- Yes
- No
Introduction: The BAeD Sea Eagle is an anti-ship missile that was used by the RAF from the 1980’s to the 2000’s, being the primary anti-shipping armament for the RAF and RN’s fast jets.
History: Throughout the late Sixties and Seventies, Hawker Siddeley Dynamics had designed and produced numerous variants of the AJ.168 Martel missile. Despite all this, none entered service, and only a few ever reached the prototype stage. However, one variant stands out, this one is the P.3T, better known as Sea Eagle. Though aerodynamically similar to Martel, the two share very little in common.
Description: Sea Eagle was a long-range weapon, designed for launch against surface vessels from fast jets. The missile used a Microturbo TRI-60 jet engine, which gave the missile 112km (70 miles) of range, thus over-the-horizon capability. The missile was truly fire-and-forget, unlike its predecessor, the Martel, which required a data link pod, and constant guidance from an operator. The missile was navigated by an Inertial Navigation System (INS) during its flight phase, with the terminal guidance being done by active radar, which can detect a target of 100m2 from up to 30km away. It’s range, in conjunction with the ability to carry out various attack profiles, allows the launching aircraft to remain out of harms way. This system made it hard to jam, but it posed a problem when a specific target was meant to be attacked, which was made difficult since the missile attacked the first target detected by the radar.
The missile uses an RDX-TNT warhead, which is capable of penetrating the skin of a ship, before detonating. This is supposed to produce an explosive force large enough to break the bulkheads in a ship. The explosion is made larger through the ignition of unused fuel in the missile.
Before launch, the launching aircraft receives (or calculates) the target’s range, speed and heading. The missile is then launched, and drops in altitude to just a few metres above the surface. Attacks on targets from long distances require a short “pop-up” manoeuvre to correct the INS, before returning to its previous altitude. The missile’s altitude is controlled by radio altimeter, using advanced signal methods to conceal the missile’s position. The Sea Eagle can also perform vertical and horizontal manoeuvres to improve survivability.
The missile was used by the RAF on its Buccaneer S.2B aircraft, which were eventually replaced by the Tornado GR.1B. The missile was also tested on a BAE Hawk and Sea Harrier FRS.1. The Sea Eagle was an export success, being sold to India, Saudi Arabia and Chile.
Carried by:
Spoiler
Panavia Tornado GR.1B
Panavia Tornado GR.4 (supposedly integrated, but likely never carried in service)
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B
BAE Hawk 200
BAE Sea Harrier FRS.1/FA.2
SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 XX979
Performance:
Spoiler
General
Origin
United Kingdom
Type
Air launched anti-ship missile
Dimensions
Length
4.14 m
Diameter
0.4 m
Wingspan
1.2 m
Weight
580 kg
Guidance
Terminal
Active radar homing, J-band radar
Inertial navigation
Autopilot with twin gyro system
Altimeter
C-band radar altimeter
Maneuvering
Pre-programmable mid course maneuvers
Warhead
Type
Semi-armor piercing
Weight
230 kg PBX
Engagement envelope
Propulsion
Microturbo TRI 60 turbojet
Speed
Mach 0.85
Range
Over 110 km, depends on launch speed and altitude
Flight time
400 seconds
Flight altitude
Sea skimming missile
Conclusion: I believe that this would be an interesting addition to the British tree and would be a valuable addition as ships get more modern and maps get larger.
Sources:
Spoiler
“British Secret Projects: Hypersonics, Ramjets and Missiles” by Chris Gibson and Tony Buttler
GBR - Sea Eagle : Anti-Ship Missiles (ASM)
Sea Eagle anti-ship missile | Missilery.info
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060036100
The British Carrier Strike Fleet after 1945 - David Hobbs - Google Books
Air Force Magazine - Google Books
.British Aerospace Sea Harrier Hobbymaster,Herpa Announcements
Sea Eagle - Pics? - Aviation Discussion & Research - Large Scale Planes