AV-8B "Harrier II"


Name  AV-8B "Harrier II"(McDonnell Douglas Aircraft (Airframe Prime) )
Type   Attack and destroy surface targets under day and night
 visual conditions, CAS (Close Air Support), and intermediate range intercept
Year  AV-8B 12 January 1985, 
AV-8BII(Plus) June 1993
Engine  TAV-8B/AV-8B Day Attack (DA): One Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-406 turbofan: 20,280 pounds of thrust 
AV-8B Night Attack (NA)/AV-8B Radar: One Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408A turbofan:  20,200 pounds of thrust
Length  46.3 feet (14.11 meters)
Height  3.55 m
G  limits +8/-3
Weight   14,061 kg
Speed  Subsonic to transonic
Max. Range    900 nautical miles 
Wing span  30.3 feet (9.24 meters)
Crew  1 (AV-8B); 2 (TAV-8) training model
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



Combat radius:
              close air support: 163 nautical miles (187.45 miles) with 30 minutes time
              on station
Armament:
            Seven external store stations, comprising six wing stations for
            AIM-9 Sidewinder and an assortment of air-to-ground weapons, external
            f uel tanks and AGM-65 Maverick missiles; one centerline station for
           DECM pod or air-to-ground ordnance. A GAU-12 25MM six-barrel gun
            pod can be mounted on the centerline and has a 300 round capacity with a
            lead computing optical sight system (LCOSS) gunsight.

Introduction date:
            Unit Replacement Cost: $23,700,000

Mission:
            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.

Features:
              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.

 Inventory:
                 7 squadrons with 20 aircraft each and 1 training squadron with
                 20 AV-8B and 15 TAV-8B aircraft for a total 175 aircraft.
Background:
                 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.

Source-McDonnell Douglas, U.S.M.C.


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