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Harrier II McDonnell Douglas/
British Aerospace
AV-8B Harrier II
Attack Fighter

DESCRIPTION:
It was originally believed that the development of an improved Harrier would be a joint 50/50 venture between Britain and the US. However, the British government decided in 1975 that there was insufficient common ground between the requirements of the US Marines and the Royal Air Force for the project to proceed. Instead, McDonnell Douglas chose to develop the new Harrier on its own with British Aerospace as the principal subcontractor. The US Marines were primarily interested in a close-support aircraft capable of operating from rough fields and amphibious assault ships. Later, Britain did decide to purchase a version of the Harrier II, the GR.5, with an emphasis on the air combat and reconnaissance roles. The Harrier II is a much refined aircraft as compared to the original. Weight was reduced, engine lift increased, and the wing enlarged to produce greater lift while increasing fuel capacity and payload. Both the US and British Harrier II fleets will eventually be replaced by the STOVL version of the F-35.
Data below for AV-8B and GR.7 where indicated
Last modified 01 April 2006

HISTORY:

First Flight (YAV-8B) 9 November 1978
(GR.5) 30 April 1985
(GR.7) 29 November 1989

Service Entry

(AV-8B) 12 January 1985
(AV-8BII Plus) June 1993

CREW:

one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

$23.7 million [2003$]

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown supercritical (11.5%)

Wing Tip unknown supercritical (7.5%)

DIMENSIONS:

Length (AV-8B) 46.33 ft (14.12 m)
(GR.7) 47.07 ft (14.36 m)

Wingspan 30.33 ft (9.25 m)

Height 11.65 ft (3.55 m)

Wing Area 230 ft² (21.37 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty (AV-8B) 13,970 lb (6,335 kg)
(GR.7) 15,705 lb (7,125 kg)
(AV-8B Plus) 14,865 lb (6,745 kg)

Normal Takeoff 22,950 lb (10,410 kg)

Max Takeoff 31,000 lb (14,060 kg) [short takeoff]
(AV-8B) 20,595 lb (9,340 kg) [vertical takeoff]
(GR.7) 19,180 lb (8,700 kg) [vertical takeoff]
(AV-8B Plus) 20,755 lb (9,415 kg) [vertical takeoff]

Fuel Capacity internal: 7,800 lb (3,540 kg)
external: 8,070 lb (3,661 kg) in four 300 gal (1,135 L) tanks

Max Payload

(AV-8B) 13,235 lb (6,000 kg) [short takeoff]
4,000 lb (1,815 kg) [vertical takeoff]
(GR.7) 10,800 lb (4,900 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant one Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 105 vectored-thrust turbofan

Thrust 21,750 lb (96.75 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: Mach 0.98
at sea level: 675 mph (1,085 km/h), Mach 0.89

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling unknown

Range typical: 1,200 nm (1,110 km)
ferry: (AV-8B) 1,800 nm (3,335 km)
(GR.7) 1,600 nm (2,965 km)

Endurance 3 hr

g-Limits +8 / -3

ARMAMENT:

Gun (AV-8B) two 25-mm General Electric GAU-12/U cannons (300 rds total)
(GR.7) two 25-mm Aden gun pods (100 rds ea)

Stations (AV-8B) seven external hardpoints
(GR.7) nine external hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile up to six AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Matra 550 Magic

Air-to-Surface Missile AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-62 Walleye, up to four AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, Sea Eagle, Wasp, Brimstone

Bomb GBU-12/16 Paveway laser-guided, GBU-32/38 JDAM, up to 15 Mk 82 GP, up to five Mk 83 GP, Mk 20 Rockeye, CBU-99 cluster, up to seven BL.755

Other up to six Matra 155 rocket pods, ECM pods, 30-mm gun pods, recon camera pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

AV-8A Original US Harrier based on the British GR.1 (see Harrier/Sea Harrier)

YAV-8B Prototype rebuilt from an AV-8A Harrier

AV-8B Production attack fighter for the US Marines, later models built to the night attack standard (starting with 167th airframe) including a FLIR and night-vision goggles; about 300 built

TAV-8B Two-seat trainer; 24 built for the USMC and 2 for the Italian Navy

EAV-8B Attack models similar to the AV-8B built for the Spanish Navy; 12 built

GR.5 UK version of the Harrier II for the RAF; 62 built

T.6 Two-seat trainer for the RAF

GR.7 Improved GR.5 optimized for night attack, equipped with new cockpit displays and a HUD, TV/laser target trackers, and a FLIR; 34 built and all GR.5 models upgraded to the same standard

GR.9 Proposed fighter based on the GR.5 but armed with AIM-120 AMRAAMs, not built

T.10

RAF trainer with night attack capability; 13 built

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USMC, 1991)
Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force (USMC, 1995)
Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USMC, 1999)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USMC, UK, 2001-present)
Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USMC, 2003-present)

KNOWN OPERATORS: Italy, Marina Militare (Italian Navy Aviation)
Spain, Arma Aérea de la Armada Española (Spanish Naval Aviation)
United Kingdom (Royal Air Force)
United States (US Marine Corps)

SOURCES:

Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 349.

