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 The aircraft was withdrawn from service early by the Royal Navy in 2006, but remained in service with the Indian Navy for a further decade until its retirement in 2016.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 Royal Navy British Aerospace Harrier FA.2 jump jet that was attached to No.899 Naval Air Squadron, then embarked upon HMS Invincible (R05), and participating in the Bosnian Conflict of 1994. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: July 2013

Historical Account: "Maritime Strike" - No.899 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Aircraft carrier based squadron. Latterly it was the Sea Harrier training squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton.

899 Naval Air Squadron was reformed in 1979 as the training squadron for the Sea Harrier. It was initially based at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) until it was decommissioned in 2005 prior to the Stand up of 800 Naval Air Squadron GR7 at RAF Cottesmore.