high profile and important success, when it was the only fixed-wing fighter available to protect the British Task Force. The Sea Harriers shot down 20 enemy aircraft during the conflict; 2 Sea Harriers were lost to enemy ground fire. They were also used to launch ground attacks in the same manner as the Harriers operated by the Royal Air Force.

The Sea Harrier was marketed for sales abroad, but India was the only other operator after attempts to sell the aircraft to Argentina and Australia were unsuccessful. A second, updated version for the Royal Navy was made in 1993 as the Sea Harrier FA2, improving its air-to-air abilities and weapons compatibilities, along with a more powerful engine; this version was manufactured until 1998. The aircraft was withdrawn from service early by the Royal Navy in 2006, but remained in service with the Indian Navy for a further decade until its retirement in 2016.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale RAF British Aerospace Harrier GR Mk.7A jump jet that was attached to No.1 (F) Squadron then deployed to Afghanistan in 2007. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 5-inches
Length: 7-3/4-inches

Release Date: November 2022

Historical Account: "First Aloft" - Under the command of Squadron Leader Bryan Baker, No.1 squadron became the world's first operator of a V/STOL aircraft with the arrival of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier in 1969, declared operational the following year. A detachment from No.1 Squadron was deployed aboard the Carrier Battle Group (TG 317.8) of the Falklands Task Force during the Falklands War, operating from HMS Hermes and flying ground attack missions against Argentine forces. It replaced its first generation Harriers with Harrier IIs from November 23rd, 1988, being declared fully operational on the Harrier GR.5 on November 2nd, 1989. The squadron was the subject of an episode of the BBC documentary series Defense of the Realm before and during its participation in the Bosnian War as part of NATO's Operation Deny Flight. During the Kosovo war the Squadron flew sorties as part of NATO's Operation Allied Force.

No.1 Squadron left the "home of the Harrier" at RAF Wittering for RAF Cottesmore on July 28th, 2000. Cottesmore became home to all operational RAF Harrier squadrons - No.20 (Reserve) Squadron, later renumbered as No.4 (R) Squadron, the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit remained at Wittering. The squadrons both flew missions during the Iraq War and were awarded the "Iraq 2003" battle honor.

The squadron was awarded a battle honor in March 2020, recognizing its role in the War in Afghanistan.

One outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review by the coalition government in 2010 was the decision to take the RAF's Harriers out of service almost immediately. All Harrier units, including No.1 (F) Squadron, ceased Harrier flying on December 15th, 2010, with No.1 (F) Squadron formally disbanding on January 18th, 2011.