AV-8B Harrier II Plus | Info, AN/APG-65, Budget/Costs, Specs

About the AV-8B Harrier II:

The BAE Systems/Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus is a single-seat, single-engine, subsonic ground attack fighter aircraft capable of Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing (V/STOL). The Harrier provides the U.S. Marine Corps with a high performance, combat effective and responsive weapon system. The aircraft can operate from ships and austere forward bases in direct support of ground forces. The AV-8B is in service the U.S. Marine Corps and the Spanish and Italian Navies. The United Kingdom Royal Air Force operates their own variant of the Harrier called the GR9.

The aircraft is no longer in production and the last new-built Harriers were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps in 1992. The aircraft's projected service life ends in 2022 or until replaced by F-35B Lightning II STOVL aircraft.

The AV-8B Day Attack variant is powered by a Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-406 turbofan engine with 20,280 pounds of thrust, while the AV-8B Night Attack variant is powered by the Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408A (22,200 pounds of thrust). The AV-8B is equipped with a Raytheon AN/APG-65 digital radar, which is a jam-resistant, all-weather detection and tracking radar that provides a day/night and adverse weather capability. The AV-8B is currently being retrofitted with the Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening EO/IR targeting pod.

The U.S. Marine Corp's active AV-8B inventory, as of May 2011, consists of 144 aircraft (four major configurations): 16 two-seat TAV-8B trainer aircraft, 5 Day Attack aircraft, 35 Night Attack aircraft, and 88 Night Attack/RADAR aircraft.

The aircraft made its first flight in May 1968 and achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in July 1971. Over the years, the Harrier II has been deployed in Operation Desert Storm, Somalia, Bosnia and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Armament/Weapons:

The AV-8B Harrier II has seven hardpoints (six under-wing + one under-fuselage) and is equipped with a General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer 25mm five-barreled gatling gun and can employ a wide range of ordnance. The aircraft carries General Purpose Bombs, GBU-12/16 Paveway II laser-guided bombs, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon/SLAM/SLAM-ER, AGM-88 HARM, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, 2.75" (70mm) Hydra-70 rockets, and GBU-31/38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). For more detail, see specifications below.

Mission/Role:

The mission of the AV-8B is to provide close air support for Marine Corps forces in amphibious operations, and direct support of ground forces from austere forward bases.

FY 2012 DoD Program:

The overall goal of the modifications budgeted in FY 2012 is to continue incorporation of Readiness Management Plan systems; electrical and structural changes; upgrade air-to-air weapon system employment and integration components; inventory sustainment and upgrade efforts to offset obsolescence and attrition; incorporation of Litening Pod upgrades; and incorporation of AV-8B F402-RR-408 engine safety and operational changes. The FY 2012 OCO request continues Expeditionary Litening Pod upgrades and complete AN/ALE-47 installations.

FY 2013 DoD Program:

FY 2013 continues FY 12 modifications (described above). The program provides for maintaining the readiness of the AV-8B weapons system until its projected end of service - which is now 2022 - or until replaced. FY 13 OCO funds in the amount of $42.2M continues the upgrade of Block 1 to G4 configured pods, and will fund required Litening Pod software upgrade validation and integration. For more information, click to see the Complete FY 2013 AV-8B Budget.

Sources: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), The Boeing Company, BAE Systems,
and Rolls-Royce plc

Primary Function: Close air support/ground attack
Prime Contractor: Airframe: McDonnell Douglas (The Boeing Co.); Engine: Rolls-Royce
Power Plant:
TAV-8B/AV-8B Day Attack (DA):
1x Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-406 turbofan engine with 20,280 pounds of thrust
AV-8B Night Attack (NA)/AV-8B Radar:
1x Rolls Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408A turbofan engine with 22,200 pounds of thrust
Wingspan: 30 ft 4 in (9.3 m)
Length: 46 ft 4 in (14.1 m)
Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.6 m)
Weight (Empty): 13,968 lbs (6,340 kg)
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): Rolling: 31,000 lbs (14,100 kg); Vertical: 20,755 lbs (9,415 kg)
Speed: Max: 585 kts/673 mph (1,083 km/h)
Rate of Climb: 14,700 ft/min (74.7 m/s)
Range: 802 nm/922 miles (1,485 km)
Combat Radius: 300 nm/345 miles (556 km)
Crew: One
Deployed: First Flight: May 1968; Initial Operational Capability (IOC): July 1971
Inventory: Active: 144 AV-8B aircraft, including:
16x Two-seat T/AV-8B trainer aircraft; 5x Day Attack aircraft;
35x Night Attack aircraft; and 88x Night Attack/RADAR aircraft.

Armament/Weapons:
1x General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer 25mm five-barreled gatling gun.
Typical combinations of ordnance include up to: 4x AIM-9 Sidewinder; or 6x AIM-120 AMRAAM;
or 6x AGM-65 Maverick; or 2x AGM-84 Harpoon, SLAM, SLAM-ER; or 2x AGM-88 HARM.
Other Weapons Carried: Mk 82/84 General Purpose Bombs; GBU-31/38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM);
GBU-12/16 Paveway II Laser-Guided Bombs; Hydra-70 Rockets.

Avionics & Sensors:
Raytheon AN/APG-65 Radar
Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28(V) EO/IR targeting pod

Product Type:	V/STOL Ground-Attack Aircraft
Using Service (US):	Marine Corps (USMC)
Program Status:	No more new aircraft will be purchased. Focus is on upgrades and sustainment.
Prime Contractor:	Airframe: The Boeing Co. Aft Fuselage: BAE Systems Engine: Rolls-Royce

AV-8B Harrier II

Product Type:

Using Service (US):

Program Status:

Prime Contractor:

About the AV-8B Harrier II:

Armament/Weapons:

Mission/Role:

FY 2012 DoD Program:

FY 2013 DoD Program:

External Resources:

AV-8B U.S. Defense Budget Charts:

DoD Spending, Procurement and RDT&E: FY 2011 + Budget for FY 2012 and FY 2013

Download Official U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Budget Data:

Aircraft Specifications: AV-8B Harrier II