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Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1/3

Hawker Siddeley Aviation · V/STOL Strike Aircraft / Ground Attack / Close Air Support (V/STOL) · UK · Cold War (1970–1991)

Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1/3 — V/STOL Strike Aircraft / Ground Attack / Close Air Support (V/STOL)
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The Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 / GR.3 — and its U.S. Marine Corps derivative AV-8A / AV-8C — was the world's first in-service vertical / short take-off and landing (V/STOL) combat aircraft, developed by Hawker Siddeley Aviation (later British Aerospace, now BAE Systems) for the Royal Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps. First flight came in 1967, and the initial Harrier GR.1 entered RAF service in 1969 with No. 1 Squadron at RAF Wittering. Pairing the Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine with vector-thrust nozzles, the design delivered vertical takeoff and landing performance that remained unique to the Harrier family for decades. RAF service ran from 1969 to 2010; U.S. Marine Corps service ran from 1971 to ~2025; total Harrier family production exceeded 1,000+ airframes across all variants.

The GR.1 / GR.3 is a single-engine V/STOL ground-attack aircraft 47 ft (14.3 m) long with a 25-ft (7.7 m) wingspan. Empty weight is 13,500 lb; maximum take-off weight is 26,000 lb (vertical) or 31,000 lb (short rolling). A single Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 103 turbofan provides ~21,500 lbf with full vector. Top speed is 730 mph (Mach 0.97 — subsonic), combat radius is 230 nmi on a high-low-high mission profile, and service ceiling is 50,000 ft. Four vector-thrust nozzles rotate between 0° rear and 90° downward to enable V/STOL flight. From the GR.3 onwards, a Ferranti / BAE laser nose-mounted target-cueing system was added, and the weapons fit covered Aden 30mm gun pods, BL755 cluster bombs, the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile (limited carriage), and other ground-attack stores.

The Harrier's principal mission was low-altitude strike and close-air-support, giving the RAF and U.S. Marine Corps a V/STOL option that allowed flying from austere forward bases without runway infrastructure. Aircraft could deploy to forest clearings, motorway laybys, helicopter pads, and ship decks for distributed flying close to ground forces. That flexibility mattered most in three contexts: NATO defence of Western Europe against Warsaw Pact threats, where dispersed Harrier basing offered survivability against Soviet airfield attacks; Royal Marines and U.S. Marine Corps amphibious operations from helicopter carriers; and other distributed deployments where conventional fighter operations were not feasible.

RAF service from 1969 to 2010 took the GR.1 / GR.3 through every major British air operation of the period. In the 1982 Falklands War, RAF Harriers flew alongside Royal Navy Sea Harriers, conducting close-air-support of British ground forces — though the famous '23-0 kill record' belongs to the Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS.1, not the RAF Harrier GR.3. NATO exercises filled the Cold War decades, followed by Operation Granby (Gulf War 1991, limited use), Operation Allied Force (Yugoslavia 1999), Operation Telic (Iraq War 2003-2010), and Operation Herrick (Afghanistan 2004-2009). The RAF retired the type in December 2010, leaving a gap before the F-35B Lightning II reached frontline service in 2018. The U.S. Marine Corps flew AV-8A / AV-8C Harriers (~110 delivered) from 1971, with the McDonnell Douglas-redesigned AV-8B Harrier II carrying the USMC mission from 1985 to ~2025. Total Harrier GR.1 / GR.3 / AV-8A / AV-8C production reached around 200 airframes.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier was the world's first combat plane that could take off and land straight up like a helicopter. The Harrier first flew in 1967 and entered British Royal Air Force service in 1969. American Marines started flying the Harrier (called AV-8A) in 1971. The Harrier was unique among fighter jets for over 30 years.

The Harrier is 47 feet long with a 25-foot wingspan, longer than a school bus. One Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine makes 21,500 pounds of thrust. The engine has four nozzles that can swivel from pointing back (for fast flight) to pointing down (for vertical takeoff and landing). Top speed is 730 mph, faster than most race cars.

