A substantially redesigned second-generation Harrier developed for improved payload, range, and close-support effectiveness.
Development
McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II was developed by McDonnell Douglas Corporation in United States as a strike fighter. The family first flew in 1978 and entered service in 1985. Its recorded airframe configuration is fixed wing, with the family classified in the archive as core combat-aircraft scope.
Operational History
Operationally, McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is represented primarily in the strike fighter role. The sourced variant records include service with United States Marine Corps and Royal Air Force. The current structured record does not attach a specific conflict authority to this family; operational context remains limited to sourced service and role data. Role tags attached to the family include battlefield interdiction.
Variants and Lineage
Major variants represented in the structured record include AV-8B, AV-8B Night Attack, Harrier II GR.5, Harrier II GR.7 development, AV-8B Harrier II Plus, and Harrier GR.7, with additional variants retained in the family record. Recorded lineage links identify the family as developed from Hawker P.1127 / Kestrel family and major redesign of Hawker Siddeley Harrier / AV-8A.
Variants
| Designation | Type | Role | Recorded operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| AV-8B | Production | Strike Fighter | United States Marine Corps |
| AV-8B Harrier II Plus | Production | Strike Fighter | United States Marine Corps |
| AV-8B Night Attack | Production | Attack | United States Marine Corps |
| Harrier GR.7 | Production | Strike Fighter | Royal Air Force |
| Harrier GR.9 | Upgrade | Strike Fighter | Royal Air Force |
| Harrier II GR.5 | Production | Attack | Royal Air Force |
| Harrier II GR.7 development | Prototype | Attack | Royal Air Force |
Representative specifications
Configuration-specific profiles are shown separately so values from different variants are not blended into one false “standard” aircraft.
AV-8B — C016 baseline technical profile
- Crew
- 1
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan
Armament: Gun pods with air-to-air missiles, rockets, bombs, and precision strike stores by configuration.
Sources and further reading
Structured references supporting this aircraft family, variants, specifications, and narrative sections.
- AV-8C Harrier — Naval History and Heritage Command · Tier 1
- AV-8B Harrier II history — The Boeing Company · Tier 2
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1987-88 — Jane’s Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89 — Jane’s Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1990-91 — Jane’s Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1993-94 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1995-96 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2007-08 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3