Sea Harrier fighter jet shifted to a new museum on RK Beach in Visakhapatnam

The Sea Harrier fighter jet, that was stationed at the TU-142 Aircraft Museum, has been shifted to the new museum building located on RK Beach Road, Visakhapatnam. The inauguration of the museum is expected to take place in March 2022. The Sea Harrier fighter jet was decommissioned, by the Indian Navy, in 2016 and brought to Visakhapatnam, from Goa, by the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA).

Speaking to Yo! Vizag, VMRDA Executive Engineer, Bala Rama Raju, revealed that the Sea Harrier fighter jet has been shifted to the new museum building and the installation of it will begin soon. “This Sea Harrier fighter jet will be suspended from the ceiling of the building. Its engine, simulator, and other spare parts, will be displayed in the gallery. More artefacts will also be brought from Goa while the museum is getting ready.  It is likely to be inaugurated very soon.”

The Sea Harrier Museum on RK Beach Road will be part of an Integrated museum and a tourist complex project by the VMRDA. The project will consist of TU-142 Aircraft Museum, ‘Victory at Sea’ Memorial, AU Convention Hall,  INS Kursura Submarine Museum and with Sea Harrier Museum being the new addition on RK Beach, Visakhapatnam. Earlier the Rajiv Smruti Bhavan, on RK Beach Road, was heavily damaged by Cyclone HudHud. To accommodate the fighter jet, the Rajiv Smruti Bhavan, now known as Sea Harrier Museum Building was recently refurbished and beautified by VMRDA.

The Andhra Pradesh State Government had earlier sanctioned Rs 10 crore, for the development of the Sea Harrier Museum on RK Beach, to VMRDA. A 3D Naval Aviation Museum is also being incorporated, at an additional cost, in the tourism complex. The planned complex will also have a multi-storeyed parking lot and the outside area will be transformed into a no-parking zone.