Harrier Jump Jet

A Harrier GR7A of 800 Naval Air Sqn, Royal Navy
Role	V/STOL strike aircraft
Manufacturer	Hawker Siddeley McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace Boeing/BAE Systems
Introduced	1969
Primary users	United States Marine Corps^[1] Royal Air Force Royal Navy Spanish Navy
Developed from	Hawker P.1127/Kestrel FGA.1
Variants	Hawker Siddeley Harrier BAE Sea Harrier AV-8B Harrier II BAE Harrier II

The Harrier Jump Jet, often referred to as just "Harrier" or "the Jump Jet", is a British designed military jet aircraft capable of Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) via thrust vectoring. The Harrier family is the only truly successful design of this type from the many that arose in the 1960s.

There are four main versions of the Harrier family: Hawker Siddeley Harrier, British Aerospace Sea Harrier, Boeing/BAE Systems AV-8B Harrier II, and BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II. The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is the first generation version and is also known as the AV-8A Harrier. The Sea Harrier is a Maritime strike/air defense fighter. The AV-8B is the second generation Harrier and the BAE Harrier II is the British variant.

Development

Background

Following an approach by the Bristol Engine Company in 1957 that they were planning a directed thrust engine, Hawker Aircraft came up with a design for an aeroplane that could meet the NATO specification for a "Light Tactical Support Fighter". There was no financial support for the development from HM Treasury, but aid was found through the Mutual Weapon Development Project (MWDP) of NATO.

The P.1127 was ordered as a prototype and flew in 1960. NATO developed a specification (NBMR-3) for a VTOL aircraft, but one that was expected to have the performance of an aircraft like the F-4 Phantom. Hawker drafted a supersonic version of the P.1127, the P.1150, and also the Hawker P.1154 which would meet NBMR-3. The latter was a winner of the NATO competition and development continued until cancelled at the point of prototype construction in 1965.

Work on the P.1127 continued with 9 evaluation aircraft, the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel, ordered. These started flying in 1964 and were assessed by the "Tri-partite Evaluation Squadron" which consisted of British, US and German pilots. With the cancellation of the P.1154, the RAF ordered a modified P.1127/Kestrel as the Harrier GR.1 in 1966.

Harrier development summary

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A YAV-8B Harrier II tests a ski jump at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1/GR.3 and the AV-8A Harrier were the first generation of the Harrier series, the first operational close-support and reconnaissance attack aircraft with Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) capabilities. These were developed directly from the Hawker P.1127 prototype and the Kestrel evaluation aircraft.

The Harrier was extensively redeveloped by McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace, leading to the AV-8B Harrier II and Harrier GR5/GR7/GR9, respectively.^[2] Both were built by companies that are now parts of Boeing and BAE Systems.

The British Aerospace Sea Harrier is a naval V/STOL jet fighter, reconnaissance and attack aircraft, a development of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. The first version entered service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in April 1980 as the Sea Harrier FRS.1, and was informally known as the Shar. The upgraded Sea Harrier FA2 entered service in 1993. It was withdrawn from Royal Navy service in March 2006. The Sea Harrier FRS Mk.51 is in active service with the Indian Navy, which operates the jet from its aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

The Boeing/BAE Systems AV-8B Harrier II is a family of second-generation V/STOL jet multi-role aircraft of the late 20th century. Developed from the earlier Hawker Siddeley Harrier, it is primarily used for light attack or multi-role tasks, typically operated from small aircraft carriers. Versions are used by several NATO countries, including Spain, Italy, and the United States. The BAE Systems/Boeing Harrier II is a modified version of the AV-8B Harrier II. The Harrier II is used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and, since 2006, the Royal Navy. Both are primarily used for light attack or multi-role tasks, and are often operated from small aircraft carriers.

