April 7th 2003: an AV-8B Harrier "Jump Jet" takes off from the assault ship USS Nassau, to engage targets over Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom

The Harrier II is a family of second generation vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet aircraft of the late 20th century. They were developed from the earlier Hawker-Siddeley Harriers, are primarily used for light attack or multi-role tasks, and are almost all operated from small aircraft carriers. Versions of it are used primarily by NATO countries, and also by India. This includes: Image File history File links April 7th 2003: an AV-8B Harrier from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Air Combat Element ) commences its take-off run. ... Image File history File links April 7th 2003: an AV-8B Harrier from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Air Combat Element ) commences its take-off run. ... V/STOL is an acronym for Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing. ... CFM56-3 turbofan, lower half, side view. ... RAF Harrier GR7 The Hawker-Siddeley Harrier and the AV-8A are the first generation of the Harrier series, a revolutionary close-support and reconnaissance fighter aircraft with unique V/STOL capabilities. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

• The Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom under a number of variants and versions starting in the late 1980s, including the GR7, T10, FRS1, FA.2 and T4 versions. (see RAF Harrier II, BAE Sea Harrier )
• United States Marine Corps as the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B and TAV-8B starting in 1985.
• The Spanish Naval air wing (Arma Aerea De La Armada) as the AV-8B+, AV8-B and a TAV-8S.
• The Italian Navy air wing (Aviazione per la Marina Militare) as the AV-8B and TAV-8.
• The Indian Navy as the FRS51 and T60.

The Harrier II is also notable in history as an example of U.S.-U.K cooperation and of Cold War defense achievements. Of note is the U.S aid funding early development under the Mutual Weapons Development Program (MWDP) and the salvaging of what was left of AV-16A Advanced Harrier Program by McDonnell Douglas, making the second-generation family possible. The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Fleet Air Arm is the operational group of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... The Harrier GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9 and GR9A are all Royal Air Force variants of the BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II. The programme is a joint development between BAE and Boeing (initially British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas). ... See also Hawker-Siddeley Harrier The BAE Systems Harrier FA2 is the latest development of the Sea Harrier fighter/attack aircraft which entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980. ... United States Marine Corps seal The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ... Spanish Navy Ensign. ... Marina Militare naval jack Marina Militare (Italian Navy) is one of the four divisions of the military forces of Italy. ... Components Indian Army Indian Air Force Indian Navy Indian Coast Guard Indian Paramilitary Forces Strategic Nuclear Command History Military history of India British Indian Army Indian National Army Ranks Air Force ranks and insignia of India Army ranks and insignia of India Naval ranks and insignia of India Related Info... United States President John F. Kennedy and Soviet General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev meet in a 1961 summit held in Vienna, Austria at the height of the Cold War. ...

History

Introduction

The aircraft had its direct origins in a Joint U.S.-British project (Hawker-Siddeley and McDonnell Douglas Aircraft) for a much-improved Harrier aircraft, to be the AV-16A Advanced Harrier program. However cost over-runs in engine development on the part of Rolls Royce and in the aircraft development caused the British to pull out of the program. Interest remained in the U.S. so a less ambitious, though still expensive project was undertaken by McDonnell on their own catered to U.S. needs. Using things learned from AV-16A development, though dropping some things such as further Pegasus development, the development work continued leading the AV-8B for the U.S. Marine Corps. The aircraft was centered on the Marine's needs, light ground attack and was focused on payload and range as opposed to speed. In the late 1970 the British re-entered development of their own second generation Harrier based on the U.S. design leading eventually to the GR.5, which had somewhat different performance goals.

Overview and Use

The AV-8B is an extensively redesigned aircraft with a new composite wing, new cockpit and avionics (e.g., FLIR and new bombing system), and more powerful engine. The new wing enables higher take-off weights and more ordnance. The payload was nearly double and the range much increased over the older design, one of the chief complaints with the older type. It was focused primarily on close-air support, and all the added capabilities came at the cost of about 50 mph (80 km/h) slower speed. The AV-8B was put into service in January 1985 at a cost of US$21.6 million each. The design was further developed into later types with high-speed, that placed less focus on payload and range. Composite materials (or composites for short) are engineered materials made from two or more constituent materials that remain separate and distinct on a macroscopic level while forming a single component. ... The onboard electronics used for piloting an aircraft are called avionics (AVI-ation electr-ONICS). ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1985: Events Ryanair founded initially as a full-service carrier. ...

The primary mission of the AV-8B in USMC service is to provide responsive close air support for ground forces. This single-piloted, advanced V/STOL aircraft can operate from short fields, forward sites, roads and surface ships providing minimum response time to targets. Recent AV-8B II+ have an expanded secondary air-to-air role. United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ...

