AV-8 Harrier :Specification

MANUFACTURER: McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace
CREW: 1 (2 in TAV-8 B)
ENGINES:1 Rolls-Royce F402-RR-406 Pegasus 11-21 turbofan
or 1 Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408 Pegasus 11-61 turbofan

Max power: -406: 21,450 Ib (9,730 kg) static thrust-408: 23,400 Ib (10,614kg) static thrust
Internal fuel capacity:1,100 US gal (4,164 liters)
Max internal and external fuel capacity:approx 2,300 US gal
(8,705 liters)

WEIGHTS:
Empty: -406: 13,086 Ib (5,936 kg)
-408: 13,968 Ib (6,336 kg)
Max weapons load:-406: 9,200 Ib (4,173 kg)-408: 13,235 Ib(6,003kg)
Design limit: for 7 g operation
22,950 Ib (10,410kg)
Max takeoff: -406, sea level, verticaltakeoff: ISA, 18,950 Ib (8,595kg);at90°F(32°C), 17,950 Ib
(8,142 kg)-408, tropical day: 20,595
Ib (9,342 kg)with 1,640-ft (500-m)
Takeoff roll: 31,000 Ib
(14,061 kg)

DIMENSIONS:
Wingspan: 30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)
Length: 46 ft 4 in (14.12 m)
Height: Ilft73/4in (3.55m)
Wing area: 230 ft2 (21.37 m2)

PERFORMANCE:
Max speed sea level: 580 kts (668
mph; 1,075 km/h;Mach 0.88)
at altitude: Mach 0.91
Climb rate: more than 13,000 ft/min
(3,962 m/min)
Ceiling: 50,000 ft (12,240 m)
radius with 1,200-ft (366-m) roll, 7 500-Ib (227-kg) bombs, and 2 300-USgal(1,136-liter) drop tanks
-406: 471 nm (542 mi;873 km)
-408: 594 nm (684 mi;1,100 km)
Ferry range: with 300-US gal (1,136-liter)
Drop tanks:dropped-406: 2,067 nm (2,380 mi;3,850 km)-408: l,965nm (2,263 mi;3,639 km) retained-406: l,720nm (1,981 mi;
3,187 km)-408: l,638nm (1,886 mi;
3,034 km)
Range: 2,560 nm (2,946 mi;
4,741 km) max fuel
Armament: 1 GAU-12/Umultibarrel
25-mm cannon, 250roundsand 16 500-lb (227-kg)bombs or 10 Paveway laserguided bombs
or 12 cluster bombs or 10 rocket pods or 6 AIM-9 Sidewinder
Radar:AAMor 2 Sidewinder + 4
AGM-65 Maverick ASM

AV-8 Harrier :Overview

The AV-8 Harrier is an advanced Vertical Short Takeoff and Landing (VSTOL) fighter/attack aircraft that is coproduced by McDonnell Douglas Aircraft and British Aerospace. It has the ability to take off vertically and hover. The AV-8 B differs from previous Harriers by having a larger, more efficient wing shape, larger trailingedge flaps and ventral air brake, strakes under the gun/ammunition pods, redesigned engine intakes and nozzles, strengthened landing gear, a ventral air dam, and a more powerful engine, providing twice the payload of the AV-8 A.

AV-8 Harrier :Characteristics

The shoulder-mounted, low-aspectratio swept wings have supercritical airfoil sections and Leading-Edge Root Extensions (LERX) that increase instantaneous turn rate. In later aircraft, the LERX is enlarged for better handling and survivability. Single-slotted trailingedge flaps are located inboard of the midwing landing-gear pods. Drooping ailerons are located outboard. The flaps are positioned automatically during flight to generate the best lift at a given angle of attack.

The tail unit features a swept, pointed fin and rudder with a ventral fin below the fuselage. The aircraft is also fitted with a Stability Augmentation and Attitude Hold System (SAAHS) and a short tailboom.

The Harrier's single engine provides both lift and thrust. It has large, semicircular engine air intakes with two vertical rows of auxiliary air doors on each side of the fuselage. The engine power has been upgraded several times during production.

In place of a conventional exhaust nozzle, the Harrier uses swiveling exhausts that can be repositioned for hovering flight and for better combat maneuvering. A water injection system increases thrust by 2,500 Ib (1,134 kg) for IVz minutes to aid in hot-weather takeoffs and landings.

Retractable bicycle landing gear retracts into the fuselage; a single-wheel unit is forward, a twin-wheel unit aft. Rearward-folding outrigger landing gear retracts into pods extending aft from the midspan of each wing. The aircraft's net weight consists of 26% composite components. Compared to the original Harrier design, the cockpit has been raised 12 in (305 mm) and upgraded to include a Multipurpose Display (MPD) for attack and navigation as well as Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) technology.

The principal attack avionics system is the Hughes nose-mounted AN/ASB- 19(V)2 or (V) 3 Angle Rate Bombing Set (ARBS), which uses a TV/laser target seeker and tracker. Navigation is aided by the Litton AN/ASN-130A Carrier Aircraft Inertial Navigation System (CAINS). The ARBS feeds information to the Sperry AN/AYK-14(V) mission computer, the Lear-Siegler AN/AYQ-13 Stores Management Set (SMS), and Smiths Industries SU-128A dual combining, wide field-of-view Head-Up Display (HUD). Radar warning is provided by the Litton AN/ALR-67(V)2 radar-warning receiver; the Loral AN/ALE-39 chaff/ flare dispenser is fitted in the lower rear fuselage.