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The Hawker P.1127, predecessor of the Harrier	An RAF Harrier GR3 on display at Bletchley Park, England Main article: Hawker P.1127

RAF Harriers

Single-seater combat aircraft
- Harrier GR.1 (1966)
- Harrier GR.1/1A (1969)
- Harrier GR.3/3A

Two-seater training aircraft
- Harrier T.2/2A (1970)
- Harrier T.4/4A
- Harrier T.4N
- Harrier T.8 (1994)
- Harrier Mk.52 (two-seat company demonstrator)
- Harrier T.Mk 60

Wikipedia

The AV-8B Harrier

Overview

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The AV-8B V/STOL strike aircraft was designed to replace the AV-8A and the A-4M light attack aircraft. The Marine Corps requirement for a V/STOL light attack force has been well documented since the late 1950's. Combining tactical mobility, responsiveness, reduced operating cost and basing flexibility, both afloat and ashore, V/STOL aircraft are particularly well-suited to the special combat and expeditionary requirements of the Marine Corps. The AV-8BII+ features the APG-65 Radar common to the F/A-18, as well as all previous systems and features common to the AV-8BII.

The mission of the VMA STOVL squadron is to attack and destroy surface and air targets, to escort helicopters, and to conduct other such air operations as may be directed. Specific tasks of the AV-8B HARRIER II include:

Conduct close air support using conventional and specific weapons.
Conduct deep air support, to include armed reconnaissance and air interdiction, using conventional and specific weapons.
Conduct offensive and defensive antiair warfare. This includes combat air patrol, armed escort missions, and offensive missions against enemy ground-to-air defenses, all within the capabilities of the aircraft.
Be able to operate and deliver ordnance at night and to operate under instrument flight conditions.
Be able to deploy for extended operations employing aerial refueling.
Be able to deploy to and operate from carriers and other suitable seagoing platforms, advanced bases, expeditionary airfields, and remote tactical landing sites.

Operation Desert Storm in 1991 was highlighted by expeditionary air operations performed by the AV-8B. The Harrier II was the first Marine Corps tactical strike platform to arrive in theater, and subsequently operated from various basing postures. Three squadrons, totaling 60 aircraft, and one six-aircraft detachment operated ashore from an expeditionary airfield, while one squadron of 20 aircraft operated from a sea platform. During the ground war, AV-8Bs were based as close as 35 nautical miles (40.22 miles) from the Kuwait border, making them the most forward deployed tactical strike aircraft in theater. The AV-8B flew 3,380 sorties for a total of 4,083 flight hours while maintaining a mission capable rate in excess of 90%. Average turnaround time during the ground war surge rate flight operations was 23 minutes.

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Sea Harriers FA.2 on the deck of HMS Illustrious in the Persian Gulf

US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier

Main article: BAE Sea Harrier

Specifications
Contractor:	McDonnell Douglas Aircraft (Airframe Prime), Rolls Royce (Engine Prime)
Power Plant:	TAV-8B/AV-8B Day Attack (DA): One Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-406 turbofan engine with approximately 20,280 pounds of thrust AV-8B Night Attack (NA)/AV-8B Radar: One Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408A turbofan engine with approximately 22,200 pounds of thrust
Accommodations:	AV-8B DA/NA/Radar Aircraft: Pilot only TAV-8B Trainer: Two seats
Performance:	Maximum airspeed: 550 KCAS Range greater than 142 nautical miles high speed/low altitude combat radius Maximum range: 900 nautical miles
Countermeasures:	Not applicable
Armament:	One fuselage-mounted 25 mm gun system Standard Air-to-Ground (A/G) load: Six Mk 82, 500 pound bombs Standard Air-to-Air (A/A) load: Four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder missiles Provisions for carrying up to 9,000 pounds of ordnance on seven stations
Mission and Capabilities:	The AV-8B single seat Vertical/Short Takeoff and Land (V/STOL) aircraft is the primary close air support/intermediate range intercept/attack mission fixed-wing aircraft for the USMC and the Spanish and Italian navies. The AV-8B can carry and deliver an assortment of conventional stores such as the Mk 83 1,000 pound GP bomb, GBU-12 500 pound LGB, GBU-16 1,000 LGB, CBU-99/100 Cluster Bomb Units, and 2.75" and 5" rockets. The NA configuration includes: night vision goggle-compatible cockpit controls and displays, a wide-field-of-view HUD, a Navigation Forward Looking Infrared (NAVFLIR) system, a Digital Map Unit (DMU), and an Angle Rate Bombing System (ARBS) with laser spot tracker, which provides first pass day or night target strike capability at low altitude/high speed. The Radar aircraft retains all night attack capability but integrates the AN/APG-65 radar system to extend the tracking capabilities of the aircraft for A/G delivery and A/A defense modes. V/STOL capability allows the AV-8B to be deployed with ground units using amphibious shipping and/or forward basing for rapid close air support response.
Program Summary:	All three variants of the AV-8B are in service with the USMC (deployed in WestPac and the Mediterranean). The Spanish Navy has DA/Radar AV-8Bs. The Italian Navy has Radar AV-8Bs only. The U.S., Italy, and Spain are partners in a collaborative international program. The original DA AV-8B was replaced by the NA variant in 1990, which incorporated the F402-RR-408A engine and expanded night fighting systems such as NAVFLIR, DMU, night vision goggle capability, and wide-field-of-view HUD. In 1993, the Radar AV-8B was fielded with the full night fighting capability and an AN/APG-65 Radar set to improve A/G and A/A tactical effectiveness. In 1994, the U.S. began a remanufacturing process to convert DA AV-8Bs to the Radar configuration (REMAN); deliveries began in 1996. Currently, a NA/Radar AV-8B upgrade program is underway to incorporate an Automatic Target Handoff System (ATHS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) capability into the aircraft. ATHS allows direct digital target/mission data exchange between the pilot and ground units. GPS integration improves navigational and weapons delivery accuracy. The AV-8B has seen service in the Persian Gulf (Desert Storm), Somalia (both U.S. and Italian AV-8Bs), and Bosnia (peacekeeping operations). A total of 51 Radar Aircraft are authorized for procurement by the U.S., Italy, and Spain. The U.S. has a planned procurement/delivery program for 73 REMAN AV-8Bs (FY 1996 - 2002).