Three AV-8B squadrons stationed about 40 miles (64 km) from the Kuwaiti border, were the most forward deployed tactical strike aircraft during Operation Desert Storm and operated from relatively unprepared sites. One AV-8B squadron and one six-aircraft detachment operated off the landing helicopter ship USS Nassau in the Persian Gulf. The average turnaround time during the ground war surge was 23 minutes. A total of 86 Marine Harriers flew 3,567 sorties against Iraqi targets in Kuwait and Iraq. Five Harriers were lost – four in combat. Following the war, Marine Corps analysis showed that the placement of the engine nozzles that allow for the Harrier's Vertical Take-Off/Landing made the aircraft far more vulnerable to infrared surface-to-air missile fire than other aircraft. This is because the nozzles are almost dead center on the aircraft, which means that when infra-red guided missiles hit they generally damage a greater number of systems. See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ... Two ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Nassau, after the Nassau Sound off Florida. ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ... United States Marine Corps seal The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of microwave radiation. ... A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft. ...

In the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Harrier II versions saw extensive usage by both the USMC and RAF. USMC Harriers were based on two USMC amphibious assault ships, USS Bataan (LHD-5) and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6). Each carried 24 Harriers, about four times their normal complement of fixed-wing aircraft, and tried out the long dormant secondary purpose of the LHDs and LHAs, that of a small aircraft carrier, or sea control ship. RAF Harriers were shore-based in Kuwait. Two detachments from RAF Cottesmore were sent to the region, with one known to have been based at the Ahmed al Jaber Air Base (28°56′05″N, 47°47′31″E) in Kuwait, and the other at an undisclosed location. A total of 23 RAF Harriers took part in the campaign; one USMC Harrier crashed into the Persian Gulf early in the war while trying to land on the USS Nassau. The pilot ejected. Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 Invasion of Iraq began on March 20 and consisted mainly of United States and United Kingdom forces. ... USS Bataan (LHD-5) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1997. ... USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), the third United States Navy ship of that name, was named in honor of John Paul Jones famous frigate, which he had named the French language equivalent of Goodman Richard, in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the U.S. Ambassador to France at the time. ... RAF Cottesmore is a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England. ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ...

The current AV-8B Remanufacture Program converts older AV-8B day attack aircraft to the most recent production radar/night attack configuration. This radar-equipped version of the AV-8B, called the AV-8B II+, became operational in the summer of 1994. The AV-8B II+ uses the same AN/APG-65 radar system as the F/A-18 Hornet and is able to carry AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, giving the aircraft a considerable increase in anti-aircraft capabilities. However, these missiles are most likely to be deployed as a means of self-defense or airbase defense instead of air superiority, because despite its agility, the Harrier is subsonic and therefore slower than most fighters. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1994: Events April April 14 - USAF F-15 Eagles shoot down two US Army Iraq, mis-identifying them as Iraqi Mil Mi-25s April 16 - a Royal Navy Sea Harrier is shot down over Serbia by a SA-7 Grail. ... The AN/APG-65, AN/APG-73, and AN/APG-79 radars are a family of highly reliable, all-weather multimode radar systems designed by Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon) for the F/A-18 Hornet. ... April 2003: Two United States Navy F/A-18 Hornets prepare to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman. ... The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced am-ram), commonly known to air crews as the Slammer, is a modern air-to-air missile (AAM). ...

Avionics: AN/APG-65 radar, ASB-19(V) angle-rate bombing system, laser spot tracker, TV tracker, CEC-Marconi FLIR, GPS The AN/APG-65, AN/APG-73, and AN/APG-79 radars are a family of highly reliable, all-weather multimode radar systems designed by Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon) for the F/A-18 Hornet. ... A forward looking infrared (FLIR) system is a television camera that takes pictures in infrared. ... Over fifty GPS satellites such as this NAVSTAR have been launched since 1978. ...

Manufacture

Aircraft were built by McDonnell Douglas and BAE Systems the latter at their Kingston & Dunsfold facilities in Surrey, in the UK. The factorys were also home to the Hawker Hunter, & BAe Hawk T1. Systems plc is the worlds fourth largest defence contractor and a commercial aerospace products manufacturer. ... The BAE Hawk is an advanced jet trainer manufactured by BAE Systems and used by the Royal Air Force and other countries air forces. ...

The aircraft is known mainly as the AV-8B in USMC service and the GR7/GR9 in RAF service. The AV-8A (and also TAV-8A versions) , which was the previous generation of Harrier and should not be confused with the next generation, was a Hawker-Siddeley Harrier GR.3 procured for the US Marine Corps. United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... The Harrier GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9 and GR9A are all Royal Air Force variants of the BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II. The programme is a joint development between BAE and Boeing (initially British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas). ... RAF Harrier GR7 The Hawker-Siddeley Harrier and the AV-8A are the first generation of the Harrier series, a revolutionary close-support and reconnaissance fighter aircraft with unique V/STOL capabilities. ... United States Marine Corps seal The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ...

