AV-8B Harrier II American VTOL Close Support Aircraft
AV-8B
American VTOL Close Support Aircraft
Other
Basic Information
Name
AV-8B Harrier II American VTOL Close Support Aircraft
Designation
AV-8B
Alternate Designation
—
Equipment Type
American VTOL Close Support Aircraft
Manufacturer
McDonnell Douglas / British Aerospace Boeing / BAE Systems
Date of Introduction
1984
Description
The AV-8B Harrier II American VTOL Close Support Aircraft is a vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) subsonic attack aircraft jointly developed under a collaborative program by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce. The aircraft design was based on the Kestrel designed by Hawker-Siddeley in 1957 and is the second generation of the Harrier line of aircraft. The aircraft has been modernized and upgraded through a number of life extension programs and component improvement programs to remain in service until the late 2020s.
Air & Air Defense Specifications
Crew
1
Engine
Turbofan (105 hp)
Max Speed
1065.0 km/h
Range
3033.0 km
Endurance
3.00 hrs
Variants
AV-8B Harrier II Plus
Radar-equipped night attack version in service with US Marine Corps, Italian, and Spanish Navy.
TAV-8B
Two-seat operational trainer.
EAV-8B+
Manufacturers designation for Spanish Navy VA.2 Matador II Single-seat export version.
AV-8B Harrier II Plus
Similar to the Night Attack variant, with the addition of an APG-65 radar and separate targeting pod. It is used by the USMC, Spanish Navy, and Italian Navy. Forty-six were built.
System
Alternate Designation(s)
AV-8B Harrier II
Type
American VTOL Close Support Aircraft
Manufacturer
McDonnell Douglas / British Aerospace
Boeing / BAE Systems
Crew
1 ea
Number of Engines
1 ea
Number of Hard Points
6× under-wing pylon and 1x under-fuselage stations holding up to 4,200 kg of payload
Maximum Payload
3,062 kg (incl fuel, stores, weapons, ammunition, and water injection for engine)
Dimensions
Length
14.12 m
Height
3.55 m
Wing Span
9.25 m
Tail Plane Span
4.24 m
Wheel Track
5.18 m
Wings Gross Wing Area
21.4 m²
Empty Weight
6,336 kg
Maximum Take-off Weight
14,061 kg
Maximum Landing Weight
11,340 kg
Automotive
Engine Name
1 x Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408B
Engine Type
Vectored thrust turbofan
Engine Power
105.87 kN
Maximum Fuel Weight
3,519 kg
Maximum Range
3,033 km [ferry, unrefueled with four 300 US gallon external tanks, tanks retained]
Radius of Operation
66 km
Maximum Speed
1,065 km/h
Service Ceiling
INA
G Limits
+8/–3
Endurance
3 hr [combat air patrol 100 n miles (185 km) from base]
Avionics
Note
R-1379B/ARA-63 all-weather landing receiver (AV-8B only), RT-1159A/ARN-118 Tacan (ARI 23368 for RAF), RT-1015A/APN-194(V) radar altimeter, Honeywell CV-3736/A com/nav/identification data converter, Northrop Grumman AN/ASN-130A inertial navigation system, AlliedSignal (now Honeywell) CP-1471/A digital air data computer. Retrofit of integrated GPS/Tacan authorized for USMC in December 1994, for completion by June 1998. Flight controls that interface with reaction control system provided by Honeywell AN/ASW-46(V)2 stability augmentation and attitude hold system, now updated to high AoA capable configuration.
Communications
Note
Rockwell Collins RT-1250A/ARC-182 U/VHF com (GEC-Marconi Avionics (now BAE SYSTEMS), Honeywell RT-1157/APX-100 IFF.
Armament
Carriage and Release
Three store stations under each wing on AV-8B, were stressed for loads of up to 907 kg inboard, 454 kg on intermediate stations, and 286 kg outboard. Four inner wing stations are wet, permitting the carriage of auxiliary fuel tanks; reduced maneuvering limits apply when tanks are mounted on intermediate stations. ML Aviation BRU-36/A bomb release units are standard on all versions.
Guided Weapon Systems
Typical weapons include two or four AIM-9L Sidewinder or AGM-65E Maverick missiles, or up to six Sidewinders; 10 Paveway laser-guided bombs, and eight fire bombs. US Marine Corps has integrated Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) including 500 lb GBU-38. In 2007 the USMC received clearance to use the GBU-51 low-collateral damage bomb. GBU-54 laser JDAM.
Unguided Weapon Systems
Two under-fuselage packs, mounting on the port side a five-barrel 25 mm cannon based on General Electric GAU-12/U, and a 300-round container on the starboard side, in AV-8B. Single 454 kg stores mount on fuselage centreline, between gun packs. Typical weapons include up to 16 540 lb free-fall or retarded general purpose bombs, 12 BL 755 or similar cluster bombs, 1,000 lb free-fall or retarded bombs. TAV-8B can carry six Mk 76 practice bombs or two LAU-68 rocket launchers for weapons training.
Protection
Stealth Properties
No
Heat Signature Reduction
INA
Electro-optical and Infrared Systems
Primary weapon delivery sensor system for AV-8B is Raytheon (Hughes Aircraft) AN/ASB-19(V)2 or (V)3 ARBS, mounted in nose and comprising a dual-mode (TV and laser) target seeker/tracker. Night attack versions equipped with Selex (GEC) nose-mounted FLIR. US Marine Corps utilizes Northrop Grumman Lightening II targeting pod.
Self-Defense
Litton (now Northrop Grumman) AN/ALR-67(V)2 fore/aft-looking RWR (AV-8B only), UK MoD AN/ARR-51 FLIR receiver, Goodyear AN/ALE-39 flare/chaff dispenser (upper and lower rear fuselage; current two dispensers to be increased to six). Provision for AN/ALQ-164 defensive ECM pod on centreline pylon. Plessey PVS 2000 pulse-Doppler Missile Approach Warning (MAW) radar, mounted in tailboom, which automatically activates appropriate countermeasures upon detecting approach of enemy missiles; optical missile approach warner for retrofit to USMC aircraft.
EW Counter Measures
INA
Chaffs/Flares
Yes
Image Sources
Notes
https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/comments/jllrn6/will_the_usa_be_getting_its_upgraded_harrier/; https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/Article/828840/thunderbirds-hornet-harriers-warbirds-all-dazzle-at-la-county-air-show/; https://www.northwestmilitary.com/northwest-travel/attractions/2019/03/Military-jets-return-to-Ruston-Way-this-4th-of-July/;
Details
Country of Origin
United States
Category
Fixed Wing Aircraft
Air > Fixed Wing Aircraft
Filter Label
A
Classification
Domain
Air & Air Defense
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
14.12 m
Width
—
Height
3.55 m
Weight
14061 kg
Operators (3)
United States
Italy
Spain
Something went wrong. Please reload the page.
Reload