McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
Aldo Bidini · GFDL 1.2 · source
Name	McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
Caption	AV-8B Harrier II in flight
Role	Close air support, attack, reconnaissance
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas, British Aerospace, BAE Systems, Boeing
First flight	1978
Introduction	1985
Status	In service (limited)
Primary user	United States Marine Corps, Royal Navy, Spanish Navy, Italian Navy
Produced	1978–2003
Number built	~340

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is a single-engine, vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) ground-attack aircraft developed in a joint United States–United Kingdom program and produced by McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace. Designed to provide close air support, interdiction, and reconnaissance for expeditionary forces, the AV-8B traces its lineage to the British Hawker Siddeley Harrier and was significantly redesigned with composite materials, a new wing, and an enlarged fuselage. The type has served with the United States Marine Corps, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Spanish Navy, and Italian Navy, participating in conflicts from the Falklands War aftermath to operations in Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Design and Development

The AV-8B emerged from a multinational effort involving McDonnell Aircraft, Hawker Siddeley, and later British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas following mergers that created transatlantic industrial ties, with key input from the Royal Aeronautical Establishment and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Development focused on addressing limitations of the earlier Harrier GR.1 and AV-8A, incorporating a new composite wing influenced by studies at Westland Helicopters and design offices in Seattle and Bristol. Powered by the Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan, the aircraft integrated a vectored-thrust nozzles system refined through trials at Boscombe Down and Edwards Air Force Base. Structural innovations included carbon-fiber components pioneered in collaboration with Fibrelab, advanced avionics from Litton Industries, and mission systems inspired by programs at Lockheed and Northrop. Flight testing involved squadrons from Marine Attack Squadron 231 and evaluation units at Patuxent River and led to first deliveries to the United States Marine Corps and export customers.

Operational History

The AV-8B entered service with United States Marine Corps expeditionary squadrons and saw early deployment aboard Harrier-capable escort ships and amphibious assault ships such as the USS Nassau and USS Wasp. It played roles in Operation Just Cause in Panama and later in Operation Desert Storm, where squadrons from Marine Aircraft Group 13 and Marine Aircraft Group 12 conducted close air support and strike missions. During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, AV-8Bs from MCAS Beaufort and MCAS Cherry Point supported ground forces and partnered with Carrier Air Wing elements and NATO allies from RAF Cottesmore and Naval Air Station Sigonella. Exported variants served with the Royal Navy on HMS Invincible and HMS Ark Royal and with the Spanish Navy aboard Príncipe de Asturias, contributing to NATO operations in the Balkans and Mediterranean. The type’s V/STOL capabilities enabled operations from austere sites, expeditionary airfields, and forward operating bases used in Operation Allied Force and counterinsurgency campaigns, while upgrades extended service life into the 21st century.

Variants and Upgrades

Major production and upgrade paths included the AV-8B Harrier II, AV-8B Plus with the APG-65 radar derived from McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet programs, and night-attack/Harrier II Plus configurations incorporating systems from Martin-Baker ejection seats and targeting pods from Northrop Grumman. British and American collaboration produced the Harrier II GR7-style avionics suite and structural reinforcement programs similar to initiatives undertaken by BAE Systems and Raytheon. Remanufacture and service life extension programs were performed at facilities linked to Boeing and Medaer, while electronic warfare upgrades integrated dispensers and chaff/flare systems designed by BAE Systems Electronic Systems and ELTA. Experimental initiatives included the AV-8B Night Attack upgrades with cockpit displays inspired by Honeywell and helmet-mounted sights evolved from Thales research.

Operators and Deployment

Primary operators were the United States Marine Corps squadrons such as VMA-231, VMA-211, and VMA-223, with deployments aboard amphibious assault ships and forward bases in Western Pacific and Persian Gulf theaters. Allied operators included the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadrons that deployed on HMS Illustrious, the Spanish Navy's Escuadrón de Aeronaves, and the Italian Navy's Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati. Training and test units at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MCAS Yuma, and RAF Boscombe Down supported operational conversion, while logistics and sustainment involved supply chains tied to NAS Oceana and Marine Corps Logistics Command depots. Coalition task forces during Operation Unified Protector and multinational exercises such as RIMPAC and Joint Warrior featured AV-8Bs operating with units from NATO members including Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, and United States.

Specifications

General characteristics: crew 1; length ~46 ft; wingspan ~30 ft; height ~12 ft; empty weight and max takeoff comparable to contemporaries like the F/A-18 Hornet and A-4 Skyhawk. Powerplant: one Rolls-Royce Pegasus with vectoring nozzles enabling vertical lift similar to systems tested by Sikorsky and Bell Helicopter. Performance: maximum speed near transonic regimes; combat radius and payload suited for close air support with stores stations compatible with ordnance from General Dynamics and targeting systems by Lockheed Martin; avionics suite harmonized with NATO standards developed alongside Raytheon and Honeywell subsystems.

Accidents and Incidents

The AV-8B experienced mishaps during its operational history, including launch and landing accidents aboard carriers such as incidents investigated by boards at Joint Chiefs of Staff oversight and review panels influenced by Naval Safety Center and Marine Corps safety directives. Notable events involved crashes during Operation Desert Storm and training losses at MCAS Beaufort, prompting investigations by agencies including National Transportation Safety Board-adjacent military boards and resulting in modifications to egress systems supplied by Martin-Baker and maintenance protocols aligned with Defense Logistics Agency recommendations. Losses during expeditionary deployments led to policy reviews at Pentagon and operational adjustments in forward staging areas like Al Udeid Air Base and Camp Bastion.

Category:Harrier family Category:V/STOL aircraft Category:Military aircraft of the United States