British Aerospace Harrier GR.7
Though the Harrier GR.1/3 series had proven itself capable, pilots reported that the Harrier was not realizing its own potential: it was underpowered and could not carry as much ordnance as originally planned. Hawker-Siddeley, along with McDonnell Douglas in the United States, began working on a new Harrier design, but budget cuts to the RAF led Hawker-Siddeley to end the project for an upgraded Harrier. McDonnell Douglas, however, kept working on it, which culminated in the AV-8B, the so-called "Harrier II." The AV-8B used a more powerful Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine, a larger wing made from composites, more options for ordnance, and modern avionics. By 1982, Hawker-Siddeley--now British Aerospace--was able to reenter into the partnership with McDonnell Douglas, restoring the Harrier to its Anglo-American origins. Both companies would produce the Harrier II as the AV-8B for the US Marine Corps, and the Harrier GR.7 for the RAF.
As promised, the AV-8B/GR.7 was a major upgrade over the earlier Harrier. It was faster, it could carry over 6000 pounds more on the larger wings, and incorporated new technology such as Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) and multifunction displays in the cockpit, making it easier to fly than the earlier Harriers. Combat experience gained by RAF and Fleet Air Arm Harriers in the Falklands was incorporated as well: Harrier pilots now sat under a bubble canopy with superb all-around vision, and were equipped with all-aspect Sidewinders. (AV-8B users would later get full radar suites allowing them to fire the AIM-120 AMRAAM self-guided missile, an improvement also added to the Sea Harrier FRS.2; however, RAF Harriers were never given that upgrade.)
The first RAF Harrier GR.7s entered service in 1990, but were just too late for the First Gulf War, as they were not fully operational when Iraq invaded Kuwait. The GR.7's baptism of fire would come over former Yugoslavia, when it was used in the close air support role over Bosnia in 1995. RAF Harriers would subsequently be used over Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq, operating from both land bases and the Royal Navy's Invincible-class light carriers, the latter alongside their Sea Harrier "cousins." The GR.7 fleet was upgraded to GR.9 standard with updated avionics and weapons options.
Rising maintenance costs and defense budget costs would lead to the Fleet Air Arm's Sea Harriers being retired in 2006; jointly operated GR.9s were then flown by both RAF and FAA pilots as part of Joint Task Force Harrier. It was planned to keep the Harrier force operating until at least 2018, when the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II would be available to replace it, but in 2010, the Ministry of Defence chose to retire the entire Harrier fleet as a cost-saving measure. It was a controversial decision to say the least, but the Harriers were grounded by the end of the year. About half the GR.9s built were taken to the United States to be used as spares for the USMC's AV-8B fleet, but as of this writing five remain in the UK as museum pieces.
Because I didn't have a RAF Harrier in my collection, I picked up this 1/72 scale Revell "quick build" aircraft. It's prepainted, snaps together and lacks some detail, but it still looks nice on the shelf--even if it is more a toy than a model. It depicts a GR.7 from 3 Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore; the tail was painted to commemorate the squadron's 90th anniversary in 2003. The squadron crest is carried on the intake behind the RAF roundel. The two shades of gray scheme, similar to the USMC Harrier pattern, was the last scheme to be carried by British Harriers. It is shown equipped with two AIM-9L Sidewinders, four Hunting BL755 cluster bombs, and two CRV-7 rocket pods.
British Aerospace Harrier GR.7
Though the Harrier GR.1/3 series had proven itself capable, pilots reported that the Harrier was not realizing its own potential: it was underpowered and could not carry as much ordnance as originally planned. Hawker-Siddeley, along with McDonnell Douglas in the United States, began working on a new Harrier design, but budget cuts to the RAF led Hawker-Siddeley to end the project for an upgraded Harrier. McDonnell Douglas, however, kept working on it, which culminated in the AV-8B, the so-called "Harrier II." The AV-8B used a more powerful Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine, a larger wing made from composites, more options for ordnance, and modern avionics. By 1982, Hawker-Siddeley--now British Aerospace--was able to reenter into the partnership with McDonnell Douglas, restoring the Harrier to its Anglo-American origins. Both companies would produce the Harrier II as the AV-8B for the US Marine Corps, and the Harrier GR.7 for the RAF.
As promised, the AV-8B/GR.7 was a major upgrade over the earlier Harrier. It was faster, it could carry over 6000 pounds more on the larger wings, and incorporated new technology such as Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) and multifunction displays in the cockpit, making it easier to fly than the earlier Harriers. Combat experience gained by RAF and Fleet Air Arm Harriers in the Falklands was incorporated as well: Harrier pilots now sat under a bubble canopy with superb all-around vision, and were equipped with all-aspect Sidewinders. (AV-8B users would later get full radar suites allowing them to fire the AIM-120 AMRAAM self-guided missile, an improvement also added to the Sea Harrier FRS.2; however, RAF Harriers were never given that upgrade.)
The first RAF Harrier GR.7s entered service in 1990, but were just too late for the First Gulf War, as they were not fully operational when Iraq invaded Kuwait. The GR.7's baptism of fire would come over former Yugoslavia, when it was used in the close air support role over Bosnia in 1995. RAF Harriers would subsequently be used over Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq, operating from both land bases and the Royal Navy's Invincible-class light carriers, the latter alongside their Sea Harrier "cousins." The GR.7 fleet was upgraded to GR.9 standard with updated avionics and weapons options.
Rising maintenance costs and defense budget costs would lead to the Fleet Air Arm's Sea Harriers being retired in 2006; jointly operated GR.9s were then flown by both RAF and FAA pilots as part of Joint Task Force Harrier. It was planned to keep the Harrier force operating until at least 2018, when the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II would be available to replace it, but in 2010, the Ministry of Defence chose to retire the entire Harrier fleet as a cost-saving measure. It was a controversial decision to say the least, but the Harriers were grounded by the end of the year. About half the GR.9s built were taken to the United States to be used as spares for the USMC's AV-8B fleet, but as of this writing five remain in the UK as museum pieces.
Because I didn't have a RAF Harrier in my collection, I picked up this 1/72 scale Revell "quick build" aircraft. It's prepainted, snaps together and lacks some detail, but it still looks nice on the shelf--even if it is more a toy than a model. It depicts a GR.7 from 3 Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore; the tail was painted to commemorate the squadron's 90th anniversary in 2003. The squadron crest is carried on the intake behind the RAF roundel. The two shades of gray scheme, similar to the USMC Harrier pattern, was the last scheme to be carried by British Harriers. It is shown equipped with two AIM-9L Sidewinders, four Hunting BL755 cluster bombs, and two CRV-7 rocket pods.