Harrier II

Harrier II
Aldo Bidini · GFDL 1.2 · source
Name	Harrier II
Type	V/STOL ground-attack and fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	British Aerospace / McDonnell Douglas
First flight	1981
Introduced	1985
Status	Retired / in limited service

Harrier II The Harrier II is a family of vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet aircraft developed for close air support, reconnaissance, and interdiction roles. It served with multiple armed services and participated in conflicts and exercises alongside platforms such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, Panavia Tornado, AV-8B derivatives, and the Sea Harrier. Designed through multinational collaboration, it featured a thrust-vectoring turbofan and composite structures derived from earlier experimental programs.

Development and Design

Development began from studies linking the original Harrier program and programs at British Aerospace, Hawker Siddeley, McDonnell Douglas, and the Royal Aircraft Establishment. The airframe combined lessons from the Harrier jump jet lineage with the P&W F402-class turbofan evolution and avionics advances influenced by installations in the F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Design priorities included vectored-thrust nozzles, strengthened undercarriage for ski-jump and carrier operations used by the Royal Navy and United States Marine Corps, and the introduction of composite materials similar to those used on the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II programs. Avionics suites borrowed concepts from the AN/APG radar families and helmet-mounted cueing similar to systems in the Sukhoi Su-27 and MiG-29. Structural changes included a redesigned wing for increased load and fuel capacity, improved leading-edge devices influenced by research at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Aerospatiale aerodynamics labs, and integration of weapons compatible with standards used by NATO members such as the Mk 82 and AGM-65 Maverick.

Operational History

The aircraft entered service with the Royal Air Force and the United States Marine Corps during the 1980s, deploying from forward operating bases and amphibious assault ships like the USS Wasp (LHD-1) and HMS Invincible (R05). It flew missions in operations including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Deliberate Force, and Operation Enduring Freedom, often coordinating with platforms from NATO partners and allied squadrons such as those equipped with the Panavia Tornado ADV and F-15E Strike Eagle. Export and cooperative programs involved operators in Europe and elsewhere, leading to interoperability trials with the V/STOL carrier deck operations practiced by the Spanish Navy and Italian Navy. Training and tactics evolved through exchanges with units from the Royal Navy, Marine Corps squadrons, and multinational exercises like Red Flag and RIMPAC.

Variants

Production led to a series of improved variants incorporating avionics, weapons, and structural upgrades influenced by developments in the AN/APG-65 family, digital mapping similar to systems in the F-14 Tomcat, and electronic warfare suites comparable to those fitted on the EA-6B Prowler. Major versions included versions with enhanced radar and night-attack capability reflecting technologies used in the AH-64 Apache and A-10 Thunderbolt II, navalized models optimized for ski-jump takeoffs and carrier trials akin to those on the HMS Illustrious (R06), and export configurations tailored to the needs of countries operating alongside squadrons fielding the Mirage 2000 and Dassault Rafale.

Operators

Primary operators included the Royal Air Force and the United States Marine Corps. Allied and export users trained and operated the type in cooperation with forces using the French Navy carrier doctrine and squadrons that flew alongside Spanish Navy and Italian Navy assets. These operators integrated the aircraft within task groups alongside units operating the Sea King, CH-53 Sea Stallion, and C-130 Hercules for logistical and support coordination.

Specifications

Typical specifications featured a single vectored-thrust turbofan derived from development work associated with Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney collaborations, a length and wingspan comparable to contemporaries such as the F/A-18 Hornet, and payload capability to carry stores including cluster munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and gun pods similar to those installed on the AV-8B. Systems included navigation and targeting pods akin to the AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR family, defensive aids inspired by suites used on the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, and cockpit ergonomics that paralleled upgrades later seen in the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II.

Notable Incidents and Combat Use

Combat use was recorded in the Gulf War, Balkan conflicts including Kosovo War, and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq War scenarios where the type supported ground forces comparable to missions flown by the A-10 Thunderbolt II and strike packages led by the F-15E Strike Eagle. Notable incidents involved complex deck operations on vessels such as HMS Ark Royal (R07) and joint sorties flown with Marine Expeditionary Units embarked on USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6). Losses and accidents prompted investigations by authorities like the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the National Transportation Safety Board, which influenced later safety and maintenance practices mirrored in other contemporary fleets such as those operating the Mirage F1 and F-104 Starfighter.

Category:V/STOL aircraft