Komisia Hawker Siddeley Harrier, vyvinutý v roku 1960, bol prvý zo série lietadiel Harrier Jump Jet. Bolo to prvé operačné podporné a prieskumné stíhacie lietadlo s vertikálnymi/krátkymi schopnosťami vzletu a pristátia (V/STOL) a jediný skutočne úspešný návrh V/STOL mnohých, ktoré vznikli v tej dobe. Harrier bol vyvinutý priamo z prototypu lietadla Hawker Siddeley Kestrel po zrušení pokročilejšieho nadzvukového lietadla Hawker Siddeley P.1154. Britské kráľovské letectvo (RAF) objednalo varianty Harrier GR.1 a GR.3 koncom 60. V 70-tych rokoch bol vyvezený do Spojených štátov amerických ako AV-8A na použitie námornými zbormi USA (USMC).
Zdrojový: Hawker Siddeley Harrier na Wikipédii
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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.
Nová sada 45 fotografií Harrier II RAF GR.7