Mcdonnell Douglas Av-8b Harrier Ii

Single Jet

The AV-8B Harrier II is the only operational fixed-wing jet aircraft capable of vertical and short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) in Western military service, a capability that allows it to operate from amphibious assault ships, forward operating bases, and austere sites without conventional runways. Developed by McDonnell Douglas in partnership with British Aerospace as a second-generation evolution of the original Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the AV-8B entered U.S. Marine Corps service in 1985 and remains the Corps' primary light attack and close air support platform for expeditionary operations. Its Rolls-Royce Pegasus vectored-thrust turbofan — with four rotating nozzles that redirect exhaust downward for vertical lift and aft for conventional flight — gives the Harrier unmatched tactical flexibility, enabling operations from ships as small as 40,000 tons and landing zones mere hundreds of feet long. The AV-8B can carry a 7,000-pound payload including Paveway laser-guided bombs, AGM-65 Mavericks, and AIM-9 Sidewinders, with the Night Attack and Radar variants adding FLIR targeting and APG-65 radar for all-weather precision strike. Though subsonic with a maximum speed around 575 knots and limited range compared to conventional carrier jets, the Harrier's ability to deploy closer to the battlefield and operate independently of large airbases has made it indispensable for Marine Expeditionary Units worldwide. The type saw extensive combat in the Falklands War, both Gulf Wars, and Afghanistan, and remains in frontline service with the U.S., Spain, and Italy, though the Marines are now transitioning to the F-35B Lightning II, which inherits the Harrier's V/STOL mission with fifth-generation stealth and sensors. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, covering routes.