Federation Of American Scientists

Specifications
	Kestrel FGA.1	Harrier GR3/AV-8A	Sea Harrier FA2	Harrier GR9	AV-8B+ Harrier
Crew	One (Two for trainer versions)
Length	42 ft 6 in (13.0 m)	47 ft 2 in (14.4 m)	46 ft 6 in (14.2 m)	46 ft 4 in (14.1 m)	47 ft 8 in (14.5 m)
Wingspan	22 ft 11 in (6.99 m)	25 ft 3 in (7.70 m)	25 ft 3 in (7.70 m)	30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)	30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)
Height	10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)	11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)	12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)	11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)	11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Empty Weight	10,000 lb (4,540 kg)	12,200 lb (5,530 kg)	14,052 lb (6,370 kg)	12,500 lb (5,670 kg)?	13,968 lb (6,340 kg)
Maximum take-off weight (short takeoff)	17,000 lb (7,710 kg)	26,000 lb (11,800 kg)	26,200 lb (11,900 kg)	31,000 lb (14,100 kg)	31,000 lb (14,100 kg)
Max speed	545 mph (877 km/h)	731 mph (1,180 km/h)	735 mph (1,180 km/h)	662 mph (1,070 km/h)	662 mph (1,070 km/h)
Combat radius		200 nmi (370 km)		300 nmi (556 km)	300 nmi (556 km)
Engine	Pegasus 6	Pegasus 11 Mk 101	Pegasus 11 Mk 106	Pegasus 11 Mk 107	Pegasus 11 Mk 105
Thrust	15,000 lbf (66.7 kN)	21,800 lbf (97.0 kN)	21,800 lbf (97.0 kN)	24,750 lbf (110 kN)	23,500 lbf (105 kN)
Radar	None	None	Blue Vixen	None	AN/APG-65

Sources: Norden^[3] [1]

Operators of the Harrier (all variants)

References

Notes

"Harrier Production", Harrier.org.uk.

Norden, Lon O. Harrier II, Validating V/STOL. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2006. ISBN 1-59114-536-8.

Norden 2006, Appendix C.

True Lies trivia. IMDb.

Bibliography

Cowan, Ed Charles W. Flypast 2. Berkshire, Windsor, UK: Profile Publications Ltd, 1972. ISBN 0-85383-191-2.

"Hansard, Written Answers." House of Commons, 5 January 2004.

Jenkins, Dennis R. Boeing / BAe Harrier. Plantation, FL: Specialty Press, 1998. ISBN 1-58007-014-0.

Norden, Lon O. Harrier II, Validating V/STOL. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2006. ISBN 1-59114-536-8.