The Harrier did not need a long runway. It could take off from short stretches of road, parking lots, or even small Navy ships at sea. British Royal Navy Sea Harriers fought from small carriers in the 1982 Falklands War, getting rid of 23 Argentine planes. The Harrier could carry guns, bombs, and missiles for ground attack and air-to-air combat.

Over 1,000 Harriers were built in all versions. The Royal Air Force retired the Harrier in 2010 as a cost-cutting move. American Marines flew the newer AV-8B Harrier II until about 2025. The Harrier was replaced by the F-35B Lightning II, another vertical-takeoff fighter, but much newer.

Fun Facts

  • The Harrier was the world's first combat plane with vertical takeoff and landing.
  • The Pegasus engine has 4 nozzles that swivel from back to down.
  • Top speed is 730 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The Harrier is 47 feet long, longer than a school bus.
  • Over 1,000 Harriers were built in all versions.
  • British Sea Harriers got rid of 23 Argentine planes in the 1982 Falklands War.
  • The Harrier was replaced by the newer F-35B Lightning II.

Kids’ Questions

How does V/STOL work?

V/STOL stands for Vertical or Short Take-Off and Landing. The Harrier's engine has four nozzles that can swivel. Pointing back, the engine pushes the plane forward like a normal jet. Pointing down, the engine pushes the plane straight up like a rocket. The pilot can adjust the nozzles in flight to take off, hover, or land vertically.

Why is V/STOL useful?

A Harrier can take off from short pieces of road, parking lots, or small Navy ships. This means it does not need long runways that are easy to bomb or capture. In the 1982 Falklands War, British Sea Harriers flew from small aircraft carriers that could not handle normal fighters. V/STOL also lets the Harrier hover, useful for landing in tight spots.

How is it different from a F-35B?

The F-35B Lightning II is the modern American replacement for the Harrier. The F-35B is stealthier, faster, and has much better radar and computers. Like the Harrier, it can take off vertically using a special lift fan plus a swiveling jet nozzle. The F-35B is also way more expensive, costing 50 times more per plane.

Variants

Harrier GR.1 (initial RAF, 1969)
Original 1969 RAF production variant with Pegasus Mk 101 engine and basic mission systems. ~118 delivered. Most converted to GR.3 standard or retired.
Harrier GR.3 (RAF mid-life)
Mid-life upgrade from 1976 with the more powerful Pegasus Mk 103 engine, nose-mounted laser target-cueing system, updated cockpit, and broader weapons compatibility. Backbone of RAF Harrier strength through the 1990s. ~94 delivered or converted from GR.1.
Harrier T.2 / T.4 (RAF two-seat trainer)
Two-seat trainers for RAF conversion training. ~10-15 delivered.
AV-8A / AV-8C (USMC, 1971+)
U.S. Marine Corps variants. ~110 AV-8A delivered, with subsequent AV-8C upgrades. Used extensively for Marine amphibious missions from helicopter carriers. Replaced by AV-8B Harrier II from 1985.
Harrier GR.5 / GR.7 / GR.9 (redesigned successor)
McDonnell Douglas-designed AV-8B Harrier II adopted by the RAF as GR.5 / GR.7 / GR.9. A different aircraft from the original Harrier GR.1 / GR.3 that shared the V/STOL operating concept. See the separate Harrier II entry.
British Aerospace Sea Harrier (RN naval variant)
Naval variant for Royal Navy carrier operations, heavily modified from the RAF Harrier GR.3 with a fleet air-defence mission profile and matching equipment. Flew 1980-2006. See the separate Sea Harrier entry.