Bonds, Ray, ed. The Modern US War Machine: An Encyclopedia of American Military Equipment and Strategy. NY: Military Press, 1987, p. 204-205.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 617-618, McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace Harrier II.

Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 103-106, 282-284, British Aerospace Harrier GR.MK 5/5A, Harrier GR.Mk 7, Harrier T.Mk 10, McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, TAV-8B Harrier II.

FAS AV-8B Harrier site

Global Security AV-8B Harrier site

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 181-182, McDonnell Douglas/BAe AV-8B Harrier II, Harrier GR.Mk 5/7 and T.Mk 10.

Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 120-121.

Laur, Timothy M. and Llanso, Steven L. Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons. NY: Berkley Books, 1995, p. 3-6, Harrier (AV-8B).

Miller, David, ed. The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons. London: Salamander Books, 2002, p. 60-63, Boeing/BAe AV-8B Harrier II and Harrier II Plus.

Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 54-55, British Aerospace Harrier GR.7.

Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery

Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 22, 30, BAe GR.Mk 7 Harrier, Boeing AV-8B Harrier II.

Spohrer, Jennifer. Jane's Combat Simulations: USNF '97 Users Manual. San Mateo, CA: Electronic Arts, 1996, p. 8.10-8.13.

Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 160-162, McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace Harrier II, Harrier II Plus.

Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 133-135, Boeing/British Aerospace Harrier II, Harrier II Plus.

US Marine Corps AV-8B Fact Sheet

Wilson, Jim. Combat: The Great American Warplane. NY: Hearst Books, 2001, p. 90-93, AV-8B Harrier II.

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	McDonnell Douglas/ British Aerospace AV-8B Harrier II Attack Fighter

