Sea Harrier with a nuke

[Mike Pryce]

A few years ago I recall seeing a picture of a Sea Harrier with a WE.177 nuclear weapon in a book. I think it was:

Keeping the Peace - The Aldermaston Story by David J Hawkings

Can anyone confirm this? I'd like to trace the pic.

As I understand it they would have used the WE.177 both for attacking ports etc. and for depth charging subs (if no helo could do it), using the IFF signal from the SHAR to locate its position, correlate with ship/helo sonar plot of the sub and then 'kaboom'!

I know there are pics in Laming's Buccanneer book showing WE.177 being dropped from a Bucc., but any other pics of it on the SHAR or any other aircraft anyone has seen?

 

[uk 75]

http://www.nuclear-weapons.info/vw.htm#WE.177 Photo Gallery

 

[Mike Pryce]

http://www.nuclear-weapons.info/vw.htm#WE.177 Photo Gallery

Why I love this forum.

Ask. Then just wait.....!


Have to wonder what sortie/scenario would require a nuke and four Sidewinders. A pretty lively situation.

 

[Jason Dykstra (Wyvern)]

Have to wonder what sortie/scenario would require a nuke and four Sidewinders. A pretty lively situation.

I assume the Sidewinders are there for self-defence or for breaking into hostile territory and breaking out again.

 

[Mike Pryce]

Have to wonder what sortie/scenario would require a nuke and four Sidewinders. A pretty lively situation.

I assume the Sidewinders are there for self-defence or for breaking into hostile territory and breaking out again.

Yes, I guess nuking people tends to rile them up.

An escort for a bomber may make more sense. The pilot of the bomber would probably be busy with switches and checking the map in case of 'oops'.

 

[kitnut617]

Chris Gibson's book 'Nimrod's Genesis' would give a good clue as to why a Sea Harrier would be dropping a nuke. And for the Sidewinders, some submarines had a missile self defense system.

 

[Mike Pryce]

I wonder if they smoked a nuke?

 

[MatrixRupture]

I wonder if they smoked a nuke? View attachment 656292

What is this plane, where is the RWR antenna on the tail?

 

[NMaude]

What is this plane, where is the RWR antenna on the tail?

It would appear to be a Sea Harrier.

 

[MatrixRupture]

It would appear to be a Sea Harrier.

But notice the vertical stabiliser, it has no RWR

 

[NMaude]

But notice the vertical stabiliser, it has no RWR

It could be a Sea Harrier not fitted with RWR, the only other aircraft I can think of is the Sepecat Jaguar.

 

[MatrixRupture]

It could be a Sea Harrier not fitted with RWR, the only other aircraft I can think of is the Sepecat Jaguar.

Or Gr.7

 

[NMaude]

Or Gr.7

GR.7.

 

[Mike Pryce]

What is this plane, where is the RWR antenna on the tail?

It's a GR.5/7/9 I think. The photo just showed a smoky Sidewinder launched from a Harrier, although it did come from this page on the Sea Harrier https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/sea-harrier-fa2/

The only proper Sea Harrier photo I've found is an older, less dramatically smoky-looking one. What I was wondering is if they ever launched a Sidewinder next to a WE.177 as a test I think.

 

[MatrixRupture]

It's a GR.5/7/9 I think. The photo just showed a smoky Sidewinder launched from a Harrier, although it did come from this page on the Sea Harrier https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/sea-harrier-fa2/

The only proper Sea Harrier photo I've found is an older, less dramatically smoky-looking one. What I was wondering is if they ever launched a Sidewinder next to a WE.177 as a test I think.

I’m sure they likely would have done during trials. Not sure if a picture of that exists though.

As for cool Shar shots