BAe Sea Harrier FA2
British Aerospace · UK · first flew 1988 · fighter
The FA2 upgraded the Sea Harrier with the Blue Vixen pulse-Doppler radar and AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range missiles, transforming it from a close-combat fighter into a genuine fleet-defence interceptor. The larger nose is the definitive visual change.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Modified, slightly deeper forward fuselage cross-section to house radar electronics |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Enlarged nose housing Blue Vixen pulse-Doppler radar — noticeably wider and longer radome than FRS.1
- AMRAAM pylons on wing stations — recessed launch rails for AIM-120 beyond-visual-range missiles
- Modified, slightly deeper forward fuselage cross-section to house radar electronics
The wider, longer radome is the definitive FA2 tell over the FRS.1 — the nose appears broader in plan view and longer in profile. AMRAAM rails on the outer wing stations (rather than Sidewinder-only rails) confirm the mark. Combined with the naval bubble canopy that both marks share, it is readily identified.
Specifications
- The BAe Sea Harrier FA2 has a length of 14.17 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.7 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1110 km/h (690 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flight of the upgraded aircraft 1988; service entry 1993. The Blue Vixen gave a genuine look-down/shoot-down and multi-target engagement capability the FRS.1 lacked. 33 new-build FA2s and 29 FRS.1 conversions. Retired in 2006, controversially early, leaving the Royal Navy without fixed-wing air cover until the F-35B.
Variants
The Indian Navy FRS.51 is not upgraded to FA2 standard. There is no export FA2.
Where you'll see it
Royal Navy 800 and 801 NAS 1993-2006. Bosnia and Kosovo operations. Static FA2 XZ439 at Yeovilton.
Related aircraft
- BAe 146-300
- British Aerospace Harrier II GR.7
- BAe ATP
- BAe Experimental Aircraft Programme
- Boeing/BAE Systems T-45 Goshawk
- JH-7 Flying Leopard (FBC-1)
- Mikoyan MiG-29K
- Myasishchev M-55 Geophysica
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