RAF Cottesmore Station Harrier Specifications

The Harrier II Plus (AV-8B), manufactured by BAE SYSTEMS and Boeing, is a VSTOL fighter and attack aircraft operational with the US Marine Corps, the Spanish Navy and the Italian Navy.

The Harrier II Plus extends the capabilities of the Harrier with the introduction of a multi-mode radar and beyond-visual-range missile capability.

The US Marine Corps received the first AV-8B in 1993. The USMC has 215 aircraft. The Italian Navy has 18 and the Spanish Navy 17. The UK Royal Air Force has 60 Harrier GR.7 aircraft which are being upgraded to GR.9. The Harrier GR9 entered service in September 2006, with delivery of the first 24 aircraft.

First operational deployment of the GR9 was in January 2007 at Kandahar in Afghanistan as part of the NATO International Security Force (ISAF).

Since 1969, 824 Harrier variants have been delivered. Manufacture of new Harriers concluded in 1997. The last aircraft remanufactured to the Harrier II Plus configuration was delivered in December 2003. This marked the end of the Harrier production line.

The AV-8B has been deployed in Operation Desert Storm, Somalia, Bosnia and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The cockpit is fully integrated for day and night operability and is equipped with head-up and head-down displays, a digital moving map, an Inertial Navigation System (INS), and a Hands-On Throttle and Stick system (HOTAS).

The Harrier II Plus is capable of deploying a wide range of weapon systems, including the air-to-air AMRAAM and Sparrow missiles, air-to-surface AGM-65 Maverick missiles, anti-ship Harpoon and Sea Eagle missiles, 25mm cannon, and a range of bombs and rockets.

The AIM-120A Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) from Raytheon Missile Systems is an all-weather, fire-and-forget air-to-air missile, equipped with an active radar seeker and a high-explosive warhead. The range is over 50 miles, and the speed of the missile is 1.2km a second.

The Maverick AGM-65 anti-tank missile is installed on the Italian Harrier II Plus. The AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missile, a predecessor to the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM, is held in the arms inventories of many countries, including the user countries of the Harrier II Plus aircraft. The Harrier II Plus is capable of deploying the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile from MBDA (formerly Matra BAe Dynamics), which is a fire-and-forget sea-skimming missile also carried on the Sea Harrier, and the air-launch version of Harpoon AGM-84 surface strike missile from Boeing.

USMC Harriers are being fitted with the 1,000lb Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM).

AV-8B aircraft have been fitted with the Northrop Grumman Litening II targeting and reconnaissance pod. Litening II consists of a CCD TV camera for video reconnaissance and FLIR and laser spot tracker/rangefinder for targeting. These are to be replaced with the latest generation Litening AT (Advanced Targeting) pod.

The Harrier II Plus is equipped with the Raytheon APG-65 digital radar to provide day and night and adverse weather capability. The APG-65 is a jam-resistant, all-weather detection and tracking radar. In the air-to-air role, the radar operates in search, track and combat modes. Long-range interception missions use the radar's long-range detection capability and, for the close-in air defense role, the radar uses rapid acquisition modes for the aircraft's 25mm cannon and heat-seeking missiles.

In the air-to-surface role, the APG-65 radar provides high-resolution, long-range surface mapping and detection, and tracking of land-based and sea-based targets. The radar has the capability to locate small, fast patrol boats in high sea states and to detect large naval ships at long range.

AV-8B aircraft are being fitted with the Northrop Grumman Litening II targeting and reconnaissance pod. Litening II consists of a CCD TV camera for video reconnaissance and FLIR and laser spot tracker / rangefinder for targeting.

The avionics suite of the Harrier II Plus is very similar to that of the US Marine Corps' Night Attack AV-8B, and is equipped with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, night-vision goggles (NVG) and an NVG-compatible cockpit. The image from the FLIR is projected on the wide-field-of-view head-up display or on one of the multi-purpose head-down displays to provide night-time and reduced-visibility capability.

The Pegasus engine 11-61 (F402-RR-408) from Rolls-Royce provides a high thrust-to-weight ratio and retains its performance in hot and high-altitude conditions. The significant aerodynamic features of the aircraft are large Leading-Edge Root Extensions (LERX) and under-fuselage Lift-Improvement Devices (LIDs), drooping ailerons (i.e. the control surface that forms part of the trailing edge of the wing), and the slotted flaps augmented vectored engine thrust.