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Air ForcesUnited States

AV-8B Harrier II

VTOL close support aircraftFielded 1984Pending verification
Air ForcesUSA
AV-8B Harrier II
Photo: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeVTOL close support aircraft
Date of introduction1984
ProliferationAt least 3 countries
ManufacturerMcDonnell Douglas / British Aerospace Boeing / BAE SystemsMed[1]
Crew1Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length14.12 m46 ftMed[1]
Height3.55 m12 ftMed[1]
Wingspan9.25 m30 ftMed[1]
Empty weight6,336 kg13,968 lbMed[1]
Flight performance
Engine1 x Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408BMed[1]
Thrust / power105.87 kNMed[1]
Range3,033 km1,885 mi · 1,638 nmi3,033 km [ferry, unrefueled with four 300 US gallon external tanks, tanks retained]Med[1]
Speed1,065 km/h662 mph · 575 ktMed[1]
G limits+8/–3Med[1]
Endurance3 hr [combat air patrol 100 n miles (185 km) from base]Med[1]
Protection
Chaff / flaresYesMed[1]
Armament and payload
Hardpoints6× under-wing pylon and 1x under-fuselage stations holding up to 4,200 kg of payloadMed[1]
Payload3,062 kg6,751 lbMed[1]
Carriage and releaseThree store stations under each wing on AV-8B, were stressed for loads of up to 907 kg inboard, 454 kg on intermediate stations, and 286 kg outboard.Med[1]
Guided weapon systemsTypical weapons include two or four AIM-9L Sidewinder or AGM-65E Maverick missiles, or up to six Sidewinders; 10 Paveway laser-guided bombs, and eight fire bombs. US Marine Corps has integrated Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) including 500 lb GBU-38.Med[1]
Unguided weapon systemsTwo under-fuselage packs, mounting on the port side a five-barrel 25 mm cannon based on General Electric GAU-12/U, and a 300-round container on the starboard side, in AV-8B. Single 454 kg stores mount on fuselage centreline, between gun packs.Med[1]
Fire control
Sensors noteR-1379B/ARA-63 all-weather landing receiver (AV-8B only), RT-1159A/ARN-118 Tacan (ARI 23368 for RAF), RT-1015A/APN-194(V) radar altimeter, Honeywell CV-3736/A com/nav/identification data converter…; Rockwell Collins RT-1250A/ARC-182 U/VHF com (GEC-Marconi Avionics (now BAE SYSTEMS), Honeywell RT-1157/APX-100 IFF.Med[1]
Variants
AV-8B Harrier II PlusRadar-equipped night attack version in service with US Marine Corps, Italian, and Spanish Navy.[1]
TAV-8BTwo-seat operational trainer.[1]
EAV-8B+Manufacturers designation for Spanish Navy VA.2 Matador II Single-seat export version.[1]
AV-8B Harrier II PlusSimilar to the Night Attack variant, with the addition of an APG-65 radar and separate targeting pod. It is used by the USMC, Spanish Navy, and Italian Navy. Forty-six were built.[1]
Summary

The AV-8B Harrier II American VTOL Close Support Aircraft is a vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL) subsonic attack aircraft jointly developed under a collaborative program by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
SpainItalyUnited States
Sources
  1. AV-8B Harrier II American VTOL Close Support Aircraft , U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (Public domain)