Bidding adieu to Sea Harriers!

Today, the Indian Navy will bid adieu to Sea Harriers fighter aircrafts and make way for new generation of fighters. The British Sea Harriers will be replaced by Russian MiG 29K/Kub fighters.

These were fantastic machines – they could take off and land at any speed from zero to 160 knots. The Sea Harrier had the luxury to first stop and then land and that too, on any small land strip. The fighters were capable of Air to Air refuelling to operate at extended ranges.

In 1983, Indian Navy had purchased 30 Sea Harriers and they were operated by some of the best A class pilots of India navy. Apart from a strong of accidents, high maintenance cost is also one reason why these air crafts are being phased out.

Today these aircrafts would be phased out in a grand ceremony wherein, typical defence style, Commander Shikhu Raj, a Sea Harrier pilot, hands over the command of the squadron to Captain KHV Singh, a MiG 29K pilot.  There will also be an air display by Sea Harriers and MiG 29Ks which will mark the last flight of the Sea Harriers in the Indian Navy.

Sea Harriers have been the air arm of India’s battleships, INS Viraat and INS Vikrant. While INS Vikrant has already been dismantled, INS Viraat is also being phased out. These Sea Harriers are most likely to be rested at museums across India.