Variants

Harrier II variants can vary significantly depending on the exact model, even among a single country's aircraft.

• YAV-8B
• AV-8B Harrier II — Two versions were developed. The first was commonly known as the "Day Attack" variant. Later, a "Night Attack" variant was fielded (1991). The Night Attack Harrier incorporated a Navigation Forward Looking Infrared camera (NAV FLIR) and the cockpit was made compatible with night vision goggles (NVGs). It was also able to use the larger Rolls Royce engine. The II+ described below is identical to the Night Attack variant, except it incorporates an APG-65 radar, the same as in early F/A-18 Hornets.
• AV-8B II+ — AV-8B with radar (APG-65) allowing firing of radar guided air-to-air missiles; should be designated AV-8C.
• AV-8C — An experimental version developed from the AV-8A model
• TAV-8B Harrier II — A two-seat trainer version

• EAV-8B — Spanish Navy version

• Harrier GR5 — First RAF version of RAF Harrier II
• Harrier GR7 — Avionics upgrade to GR5
• Harrier GR7A — GR7 with more powerful engine
• Harrier GR9 — Avionics upgrade to GR7
• Harrier GR9A — Avionics upgrade and more powerful engine

The Harrier GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9 and GR9A are all Royal Air Force variants of the BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II. The programme is a joint development between BAE and Boeing (initially British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas). ...

Operating squadrons

USMC

• VMA-211 VMA-211 official page
• VMA-214 VMA-214 official page
• VMA-311 VMA-311 official page
• VMA-513 VMA-513 official page
• VMA-203 (Fleet Replacement Squadron)VMAT-203 official page
• VMA-231 VMA-231 official page
• VMA-223 VMA-223 official page
• VMA-542 VMA-542 official page

Marine Attack Squadron 211 (Wake Island Avengers) falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. ... Official force name Marine Attacks Squadron 214 Other names The Blacksheep Motto N/A. Branch United States Marine Corps Chain of Command Marine Aircraft Group 13 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Description Combat ready expeditionary aviation forces. ... Marine Attack Squadron 311 (Tomcats) falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. ... Marine Attack Squadron 513 (Flying Nightmares) falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. ... Official force name Marine Attacks Squadron 231 Other names Ace of Spades Motto N/A. Branch United States Marine Corps Chain of Command 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Aircraft Group 14 Description Combat ready expeditionary aviation forces. ... Marine Attack Squadron 223 falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. ... Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA-542) is a United States Marine Corps fixed wing attack squadron that consists of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. ...

RAF

• No. 1 Squadron
• No. 3 Squadron
• No. IV Squadron
• No. 20 Squadron
• RAF SAOEU Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit

Once upon a time, there was a place called Mount Olympus, which was far up in the sky on a mountain. ... No. ... No. ... No. ...

Specifications (AV-8B)

Note:  Data may differ for other versions.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 46 ft 4 in (14.1 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft 4 in (9.2 m)
• Height: 11 ft 9 in (3.5 m)
• Wing area: 243.4 ft² (22.61 m²)
• Empty: 12,500 lb (5,700 kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 29,750 lb (13,400 kg)
• Power plant: 1x Rolls-Royce F402-RR-406, 23,800 lbf (106 kN) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 629 mph (1000 km/h) 547 knots
• Range: 685 miles (1,000 km)
• Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 14,715 ft/min (4,485 m/min)

Armament

• Detachable fuselage strakes can be replaced with pods for one GAU-12U "Equalizer" 25 mm cannon (left pod) and 300 rounds of ammunition (right pod) 7 pylons for a maximum of 13,200 lb (STOL) of stores, including: Iron bombs, cluster bombs, napalm canisters, laser-guided bombs, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and up to four AIM-9 Sidewinder or similar-sized infrared-guided missiles. AV-8B+ variants can carry up to four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.

The General Electric GAU-12/U Equalizer is a 25 mm, five-barrel Gatling gun used by the United States and several other NATO nations. ... The AGM-65 Maverick is an air-to-surface tactical missile (ASM) designed for close air support, prohibition, and forceful prevention. ... Sidewinder Missile The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. ... The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced am-ram), commonly known to air crews as the Slammer, is a modern air-to-air missile (AAM). ...

Films

• The Arnold Schwarzenegger spy-action movie True Lies
• The science fiction movie Battlefield Earth starring John Travolta.
• Aerialbot Slingshot in The Transformers
• Spy movie spoof Spy Hard starring Leslie Nielsen.
• An alien ship was disguised as a Harrier II in a Japanese science fiction movie, The Returner.