The aircraft carries an external 25-mm gun pack faired into the underfuselage, with a 1,000-lb (454-kg) capacity fuselage hardpoint for bombs or an AN/ALQ-164 defensive ECM pod, four 2,000-lb (907- kg) capacity wing pylons, two 620-lb (281-kg) capacity outboard pylons available for bombs, rockets, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and fuel tanks. Outrigger pylons were added to USMC AV-8 B's beginning with aircraft number 167.

AV-8 Harrier :Development

The AV-8 Harrier's initial operational capability for US Marine Corps service was in January 1985; the YAV-8 B's first flight was on November 9, 1978, AV-8 B on November 5, 1981, and EAV-8 B in August 1987. Until the AV-8 A/ C's retirement, the AV-8 B was known as the Harrier II.

The Marine Corps has been procuring 300 AV-8 B and 28 TAV-8 B aircraft. The first three aircraft of an order of 12 EAV-8 B were delivered to the Spanish Navy in October 1987, with the last two delivered by the end of 1988. The production share for the US and Spanish aircraft is 60% for McDonnell Douglas and 40% for British Aerospace.

The Royal Air Force acquired GR Mk 5 aircraft, with the first delivered on July 1, 1987; production for the GR Mk 5 is shared equally between the two companies.

In October 1990, the United States, Italy, and Spain drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MU) that guides development of the AV-8 B Plus, a Harrier II variant fitted with a version of the AN/ APG-65 radar used in the F/A-18 Hornet. Some of the Marines' AV-8Bs, including those ordered in FY1991, were upgraded to the Plus standard. The Spanish Navy plans to remanufacture its 11 EAV-8 Bs and buy an additional seven.

In May 1990, following the MU negotiations, the Italian Parliament approved the purchase of 16 AV-8 B Plus and two TAV-8 B trainers; delivery of the Jillmillion order for the TAV-8Bs was made in August 1991. The AV-8 B replaced the earlier British-built AV-8 A/C Harrier and A-4M Skyhawk aircraft in US attack squadrons.

AV-8 Harrier :Variants

Several variants of the AV-8 Harrier are used by four countries military forces. 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 GR7/7A, GR9/9A, T10 and T12 versions. (see RAF Harrier II). The United States Marine Corps has operated the McDonnell Douglas AV-8 B and TAV-8 B since 1985. The Spanish Naval air wing (Arma Aerea De La Armada) operates the AV-8 B+ and AV-8 B, as well as a TAV-8 S Harrier I. The Italian Navy air wing (Aviazione per la Marina Militare) also uses the AV-8 B+ and TAV-8 B. Harrier variants can vary significantly depending on the exact model, even among a single country's aircraft.

AV-8 B Harrier II:The first AV-8 B Harrier IIs produced were commonly known as the "Day Attack" variant, and are no longer in service. Most were upgraded to Night Attack Harrier or Harrier II Plus standards, with the remainder being withdrawn from service.

Fielded in 1991, the Night Attack Harrier incorporated a Navigation Forward Looking Infrared camera (NAVFLIR). The cockpit was also upgraded, including compatibility with night vision goggles. Concurrent with the new version of the aircraft was introduced a more powerful Rolls Royce Pegasus II engine. It was originally intended to be designated AV-8 D.

The Harrier II Plus is very similar to the Night Attack variant, with the addition of an APG-65 radar (the same as in early F-18 Hornets) in an extended nose, making it capable of operating advanced missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Used by USMC, Spanish Navy, and Italian Navy.

AV-8 C Harrier:An upgraded version developed from the AV-8 A model as an interim pending delivery of the AV-8 B. The airframe was not based on the AV-8 B Harrier II.

TAV-8 B Harrier II:A two-seat trainer version.

EAV-8 B Matador II:Spanish Navy version.

Harrier GR-series (UK Variants):BAE Harrier II:

Harrier GR5—First RAF version of the BAE 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.

AV-8 Harrier :Combat Experience

US Marine Corps AV-8 Bs were deployed to Saudi Arabia in mid-August 1990 as part of Operation Desert Shield.

When Operation Desert Storm began, 86 AV-8 B's 60 operating from airstrips in Saudi Arabia and 26 flying from amphibious assault ships Tarawa (LHA 1) and Nassau (LHA 4) in the Persian Gulf compiled 3,567 sorties against Iraqi targets in Kuwait and Iraq. Almost 3,000 tons of ordnance were delivered by the aircraft.

The Harriers used their ARBS to detect targets and dropped laser-guided bombs and launched laser-guided AGM-65 Mavericks. In one attack, four AV-8Bs were credited with the destruction of 25 Iraqi tanks. On almost every sortie, 25-mm cannon fire was directed against a variety of vehicles (armored and "soft") and was said to have been very effective.

Five AV-8 Bs were lost during the war, four in combat and one noncombat. Postwar Marine Corps analysis revealed that the midfuselage location of the engine nozzles made the Harriers much more vulnerable to an infrared missile hit than other aircraft.

Many believe that the AV-8B, particularly the Night Attack and AV-8 B Plus variants, represents the first truly effective VSTOL combat aircraft.