BAe Harrier
| Harrier Jump Jet | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A Harrier GR7A of 800 Naval Air Sqn, Royal Navy | |
| Role | V/STOL strike aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer |
Hawker Siddeley British Aerospace / McDonnell Douglas Boeing / BAE Systems |
| First flight | 28 December 1967 |
| Introduction | 1969 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users |
United States Marine Corps Royal Air Force (retired) Royal Navy (retired) Indian Navy (retired) |
| Produced | 1967–2003 |
| Developed from | Hawker P.1127 |
| Variants |
Hawker Siddeley Harrier British Aerospace Sea Harrier McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II British Aerospace Harrier II |
The Harrier, informally referred to as the Harrier Jump Jet, is a family of jet-powered attack aircraft capable of vertical/short takeoff and landing operations (V/STOL). Originally developed by UK manufacturer Hawker Siddeley in the 1960s, the Harrier emerged as the only truly successful V/STOL design of the many attempted during that era, despite being a subsonic aircraft, unlike most of its competitors. It was conceived to operate from improvised bases, such as car parks or forest clearings, without requiring large and vulnerable air bases. Later, the design was adapted for use from aircraft carriers.
There are two generations and four main variants of the Harrier family, developed by both UK and US manufacturers:
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is the first generation-version and is also known as the AV-8A Harrier. The Sea Harrier is a naval strike/air defence fighter. The AV-8B and BAE Harrier II are the respective US and British variants of the second generation Harrier aircraft.
Following an approach by the Bristol Engine Company in 1957 that they were planning a directed thrust engine, Hawker Aircraft came up with a design for an aeroplane that could meet the NATO specification for a "Light Tactical Support Fighter". There was no financial support for the development from HM Treasury, but aid was found through NATO's Mutual Weapon Development Project (MWDP) for engine development.
The Hawker P.1127 was ordered as a prototype and flew in 1960. NATO developed a specification (NBMR-3) for a VTOL aircraft, but one that was expected to have the performance of an aircraft like the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Hawker drafted a supersonic version of the P.1127, the P.1150, and also the Hawker P.1154, which would meet NBMR-3. The latter was a winner of the NATO competition and development continued, initially for both services, until cancelled by the new government on cost grounds, at the point of prototype construction in 1965.
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