Notable Operators

Royal Air Force (former)
Primary operator, with ~120 Harrier GR.1 / GR.3 in service 1969-2010 (transitioning to GR.5 / GR.7 / GR.9 from 1990 onwards). Flying units included 1 Squadron (RAF Wittering), 3 Squadron, 4 Squadron, 20 Squadron, and IV(AC) Squadron. Principal bases were RAF Wittering (Cambridgeshire) and RAF Gütersloh (West Germany, Cold War-era forward base). Final RAF Harrier retirement came in December 2010 with 1 Squadron at RAF Cottesmore.
U.S. Marine Corps (former)
Major operator with ~110 AV-8A / AV-8C in service 1971-1985, flying with Marine Attack Squadrons (VMA). Replaced by AV-8B Harrier II from 1985.
Royal Navy / Spanish Navy / Indian Navy (Sea Harrier variant)
The Royal Navy flew the Sea Harrier (a different aircraft from the Harrier GR), and the Spanish Navy and Indian Navy flew Sea Harrier-derivative variants. See the dedicated entry.
Preservation / museums
Around 30 surviving Harrier GR.1 / GR.3 / AV-8A airframes are preserved at U.K. and U.S. aviation museums, including the Royal Air Force Museum Hendon (London), Royal Air Force Museum Cosford (Shropshire), Imperial War Museum Duxford, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Harrier called 'jump jet'?

Vertical thrust. The Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine vectored thrust through four nozzles — two on each side of the fuselage — which rotated from 0° (full rearward thrust for cruise) to 90° (full downward thrust for vertical lift / landing), with intermediate positions for transition flight. The aircraft could literally 'jump' off the ground without a runway, and the nickname stuck to the entire family. The vertical-lift trick remained unique to the Harrier family for decades, until the F-35B Lightning II (entered service 2015) became the second in-service V/STOL combat aircraft.

What was Harrier's role in the Falklands War?

RAF Harrier GR.3 and Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS.1 fought side by side in the 1982 Falklands War. The Sea Harriers handled air-to-air combat, achieving the 23-0 kill record. RAF Harrier GR.3s — flying from HMS Hermes after rapid deployment from the U.K. — flew close-air-support for British ground forces, striking Argentine positions and conducting reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, and other ground-support tasks. RAF Harriers could not match Sea Harriers in air-to-air combat and relied on them for air defence, but their ground-attack work proved crucial to British infantry and Marines. Combined Harrier performance during the Falklands established the type as one of the most important Western combat aircraft of the late Cold War.

How does V/STOL operate?

Vector thrust through four nozzles. The Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine drives two forward fan-bypass nozzles (one on each side) and two rear turbine-exhaust nozzles (one on each side). All four are mechanically linked and rotate together from 0° (full rearward thrust for cruise) to 98° (slight forward-downward thrust for vertical lift / landing). The pilot controls the nozzle angle via a 'nozzle lever' alongside the throttle. Operating envelope: 0-15° for cruise; 0-30° for short rolling takeoff; 90° for hover / landing; intermediate angles for transition. The system enables launch from any flat surface, short rolling takeoff (~600 ft deck run with ski-jump assistance), and hover landing. Mechanically straightforward but demanding to fly, it requires extensive pilot training.

How does Harrier GR.1/3 differ from Harrier II?

Different aircraft despite the shared V/STOL operating concept. Harrier GR.1 / GR.3: original Hawker Siddeley design, Pegasus Mk 103 engine, smaller wing, limited use of carbon-fiber composites. Harrier II (AV-8B / GR.5 / GR.7 / GR.9): McDonnell Douglas redesign with a larger wing (16% more lift, 30% more fuel), Pegasus Mk 105 engine, updated cockpit, and broader weapons compatibility. The Harrier II represents about 80% redesign of the original, sharing the V/STOL operating concept and roughly 60% common design heritage. Both served well, but the Harrier II carried more weapons farther.

Why was Harrier retired?

Royal Air Force budget pressures. The 2010 U.K. Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) recommended Harrier retirement as part of broader U.K. defence-budget reductions. The decision was controversial — many U.K. defence analysts argued that retiring the Harrier before the F-35B Lightning II reached frontline service in 2018 created an 8-year carrier-aviation gap that weakened the Royal Navy. Final RAF Harrier retirement came in December 2010 with 1 Squadron at RAF Cottesmore. The Royal Navy Sea Harrier had already retired in 2006, and the combined withdrawals left a U.K. fixed-wing carrier aviation gap that lasted until F-35B deployment from HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2018-2021.

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