The Sea Harrier flies one last time at INS Hansa, Goa, on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 11

Thirty-three years after their induction, the ageing Sea Harriers, once the mainstay of Navy’s air warfare capability, today gave way to the modern supersonic Russian MiG 29K fighter aircraft.”We have great pride in inducting supersonic multi-role MiG 29K aircraft with cutting-edge technology into the 300 squadron,” Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan told reporters on the sidelines of an event organised in Goa to “de-induct” Sea Harriers.Built by British Aerospace, Sea Harriers joined the Navy in 1983 and today was their last flight at the ceremonial function. The jets have stunning ability to take off and land vertically, like a helicopter, and fly like a jet and bomb targets. These were based to fly off from the deck off the seaborne aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat, which is being decommissioned at the end of the year.The jets were part of the India Navy Air Squadron (INAS) 300, which has now been equipped with the Russian-built twin-engine MiG 29K that can fly off from the carrier INS Vikramaditya. This INAS 300 has gallantry awards, including one Maha Vir Chakra, four Vir Chakras and one Nau Sena Medal.The first three Sea Harriers, flying via Malta, Luxor and Dubai, led by Lt Cdr Arun Prakash, landed at Dabolim on December 16, 1983. This was followed by the first deck landing on the carrier, INS Vikrant, on December 20, 1983. “The Indian Navy has emerged as a multi-dimensional network force which is ready to take on any challenge in the maritime domain of the Indian Ocean region in the 21st century,” Dhowan said.Dhowan lauded the stellar role played by the squadron in the defence of the country and acknowledged the professionalism of the pilots. “Today is also the day to salute the pilots who flew Sea Harrier aircraft, which made a mark for itself by protecting our seas,” he added. On completion of the Air display, “washing down of the Sea Harriers” was carried out and a first-day cover was also released by Dhowan to mark the occasion. Sea Harriers were inducted in the Indian Navy following phasing out of then obsolete Seahawks. 

(With PTI inputs)

33 yrs on, jet reaches vertical limit

• Inducted in 1983
• Designed & manufactured by British Aerospace
• Able to take off and land vertically
• Capable of air-to-air refuelling
• Operational speed 640 knots (1,186 km/hour)
• Equipped with four wing and one fuselage pylons for carrying weapons and external fuel tanks
• Fitted with anti-ship Sea Eagle missile
• Of total 28, remaining 11 de-inducted on Wednesday
• Operated for last time from INS Viraat on March 6, 2016

Falklands blitz

• Sea Harriers entered service with Britain’s Royal Navy in 1980
• It served in the Falklands War (1982), both of the Gulf Wars, and the Balkans conflicts
• Its usage in the Falklands War was its most high profile and important success, where it was the only fixed-wing fighter available to protect the British Task Force over 8,000 miles from homeland. It was de-inducted from Royal Navy in 2006