OVERVIEW: The Sea Harrier Mk51 (LUSH) belongs to the first generation of the Harrier family, is a carrier-based, single-engine, subsonic, V/STOL multirole fighter-interceptor operated by the Indian Navy. It served in upgraded form as India’s primary naval fighter before retirement, providing fleet air defense from INS Viraat.

DETAILS: The Sea Harrier Mk51 was originally acquired by the Indian Navy in the 1980s and operated from carriers such as INS Vikrant and later INS Viraat. By the 2000s, surviving airframes were upgraded under the Limited Upgrade Sea Harrier (LUSH) program. The aircraft retained the Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 104 vectored-thrust turbofan engine, with a maximum speed of approximately Mach 0.95. It was equipped with 5 external hardpoints, capable of carrying 30 mm ADEN cannon pods, bombs, fuel tanks, and air-to-air missiles. In its upgraded form, it was integrated with the Israeli Elta EL/M-2032 radar and equipped with Rafael Derby beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles. The upgraded radar and fire-control suite significantly enhanced detection range and engagement capability while retaining the original airframe and propulsion system.

The “Mk51” designation refers to the export version of the British Sea Harrier FRS.1; no changes were made to this designation post-upgrade. The LUSH program included confirmed upgrades: EL/M-2032 radar, mission computers, helmet-mounted displays, and Derby BVR integration. These were introduced to extend the platform’s service life and relevance in modern air combat environments until the arrival of MiG-29K fighters.

TYPE: V/STOL fleet air defense and strike aircraft

FUNCTION: From 2009 to 2016, the Sea Harrier Mk51 (LUSH) was primarily used for maritime fleet air defense and combat air patrol from INS Viraat. The integration of BVR missiles and modern radar allowed it to remain operationally effective despite its aging airframe until its final retirement in 2016.

NOTE:
IOC: Sea Harrier FRS.1 (1979), Sea Harrier Mk51 (1984), Sea Harrier Mk51 LUSH (2006)
Manufacturer: British Aerospace (UK)
Operators: India
Conflict used in: None in combat role

SOURCE:
Indian Navy official archive ; Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft ; UK National Archives: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ ; Bharat Rakshak: https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/aircraft/sea-harrier/ ; Flight Global 2006–2016 ; Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) ; Defense Industry Daily: https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/india-upgrades-sea-harriers-waits-for-migs-02199/