Spotlight: AV-8 Harrier II

HarrierThe AV-8B had its direct origins in a Joint British-U.S. project (Hawker-Siddeley and McDonnell Douglas Aircraft) for a much-improved Harrier aircraft, the AV-16. However cost over-runs in engine development on the part of Rolls Royce and in the aircraft development caused the British to pull out of the program. Interest remained in the U.S. so a less ambitious, though still expensive project was undertaken by McDonnell on their own catered to U.S. needs. Using things learned from AV-16 development, though dropping some things such as further Pegasus development, the development work continued leading to the AV-8B for the U.S. Marine Corps. The aircraft was centered on the Marines' need for a light ground attack airplane and focused on payload and range as opposed to speed. In the late 1970s, the British restarted development of their own second generation Harrier based on the U.S. design which led eventually to the GR.5.

HarrierThe United States Marine Corps has operated the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B and TAV-8B since 1985.

The first AV-8B Harrier IIs produced were commonly known as the "Day Attack" variant, and are no longer in service. Most were upgraded to Night Attack Harrier or Harrier II Plus standards, with the remainder being withdrawn from service.

Fielded in 1991, the Night Attack Harrier incorporated a Navigation Forward Looking Infrared camera (NAVFLIR). The cockpit was also upgraded, including compatibility with night vision goggles. Concurrent with the new version of the aircraft was introduced a more powerful Rolls Royce Pegasus II engine. It was originally intended to be designated AV-8D[1].

The Harrier II Plus is very similar to the Night Attack variant, with the addition of an APG-65 radar (the same as in early F/A-18 Hornets) in an extended nose, making it capable of operating advanced missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Used by USMC, Spanish Navy, and Italian Navy.


General Characteristics

  • Length: 46 ft 4 in (14.12 m) Orthographic projection of the AV-8B Harrier II.
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 4 in (19.25 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.55 m)
  • Wing area: 243.4 ft² (22.61 m²)
  • Airfoil: supercritical
  • Empty weight: 14,865 lb (6,745 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 22,950 lb (10,410 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 31,000 lb (14,060 kg) rolling, 20,755 lb (9,415 kg) vertical
  • Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Pegasus 105 vectored-thrust turbofan engine, 21,750 lbf (96.75 kN)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: .89 Mach (675 mph, 1,085 km/h) at sea level
  • Range: 1,200 nm (1,100 km)
  • Ferry range: 1,800 nm () 3,335 km
  • Rate of climb: 14,700 ft/min (4,485 m/s)

Armament

  • 1× GAU-12U "Equalizer" 25 mm cannon (left pod) and 300 rounds of ammunition (right pod) (American, Spanish, Italian configuration) or one 30mm ADEN cannon in each pod (British configuration)
  • 7 pylons for a maximum of 13,200 lb (STOVL) of stores, including iron bombs, cluster bombs, napalm canisters, laser-guided bombs, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and up to four AIM-9 Sidewinder or similar-sized infrared-guided missiles. AV-8B+ variants can carry up to four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.

External Links

Article courtesy of Wikipedia.