Hawker Siddeley Harrier

Single Jet

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is the world's first operational vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet fighter, a revolutionary aircraft that redefined tactical air power by eliminating the need for conventional runways. Developed in the 1960s from the experimental P.1127 Kestrel, the Harrier uses a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus vectored-thrust turbofan engine with four rotating nozzles that can direct exhaust downward for vertical flight or rearward for conventional forward flight. This unique capability allowed the Harrier to operate from forest clearings, roads, small ships, and forward bases mere miles from the front lines—places no conventional jet could reach. The British Royal Air Force introduced the Harrier GR.1 in 1969, followed by the U.S. Marine Corps AV-8A in 1971, making it a rare Cold War aircraft adopted by both nations. The Harrier proved its combat worth during the 1982 Falklands War, where Sea Harriers achieved air superiority despite operating from small aircraft carriers against land-based Argentine jets. The aircraft's ability to use vectoring in forward flight (VIFF)—redirecting thrust mid-maneuver to achieve impossibly tight turns—gave skilled pilots a decisive edge in dogfights. Later variants like the AV-8B Harrier II and British GR.7/9 featured composite construction, improved avionics, and greater payload capacity, extending the type's service life into the 21st century. With a maximum takeoff weight around 31,000 pounds and subsonic performance (maximum speed approximately 660 knots), the Harrier sacrificed raw speed and range for operational flexibility. Its combat radius of roughly 300 nautical miles and ceiling near 50,000 feet were modest compared to contemporary fighters, but its ability to deploy anywhere made it invaluable for close air support and expeditionary operations. The U.S. Marine Corps retired its AV-8Bs in 2015 as the F-35B Lightning II—a supersonic stealth successor with similar STOVL capability—entered service, while the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier FA.2s retired in 2006 and RAF GR.9s in 2010. The Harrier remains the only first-generation V/STOL jet to achieve widespread operational success, proving that radical innovation could overcome conventional performance limitations when tactical advantage demanded it.