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AV-8B Harrier
Harrier Photo
Gallery
The AV-8B V/STOL strike aircraft was designed to replace the
AV-8A and the A-4M light attack aircraft. The Marine Corps requirement for a V/STOL
light attack force has been well documented since the late 1950's. Combining
tactical mobility, responsiveness, reduced operating cost and basing
flexibility, both afloat and ashore, V/STOL aircraft are particularly
well-suited to the special combat and expeditionary requirements of the Marine
Corps. The AV-8BII+ features the APG-65 Radar common to the F/A-18, as well as
all previous systems and features common to the AV-8BII.
The mission of the VMA STOVL squadron is to attack and destroy surface and
air targets, to escort helicopters, and to conduct other such air operations as
may be directed. Specific tasks of the AV-8B HARRIER II include:
| Conduct close air support using conventional and specific weapons. |
| Conduct deep air support, to include armed reconnaissance and air
interdiction, using conventional and specific weapons. |
| Conduct offensive and defensive antiair warfare. This includes combat air
patrol, armed escort missions, and offensive missions against enemy
ground-to-air defenses, all within the capabilities of the aircraft. |
| Be able to operate and deliver ordnance at night and to operate under
instrument flight conditions. |
| Be able to deploy for extended operations employing aerial refueling. |
| Be able to deploy to and operate from carriers and other suitable seagoing
platforms, advanced bases, expeditionary airfields, and remote tactical
landing sites. |
Operation Desert Storm in 1991 was highlighted by expeditionary air
operations performed by the AV-8B. The Harrier II was the first Marine Corps
tactical strike platform to arrive in theater, and subsequently operated from
various basing postures. Three squadrons, totaling 60 aircraft, and one
six-aircraft detachment operated ashore from an expeditionary airfield, while
one squadron of 20 aircraft operated from a sea platform. During the ground war,
AV-8Bs were based as close as 35 nautical miles (40.22 miles) from the Kuwait
border, making them the most forward deployed tactical strike aircraft in
theater. The AV-8B flew 3,380 sorties for a total of 4,083 flight hours while
maintaining a mission capable rate in excess of 90%. Average turnaround time
during the ground war surge rate flight operations was 23 minutes.
Specifications
|
Contractor: |
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft (Airframe
Prime), Rolls Royce (Engine Prime) |
Power Plant: |
TAV-8B/AV-8B Day Attack (DA): One Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-406
turbofan engine with approximately 20,280 pounds of thrust
AV-8B Night Attack (NA)/AV-8B Radar: One Rolls Royce Pegasus
F402-RR-408A turbofan engine with approximately 22,200 pounds of thrust
|
Accommodations: |
AV-8B DA/NA/Radar Aircraft: Pilot only
TAV-8B Trainer: Two seats
|
Performance: |
Maximum airspeed: 550 KCAS
Range greater than 142 nautical miles high speed/low altitude combat
radius
Maximum range: 900 nautical miles
|
Countermeasures: |
Not applicable |
Armament: |
One fuselage-mounted 25 mm gun system
Standard Air-to-Ground (A/G) load: Six Mk 82, 500 pound bombs
Standard Air-to-Air (A/A) load: Four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder missiles
Provisions for carrying up to 9,000 pounds of ordnance on seven stations
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Mission and Capabilities: |
The AV-8B single seat Vertical/Short Takeoff and Land (V/STOL) aircraft
is the primary close air support/intermediate range intercept/attack mission
fixed-wing aircraft for the USMC and the Spanish and Italian navies.
The AV-8B can carry and deliver an assortment of conventional stores
such as the Mk 83 1,000 pound GP bomb, GBU-12 500 pound LGB, GBU-16 1,000
LGB, CBU-99/100 Cluster Bomb Units, and 2.75" and 5" rockets.
The NA configuration includes: night vision goggle-compatible cockpit
controls and displays, a wide-field-of-view HUD, a Navigation Forward
Looking Infrared (NAVFLIR) system, a Digital Map Unit (DMU), and an Angle
Rate Bombing System (ARBS) with laser spot tracker, which provides first
pass day or night target strike capability at low altitude/high speed.
The Radar aircraft retains all night attack capability but integrates
the AN/APG-65 radar system to extend the tracking capabilities of the
aircraft for A/G delivery and A/A defense modes.
V/STOL capability allows the AV-8B to be deployed with ground units
using amphibious shipping and/or forward basing for rapid close air support
response.
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Program Summary: |
All three variants of the AV-8B are in service with the USMC (deployed
in WestPac and the Mediterranean).
