Airfix 1/48 BAe Sea Harrier FRS-1

Detailed kit from Airfix of the BAe Sea Harrier FRS-1. Markings are included for the following aircraft:

• No.899 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Hermes Air Group, 'Operation Corporate', South Atlantic, 1982.
• INAS 300 'The White Tigers', INS Vikrant, Indian Navy, 1983.

The BAE Systems Sea Harrier is a naval VTOL/STOVL jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. It first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS.1, and was informally known as the "Shar". The latest version is the Sea Harrier FA2. It was withdrawn from Royal Navy service in March 2006.

The RAF's Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1s had entered service in April 1969. In 1975 the Royal Navy ordered 34 Sea Harrier FRS.1s (Fighter/Reconnaissance/Strike), the first of which entered service in 1978. In total 57 FRS.1s were delivered between 1978 and 1988. The FRS.1 was largely based on the Harrier GR.3, but was modified to have a raised cockpit with a "bubble" canopy (to give better visibility for the air defence role) and an extended forward fuselage to accommodate the Ferranti (now BAE Systems) Blue Fox radar. Furthermore it was manufactured in alloys better suited for a maritime environment.