British Aerospace Harrier II

The British Aerospace Harrier II is the second-generation Harrier vertical and short takeoff jet that the Royal Air Force flew as the GR5, GR7 and GR9, and that the Royal Navy also flew from 2006 to 2010. It was an Anglicised version of the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B, built with British Aerospace as prime contractor and McDonnell Douglas as sub-contractor, with final assembly at Dunsfold in England. The first British-built development aircraft flew on 30 April 1985. The GR5 was upgraded to the GR7 with night attack avionics, and later aircraft were brought to GR9 standard with a metal rear fuselage and further avionics updates. The type served in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, mainly in air interdiction and close air support, and was retired early in December 2010 after the Strategic Defence and Security Review. This entry covers the British Aerospace aircraft; the American-built AV-8B is a separate entry.