The Spanish Navy has DA/Radar AV-8Bs.
The Italian Navy has Radar AV-8Bs only.
The U.S., Italy, and Spain are partners in a collaborative international
program.
The original DA AV-8B was replaced by the NA variant in 1990, which
incorporated the F402-RR-408A engine and expanded night fighting systems
such as NAVFLIR, DMU, night vision goggle capability, and wide-field-of-view
HUD.
In 1993, the Radar AV-8B was fielded with the full night fighting
capability and an AN/APG-65 Radar set to improve A/G and A/A tactical
effectiveness.
In 1994, the U.S. began a remanufacturing process to convert DA AV-8Bs
to the Radar configuration (REMAN); deliveries began in 1996.
Currently, a NA/Radar AV-8B upgrade program is underway to incorporate
an Automatic Target Handoff System (ATHS) and Global Positioning System
(GPS) capability into the aircraft.
ATHS allows direct digital target/mission data exchange between the
pilot and ground units. GPS integration improves navigational and weapons
delivery accuracy.
The AV-8B has seen service in the Persian Gulf (Desert Storm), Somalia
(both U.S. and Italian AV-8Bs), and Bosnia (peacekeeping operations).
A total of 51 Radar Aircraft are authorized for procurement by the U.S.,
Italy, and Spain.
The U.S. has a planned procurement/delivery program for 73 REMAN AV-8Bs
(FY 1996 - 2002).
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External Dimensions:
Wing Span |
9.25 m |
Length overall (flying attitude) |
- AV-8B
|
5.58 m |
- TAV-8B
|
15.32 m |
- GR. Mks 5/7
|
14.36 m |
- T. Mk 10
|
15.79 m |
Height overall |
3.55 m |
Tailplane span |
4.24 m |
Outrigger wheel track |
5.18 m |
|
Areas
|
Wings, excl LERX, gross |
21.37 m2 |
LERX (total): Pegasus 11-21 |
0.81 m2 |
Pegasus 11-61 |
1.24 m2 |
100 percent |
1.39 m2 |
Ailerons (total) |
1.15 m2 |
Trailing-edge flaps (total) |
2.88 m2 |
Ventral fixed strakes (total) |
0.51 m2 |
Ventral retractable fence (LIDs) |
0.24 m2 |
Ventral airbrake |
0.42 m2 |
Fin |
2.47 m2 |
Rudder, excl tab |
0.49 m2 |
Tailplane |
4.51 m2 |
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Weights and Loadings (Single-Seaters,
Except Where Indicated)
Operating weight empty (including pilot and used fuel) |
- AV-8B
|
6,336 kg |
- GR. Mk 7
|
7,050 kg |
- TAV-8B
|
6,451kg |
Maximum fuel |
- Internal only
|
3,519 kg |
- Internal and external
|
7,180 kg |
Maximum external stores |
- Pegasus 11-61
|
6,003 kg |
- Pegasus 11-21/Mk 105*
|
4,899 kg |
Maximum useful load (include fuel, stores, weapons, ammunition and
water injection for engine) |
- Vertical takeoff
|
Approximately 3,062, kg |
- STO
|
More than 7,710 kg |
Basic flight design gross weight for 7g operation |
10,410 kg |
Maximum T-O weight |
- 435 meters STO
|
14,061 kg |
S/L VTO, ISA: |
- AV-8B/Pegasus 11-61
|
9,342 kg |
- GR. Mk 7
|
8,700 kg |
- S/L VTO, 32°C
|
8,142 kg |
Design maximum landing weight |
11,340 kg |
Maximum vertical landing weight |
9,043 kg 205 kg less in TAV-8B |
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Performance
Maximum mach number in level flight |
- At S/L
|
875 knots |
- At altitude
|
0.98 |
STOL takeoff run at maximum takeoff weight: |
- ISA
|
435 m |
- At 32° c
|
518 m |
Operational radius with external loads shown: |
- Short takeoff (366 m, 12 Mk 82 Snakeye Bombs, internal fuel, 1
hour loiter)
|
90 nautical miles |
- Hi-lo-hi, short take off (366 m, seven Mk 82 Snakeye Bombs, two
300 US gallon external fuel tanks no loiter
|
594 nautical miles |
- Deck launch intercept mission,
- two AIM-9 missiles and two external fuel tanks
|
627 nautical miles |
Unrefueled ferry range |
- Tanks dropped
|
1,965 nautical miles |
- Tanks retained
|
1,638 nautical miles |
Combat air patrol endurance at 100 nautical miles from base. |
3 hr. |
"G" force limits |
+8/-3 |
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