The Harrier is undoubtedly one of the more famous aircraft of the 20th century. It was designed in the late 1960s as a multi-role Vertical/Short-Field Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL) ground-attack fighter capable of operating from small aircraft carriers and forward operating bases. It made history during the Falkland Island conflict in the 1980s, where it achieved an impressive 23:9 kill ratio.
The AV-8B Harrier II is the second generation of the so-called jump jet. It was modernised by McDonnell Douglas to improve on the original British design. This included new carbon fibre wings, a raised cockpit and various aerodynamic improvements. The number of hardpoints was also increased from five to seven, allowing it to carry a greater payload. The AV-8B can be loaded with a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles along with external fuel tanks, giving it a maximum ferry range of 1,800 nautical miles, while internal tanks provide a combat radius of 300nm. The aircraft was adopted by the US Marine Corps (USMC) in the 1980s and it is also operated by the Spanish Navy and Italian Air Force. In total, more than 300 examples have been built and it is planned to remain in service with the USMC until 2030.
So, for the first time,…
