Den British Aerospace Harrier II er et andengenerationsfly af vertikal/kort start og landing (V/STOL), der tidligere blev anvendt af Royal Air Force (RAF) og mellem 2006 og 2010 Royal Navy (RN). Flyet var den seneste udvikling af Harrier Jump Jet familien, og blev afledt af McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II. De første leverancer af Harrier II blev udpeget som Harrier GR5; efterfølgende opgraderede flystel blev redesignet i overensstemmelse hermed som GR7 og GR9.
The British Aerospace Harrier GR.9 was a major upgrade of the earlier GR.7 model, serving as the final ground-attack/reconnaissance variant of the **second-generation Harrier II family** (a development of the original Hawker Siddeley Harrier). The GR.9 was specifically designed for Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL) operations, allowing it to operate from small clearings, roads, or the decks of aircraft carriers without a catapult. Its primary role was close air support (CAS) and battlefield interdiction. The upgrade focused on improved avionics, greater precision strike capability (including the integration of modern smart weapons), and a more powerful engine to cope with increased weapon loads. The Harrier GR.9 served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy (RN) until the type’s retirement in 2010.
Property
Typical Value (Harrier GR.9)
Rolle
V/STOL Ground Attack, Reconnaissance
National Origin
United Kingdom / United States (Joint Development)
Producent
British Aerospace / McDonnell Douglas
Service Entry (GR.9)
2006
Besætning
1 (Pilot)
Længde
14.12 m (46 ft 4 in)
Vingefang
9.25 m (30 ft 4 in)
Højde
3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Max Takeoff Weight (STOVL)
14,000 kg (31,000 lb)
Powerplant and V/STOL System
Engine: 1 x Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk. 107 vectored-thrust turbofan.
Max Thrust: Approximately 105.87 kN (23,800 lbf).
Maximum Speed: 1,065 km/h (662 mph; 575 kn) (Mach 0.87) at sea level.
Operational Range: Approximately 3,300 km (2,000 mi) with external fuel tanks.
V/STOL Principle: Thrust is directed through four rotating nozzles (two hot exhaust, two cold bypass air) located around the aircraft’s center of gravity. This allows the thrust to be directed downward for vertical flight or rearward for horizontal flight.
Armament and Avionics
Hardpoints: 7 external stations for weapons and fuel.
Primary Armament: Often included Paveway II/III laser-guided bombs, Enhanced Paveway II/III GPS-guided bombs, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, and CRV7 rocket pods.
Avionics: Upgraded navigation and weapon systems, including the integration of GPS/INS for all-weather precision attack and a new digital cockpit architecture.
Self-Defense: Equipped with defensive aids systems (DAS) including radar warning receivers and chaff/flare dispensers.