Fighter Jets
Hawker Hunter
ICAO: HUNT
Overview
The AV-8B Harrier is a vertical or short takeoff and landing attack aircraft developed for close air support missions. Designed to operate from austere bases and amphibious ships, it provides flexibility to expeditionary forces. The aircraft evolved from earlier Harrier designs.
Live Fleet Activity (HAR)
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Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 1 × Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408 turbofan
- Engine type
- Turbofan
- Thrust
- 23,500 lbf · 105 kN
- Avionics
- Collins RT1250A/ARC U/UHF, Bendix RT-1157/APX-100 IFF system, Litton AN/ASN-130A INS
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 1
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- —
- Cabin height
- —
- Cabin length
- —
- Exterior length
- 46 ft 4 in · 14.12 m
- Tail height
- 11 ft 8 in · 3.55 m
- Fuselage diameter
- —
- Wing span
- 30 ft 4 in · 9.25 m
- Baggage volume
- —
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 31,000 lb · 14,100 kg
- Max landing weight
- 25,000 lb · 11,300 kg
- Max payload
- 13,200 lb · 6,000 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 2,350 gal · 8,900 L · 7,200 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 575 kt · 662 mph · 1,065 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- —
- Range
- 1,965 nm · 2,260 mi · 3,640 km
- Fuel burn
- 0.75 nm/gal · 0.37 km/L
- Ceiling
- 50,000 ft · 15,200 m
- Rate of climb
- 14,700 ft/min · 75 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- 1,700 ft · 520 m
- Landing distance
- —
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Operational Context
Hawker Siddeley AV-8B Harrier — V/STOL attack aircraft
The Harrier concept first flew in the 1960s, with the AV-8B variant entering service in the 1980s following extensive redesign. It incorporated a larger wing, updated avionics, and structural improvements. The aircraft uses vectored thrust from a single turbofan engine for vertical operations.
Powered by a Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan producing approximately 23,000 pounds of thrust (102 kN), the AV-8B cruises at around 570 knots (1,055 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight is roughly 31,000 pounds (14,060 kg). The aircraft carries a range of precision-guided and conventional munitions.
The AV-8B has served with the U.S. Marine Corps and other operators in multiple conflicts. Its ability to deploy from small ships and forward bases has defined its operational value. The Harrier family remains a unique example of V/STOL combat aircraft design.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.