Jumping Sea Harrier fast turning into “Flying Coffins” for pilots

India purchased 30 Sea Harriers in 1983, using 25 of these for operational flying and the remaining to train pilots. Since then eight pilots have died in 18 crashes involving the Sea Harrier and more than half of the fleet is now gone, lost mostly to routine sorties. Particular Aircraft which crashed on 21 August 2009 which killed the pilot LT CDR Saurav Saxena had gone mid-life upgrade and was equipped with Elta EL/M-2032 radar and the Rafael 'Derby' medium range air to air missile. This will enable the Sea Harrier to remain in Indian service until beyond 2012. India is the only operator who is operating VTOL/STOVL jet fighter since Royal Navy has already retired them and only US marines operate their advance version of AV-8B Harrier II which was jointly developed by McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace. In India Sea Harriers are mostly operated from Shore based Naval Air base in “INS HANSA “Naval base in Goa located on premises of the Dabolim airport. Indian navy has lost more then 8 jets in span of 9 years now. Navy is also facing problems getting spares for the Jumping jets while Navy brought four Sea Harriers air frames from Royal Navy to cannabalise them for spares for use in India’s fast depleting Jump Jet squadrons. British official had also offered to locate a harrier post design service station in India to overhaul and maintain the navy’s Sea Harrier fighters. But navy was not interested in that proposal; now flying has been restricted because of falling numbers. With less than dozen Jumping jet left Navies Air Arm is having serious problems since induction of Mig-29k has been delayed and Naval Tejas which still to take its first flight will take more then 5 years to mature to be inducted in the Naval Air arm