DESCRIPTION: It was originally believed that the development of an improved Harrier would be a joint 50/50 venture between Britain and the US. However, the British government decided in 1975 that there was insufficient common ground between the requirements of the US Marines and the Royal Air Force for the project to proceed. Instead, McDonnell Douglas chose to develop the new Harrier on its own with British Aerospace as the principal subcontractor. The US Marines were primarily interested in a close-support aircraft capable of operating from rough fields and amphibious assault ships. Later, Britain did decide to purchase a version of the Harrier II, the GR.5, with an emphasis on the air combat and reconnaissance roles. The Harrier II is a much refined aircraft as compared to the original. Weight was reduced, engine lift increased, and the wing enlarged to produce greater lift while increasing fuel capacity and payload. Both the US and British Harrier II fleets will eventually be replaced by the STOVL version of the F-35. Data below for AV-8B and GR.7 where indicated Last modified 01 April 2006
HISTORY:
First Flight	(YAV-8B) 9 November 1978 (GR.5) 30 April 1985 (GR.7) 29 November 1989
Service Entry	(AV-8B) 12 January 1985 (AV-8BII Plus) June 1993
CREW:	one: pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	$23.7 million [2003$]
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown supercritical (11.5%)
Wing Tip	unknown supercritical (7.5%)
DIMENSIONS:
Length	(AV-8B) 46.33 ft (14.12 m) (GR.7) 47.07 ft (14.36 m)
Wingspan	30.33 ft (9.25 m)
Height	11.65 ft (3.55 m)
Wing Area	230 ft² (21.37 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	(AV-8B) 13,970 lb (6,335 kg) (GR.7) 15,705 lb (7,125 kg) (AV-8B Plus) 14,865 lb (6,745 kg)
Normal Takeoff	22,950 lb (10,410 kg)
Max Takeoff	31,000 lb (14,060 kg) [short takeoff] (AV-8B) 20,595 lb (9,340 kg) [vertical takeoff] (GR.7) 19,180 lb (8,700 kg) [vertical takeoff] (AV-8B Plus) 20,755 lb (9,415 kg) [vertical takeoff]
Fuel Capacity	internal: 7,800 lb (3,540 kg) external: 8,070 lb (3,661 kg) in four 300 gal (1,135 L) tanks
Max Payload	(AV-8B) 13,235 lb (6,000 kg) [short takeoff] 4,000 lb (1,815 kg) [vertical takeoff] (GR.7) 10,800 lb (4,900 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	one Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 105 vectored-thrust turbofan
Thrust	21,750 lb (96.75 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: Mach 0.98 at sea level: 675 mph (1,085 km/h), Mach 0.89
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	unknown
Range	typical: 1,200 nm (1,110 km) ferry: (AV-8B) 1,800 nm (3,335 km) (GR.7) 1,600 nm (2,965 km)
Endurance	3 hr
g-Limits	+8 / -3
ARMAMENT:
Gun	(AV-8B) two 25-mm General Electric GAU-12/U cannons (300 rds total) (GR.7) two 25-mm Aden gun pods (100 rds ea)
Stations	(AV-8B) seven external hardpoints (GR.7) nine external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	up to six AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Matra 550 Magic
Air-to-Surface Missile	AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-62 Walleye, up to four AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, Sea Eagle, Wasp, Brimstone
Bomb	GBU-12/16 Paveway laser-guided, GBU-32/38 JDAM, up to 15 Mk 82 GP, up to five Mk 83 GP, Mk 20 Rockeye, CBU-99 cluster, up to seven BL.755
Other	up to six Matra 155 rocket pods, ECM pods, 30-mm gun pods, recon camera pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
AV-8A	Original US Harrier based on the British GR.1 (see Harrier/Sea Harrier)
YAV-8B	Prototype rebuilt from an AV-8A Harrier
AV-8B	Production attack fighter for the US Marines, later models built to the night attack standard (starting with 167th airframe) including a FLIR and night-vision goggles; about 300 built
TAV-8B	Two-seat trainer; 24 built for the USMC and 2 for the Italian Navy
EAV-8B	Attack models similar to the AV-8B built for the Spanish Navy; 12 built
GR.5	UK version of the Harrier II for the RAF; 62 built
T.6	Two-seat trainer for the RAF
GR.7	Improved GR.5 optimized for night attack, equipped with new cockpit displays and a HUD, TV/laser target trackers, and a FLIR; 34 built and all GR.5 models upgraded to the same standard
GR.9	Proposed fighter based on the GR.5 but armed with AIM-120 AMRAAMs, not built
T.10	RAF trainer with night attack capability; 13 built
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USMC, 1991) Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force (USMC, 1995) Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USMC, 1999) Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USMC, UK, 2001-present) Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USMC, 2003-present)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	Italy, Marina Militare (Italian Navy Aviation) Spain, Arma Aérea de la Armada Española (Spanish Naval Aviation) United Kingdom (Royal Air Force) United States (US Marine Corps)

SOURCES: Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 349. Bonds, Ray, ed. The Modern US War Machine: An Encyclopedia of American Military Equipment and Strategy. NY: Military Press, 1987, p. 204-205. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 617-618, McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace Harrier II. Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 103-106, 282-284, British Aerospace Harrier GR.MK 5/5A, Harrier GR.Mk 7, Harrier T.Mk 10, McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, TAV-8B Harrier II. FAS AV-8B Harrier site Global Security AV-8B Harrier site Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 181-182, McDonnell Douglas/BAe AV-8B Harrier II, Harrier GR.Mk 5/7 and T.Mk 10. Gunston, Bill and Spick, Mike. Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Combat Today. NY: Crescent Books, 1983, p. 120-121. Laur, Timothy M. and Llanso, Steven L. Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons. NY: Berkley Books, 1995, p. 3-6, Harrier (AV-8B). Miller, David, ed. The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons. London: Salamander Books, 2002, p. 60-63, Boeing/BAe AV-8B Harrier II and Harrier II Plus. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 54-55, British Aerospace Harrier GR.7. Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 22, 30, BAe GR.Mk 7 Harrier, Boeing AV-8B Harrier II. Spohrer, Jennifer. Jane's Combat Simulations: USNF '97 Users Manual. San Mateo, CA: Electronic Arts, 1996, p. 8.10-8.13. Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 160-162, McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace Harrier II, Harrier II Plus. Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 133-135, Boeing/British Aerospace Harrier II, Harrier II Plus. US Marine Corps AV-8B Fact Sheet Wilson, Jim. Combat: The Great American Warplane. NY: Hearst Books, 2001, p. 90-93, AV-8B Harrier II.