Developed in Great Britain by Hawker Siddeley (later part of British Aerospace) the Harrier is one of only two vertical/short takeoff and landing jets to go into full production. First placed in service by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy the Harrier first saw combat in the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina. The GR.3 variant of the Harrier is an updated version of the earlier GR.1 featuring a more powerful engine and improved sensors. The most noticeable change was the lengthened nose housing a laser tracker. The RAF deployed most of their Harriers to Germany as a part of their NATO commitment. The GR.3 served until the early 1990s when it was replaced by the GR.7 and GR.9 versions of the Harrier.
Wingspan
25 ft 3 in.
Length
45 ft 6 in.
Height
11 ft 4 in.
Weight
25,000 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed
746 MPH
Service Ceiling
55,000 ft
Range
403 miles
Engine
One Rolls-Royce Pegasus 11 Mk. 103 turbofan with 21,500 pounds of thrust
Crew
1
Manufacturer Hawker Siddeley
Markings Royal Air Force, 4 Squadron, Gütersloh, West Germany, 1989
Serial Number XV804
Designation GR.3
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