Developed from early land-based Harrier variants, the Sea Harrier (FRS.1) first flew in Royal Navy service in 1978. It has an extended fuselage that houses its compact Ferranti Blue Fox radar, which folds 180° for shipboard stowage and a new cockpit with the seat raised to provide space for improved attack avionics and pilot view. In the Falklands war, the Sea Harrier proved to be remarkably rugged and reliable, flying six sorties a day in severe weather and maintaining a 95% serviceability rate even in hail storms. It was used to down 31 Argentine aircraft and attack ground targets as well. Sea Harriers also pioneered the 12° ski-jump used by Royal Navy carriers.