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, Golden Globe award winning actor, and Republican politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of California. ... True Lies is a 1994 action movie directed by James Cameron. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Battlefield Earth is the title of both a science fiction novel written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, and a film adaptation of the novel produced by and starring John Travolta. ... John Travolta (left) and Samuel L. Jackson (right) in Pulp Fiction. ... In the Transformers toyline, the Aerialbots (called Airbots in Japan) are a group of five Autobots that transform into aeroplanes and combine to form the giant robot Superion. ... Slingshot is an incessant braggart, even when hes done absolutely nothing to brag about. ... Various Transformers toys. ... Spy Hard is a 1996 movie starring Leslie Nielsen, parodying James Bond films and other films in the genre. ... Canadian actor Leslie Nielsen has portrayed the character of Frank Drebin in three feature films and a television series. ... Returner (Hong Kong Poster) Image:Returner Cast. ...

External links

• RTP-TV AeroSpace Show: Video of Harrier Hovering
• Navy.mil - Standard Aircraft Characteristics: AV-8B Harrier II
• UK MoD Release lauds No. 1 Squadron & No. 3 Squadron's role in Afghanistan with GR7As (August 10, 2005)
• Defense Industry Daily: AV-8B Harrier finding Success in Iraq (March 30, 2005)

Related content

Related development

• Hawker P.1127
• Hawker Kestrel
• Hawker-Siddeley Harrier
• Sea Harrier
• RAF Harrier II

Comparable aircraft

• Boeing X-32
• F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
• Yakovlev Yak-38

Designation sequence

• A-5 - A-6 - A-7 - AV-8 - YA-9 - A-10 - A-12

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States

  The Hawker P.1127 was the development aircraft that led to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first VTOL jet fighter bomber. ... The Hawker P.1127 was the development aircraft that led to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first VTOL jet fighter bomber. ... RAF Harrier GR7 The Hawker-Siddeley Harrier and the AV-8A are the first generation of the Harrier series, a revolutionary close-support and reconnaissance fighter aircraft with unique V/STOL capabilities. ... See also Hawker-Siddeley Harrier The BAE Systems Harrier FA2 is the latest development of the Sea Harrier fighter/attack aircraft which entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980. ... The Harrier GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9 and GR9A are all Royal Air Force variants of the BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II. The programme is a joint development between BAE and Boeing (initially British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas). ... Boeing X-32 with competitor, the Lockheed X-35 (right) Boeing X-32 JSF concept AEDC In 1990 the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) launched the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter project (CALF). ... The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a military fighter aircraft designed by the United States and the United Kingdom. ... 3-view drawing The Yakovlev Yak-38 (NATO reporting name: Forger) was Soviet Naval Aviations first and only operational VTOL multi-role combat aircraft. ... The North American A3J/A-5 Vigilante was a powerful, highly advanced carrier-based supersonic bomber designed for the US Navy. ... An A-6 Intruder landing aboard an Aircraft carrier. ... A-7 Corsair II The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II was a light attack aircraft based on the F-8 Crusader. ... The YA-9 in flight The Northrop YA-9 was a prototype attack aircraft developed for the USAF, but passed over in preference for the Fairchild YA-10 that became the A-10 Thunderbolt II in service. ... A-10 Thunderbolt II USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II USAF A-10 Thunderbolt from 1975 The only twin seat A-10 created. ... The McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics A-12 Avenger II was an American aircraft program from McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics designed to be an all-weather, stealth attack replacement for the A-6 Intruder in the United States Navy and Marines. ... This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production and operational types. ...

Active military aircraft of the United States

Attack: AV-8 Harrier II | A-10 Thunderbolt II | AH-1 Cobra | AH-64 Apache | Bomber: B-52 Stratofortress | B-1B Lancer | B-2 Spirit | F-117A Nighthawk | Cargo: C-5 Galaxy | C-9 Skytrain II | C-17 Globemaster III | C-20 Gulfstream III | C-21 Learjet | C-22B | VC-25A - Air Force One | C-32 | C-37 Gulfstream V | C-40 Clipper | C-130 | C-141B Starlifter | UH-1N Iroquois | H-3 Sea King | CH-46 Sea Knight | CH-47 Chinook | H-53 | UH-60 Black Hawk | Fighter: F-15 Eagle | F-16 Fighting Falcon | F/A-18 Hornet | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet | F-22 Raptor | Special: C-135 | KC-10 Extender | E-3 Sentry | E-4B NAOC | E-8C Joint Stars | EA-6 Prowler | A/MH-6 Little Bird | OH-58 Kiowa | S-3 Viking | P-3 Orion | U-2 | Trainer: T-1 Jayhawk | T-37 Tweet | T-38 Talon | T-43 | T-6 Texan II | UAV : RQ-1 Predator | RQ-4 Global Hawk |