General Background

The Harrier is the first operational V/STOL (Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. By directing the engines exhaust through movable nozzles the force could be used to propel the aircraft along a runway or lift it vertically and then into a forward motion. Because of this ability to lift off vertically the Harriers began to be referred to as “jump jets”. These aircraft were continuously being refined and improved over the years with many new variants being produced.

The Aircraft

In 1991 the Italian “Lupi di Mare” “Sea Wolf” began training to fly the Harrier at USMC Cherry point and in 1994 received their first of 16 AV-8B II Plus. Beginning in November 2001 until March 2002, 8 AV-8Bs were deployed on the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi in the Indian Ocean in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2002 the LGB Harriers flew 131 missions logging 647 hours. AV-8B II Plus, MM.7224 / 1-19, was the last Harrier delivered to the Italians and the last new-build AV-8B II Plus produced.

Specifications :

Developed by: Boeing, BAE Systems, and Rolls Royce

Operators: USMC, Italian Navy, Spanish Navy

Crew: (1) pilot

Performance

Powerplant: (1) Rolls-Royce Pegasus 11-61 (F402-RR-408) (Mk 105) vectored-thrust turbofan engine, 23,500 lbf (105 kN)

Maximum speed @ sea level: .89 Mach (662 mph) (1,070 km/h)

Range: 1,200 nm (1,400 mi) (2,200 km)

Combat radius: 300 nmi (556 km)

Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (3,300 km)

Rate of climb: 14,700 ft/min (4,485 m/min)

Dimensions

Length: 46 ft 4 in (14.12 m)

Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)

Wingspan: 30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)

Wing area 243 ft² (22.6 m²)

Weights

Empty: 13,968 lb (6,340 kg)

Loaded: 22,950 lb (10,410 kg)

Maximum Takeoff : Rolling / 31,000 lb (14,100 kg)

Vertical / 20,755 lb (9,415 kg)

Armament

Guns (1) X GAU-12U "Equalizer" 25 mm (0.98 in) cannon with 300 rounds of ammunition.

Hardpoints (7) capable of carrying up to 13,200 lb (STOVL) of ordnance such as iron bombs, cluster bombs, napalm canisters, laser-guided bombs, AGM-65 Maverick or AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, Sea Eagle missiles, a LITENING targeting pod, up to (4) AIM- 9 Sidewinder or similar-sized infrared-guided missiles, up to (4) AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, as well as new “Smart Weapons” such as JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition).

Avionics Raytheon APG-65 pulse Doppler radar