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 centred 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 The aircraft was withdrawn from service early by the Royal Navy in 2006, but remained in service with the Indian Navy for a further decade until its retirement in 2016.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/RN British Aerospace Harrier GR. Mk. 7 jump jet used in Afghanistan during 2008. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: November 2010

Historical Account: "Disjointed" - Joint Strike Wing, previously known as Joint Force Harrier, is the British military formation which controls the STOVL Harrier aircraft of the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. It is sub-ordinate to RAF Air Command.

Joint Force Harrier was established on April 1st, 2000, in response to the proposal brought by the British Government as part of Strategic Defence Review. Originally called Joint Force 2000, it combined the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier FA2 squadrons with the RAF's Harrier GR 7/7A squadrons under a single command structure within RAF Strike Command. This force was to be deployable from both Invincible-class aircraft carriers, Royal Air Force stations and deployed air bases.

The Royal Navy's contribution to the force was the Sea Harrier previously part of Naval Air Command. With the retirement of the Sea Harrier in 2006 the force has migrated entirely to the Harrier GR7, and the upgraded GR9. This aircraft will continue in service until 2016 at which time it should be replaced with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. At the same time the first of the new CVF carriers should enter service, increasing the number of aircraft deployable at sea. On April 1st, 2010, Joint Force Harrier was renamed Joint Strike Wing,