Den Hawker Siddeley Harrier, utviklet på 1960-tallet, var den første av Harrier Jump Jet-serien av fly. Det var det første operative nærstøtte- og rekognoserings jagerflyet med vertikal / kort start og landing (V / STOL) evner og den eneste virkelig vellykkede V / STOL-utformingen av de mange som oppsto i den tiden. Harrier ble utviklet direkte fra Hawker Siddeley Kestrel prototypefly, etter kansellering av et mer avansert supersonisk fly, Hawker Siddeley P.1154. British Royal Air Force (RAF) bestilte Varianter av Harrier GR.1 og GR.3 på slutten av 1960-tallet. Det ble eksportert til USA som AV-8A, for bruk av US Marine Corps (USMC), på 1970-tallet.
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The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is a British aircraft that was developed in the 1960s and 1970s. It is the first operational jet fighter capable of vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL), meaning it can take off and land on short runways or even on ships. The Harrier uses four vectoring nozzles to direct its thrust downwards or backwards, allowing it to hover, fly backwards, or perform other maneuvers. The Harrier was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Royal Navy, and several other countries, including the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Harrier played a significant role in the Falklands War in 1982, where it proved its effectiveness against Argentine forces. The Harrier was also deployed in various conflicts in the Middle East, the Balkans, and Afghanistan. The Harrier was retired from service in 2011 by the RAF and the Royal Navy, and replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II. The USMC still operates the AV-8B Harrier II, a second-generation version of the Harrier that was developed jointly by McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace.
Nytt sett med 45 bilder av en Harrier II RAF GR.7