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| AV-8B Harrier II |
Militarymedia.net | The AV-8B was developed as a second generation Harrier, primarily for the US Marine Corps. The Harrier II entered USMC service in 1984 and participated extensively in the 1991 Gulf War. It is routinely deployed aboard amphibious assault ships.
The Harrier II fleet, which equips seven operational squadrons, has gone through two avionics upgrades to the base version, and through a re-manufacturing program. Upgraded night attack sensors equip four squadrons. The Harrier II+, which incorporates upgraded night attack and APG-65 multi-mode radar, equips two squadrons. A re-manufacturing program was intended for 72 aircraft and involved replacing the Pegasus F402-RR-406 engine with the upgraded -408A version. Upgrades also include an APG-65 radar, infra-red navigation set, cockpit compatible with night vision goggles, exterior lighting, and a moving map display. The AV-8B will also go through avionics upgrades with GPS mounts, general missile approach warning system, frequency agile digital radio, and digital Advanced Target Hand-off System, all gaining the capability to deploy JDAM. The US is trying to fund an advanced infra-red targeting set for the Harrier. The two-seat TAV-8B, used by the Harrier training squadron, was also upgraded with the F402-RR-408A engine.
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| AV-8B Harrier II |
The first foreign operator was the Spanish navy which received 12 EAV-8B, eight AV-8B Plus and one EV-8B trainer for operation from the aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias. Flotilla de Aeronaves is converting nine surviving EAV-8Bs to Plus standard. Italy's Marina Militare purchased 18 AV-8B Harrier II Plus, including two two-seaters, to operate from the carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. Harriers from both navies are primarily tasked with fleet defense from their respective carriers, and have recently acquired the AIM-120B AMRAAM missile arsenal.
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| AV-8B Harrier II |
