McDonnell Douglas AV - 8B Harrier II The McDonnell Douglas ( now Boeing ) AV - 8B Harrier II is a single - engine ground - attack aircraft that constitutes the second generation of the Harrier Jump Jet aircraft family . Capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing ( V / STOL ) , the aircraft was designed in the 1980s as an Anglo - American development of the British Hawker Siddeley Harrier , the first operational V / STOL aircraft . Named after a bird of prey , it is primarily employed on light attack or multi - role missions , ranging from close air support in support of ground troops to armed reconnaissance . The AV - 8B is used by the United States Marine Corps , the Spanish Navy and the Italian Navy . A variant of the AV - 8B , the British Aerospace Harrier II was developed for the British military , while another , the TAV - 8B , is a dedicated two - seat trainer . The project that would eventually give rise to the AV - 8B commenced in the early 1970s as a cooperative effort between the United States and United Kingdom , aimed at addressing the operational inadequacies of the first - generation Harrier . Early efforts centered around a powerful revamped Rolls - Royce Pegasus engine that would dramatically improve the capabilities of the Harrier . Due to budgetary constraints , however , the UK abandoned the project in 1975 . Following the political split , McDonnell Douglas proceeded to extensively redesign the earlier AV - 8A Harrier to create the AV - 8B . While retaining the general layout of its predecessor , the aircraft incorporates a new wing , an elevated cockpit , a redesigned fuselage , one extra hardpoint per wing , and other structural and aerodynamic refinements . The aircraft is powered by an upgraded version of the Pegasus , which gives the aircraft its remarkable V / STOL ability . The AV - 8B made its maiden flight in November 1981 and entered service with the USMC in January 1985 . Later upgrades added a night - attack capability and radar , resulting in the AV - 8B ( NA ) and AV - 8B Harrier II Plus , respectively . An enlarged version named Harrier III was also studied , but not pursued . The UK , through British Aerospace , re - joined the improved Harrier project as partner in 1981 , giving it a significant work - share in the project . Since corporate mergers in the 1990s , Boeing and BAE Systems have jointly supported the program . More than 323 aircraft were produced in a 22 - year production program that ended in 2003 . Typically operated from small aircraft carrier s , large amphibious assault ship s and simple forward operating base s , AV - 8Bs have participated in numerous conflicts and humanitarian operations , proving themselves versatile assets . US Army General Norman Schwarzkopf named the Marine Corps Harrier II as one of the seven most important weapons of the Gulf War . The aircraft took part in combat during the Iraq War beginning in 2003 . The Harrier II has served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan since 2001 , and was used in Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya in 2011 . Italian and Spanish Harrier IIs have participated in overseas conflicts in conjunction with NATO coalitions . During its service history the AV - 8B has had a high accident rate related to the high percentage of time spent in critical take - off and landing phases . American and Italian AV - 8Bs are to be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F - 35B Lightning II , with the USMC expected to operate its Harriers until at least 2030 . Development . Origins . In the late 1960s and early 1970s , as the first - generation Harriers entered service with the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) and United States Marine Corps ( USMC ) , it became increasingly apparent that they were handicapped in range and payload . The AV - 8A , the American designation for the Hawker Siddeley Harrier , in short takeoff and landing configuration , could only carry less than half the 4 , 000 lb ( 1 , 800 kg ) payload of the A - 4 Skyhawk over a radius smaller than that of the diminutive aircraft . To address this issue , in 1973 Hawker Siddeley and McDonnell Douglas began joint development of a more capable version of the Harrier . Early efforts concentrated on an improved Pegasus engine , designated " Pegasus 15 " , which was undergoing testing by Bristol Siddeley . The engine was more powerful but had a diameter greater , too large to readily fit into the Harrier . A joint American and British team completed a project document defining an Advanced Harrier powered by the Pegasus 15 engine in December 1973 . The Advanced Harrier was intended to replace the original RAF and Marine Harriers , as well as the latter ' s A - 4 . The aim of the Advanced Harrier was to double the AV - 8 ' s payload and range , and was therefore unofficially named " AV - 16 " . The British government pulled out of the project in March 1975 due to decreased defense funding , rising costs , and a small 60 - aircraft requirement by the RAF . With development costs , estimated to be around US $ 180 – 200 million ( 1974 ) , the US was unwilling to fund development by itself , and ended the project later that year . The two companies took different paths toward an enhanced Harrier . Hawker Siddeley focused on a new larger wing that could be retrofitted to existing operational aircraft , while McDonnell Douglas independently undertook a less ambitious , though still expensive , project catering to the needs of the US military . Using knowledge gleaned from the AV - 16 effort , though dropping some items — such as the larger Rolls - Royce Pegasus engine — McDonnell Douglas kept the basic structure and engine for an aircraft tailored for the USMC . Designing and testing . The plan for Harrier II development was authorized by the United States Department of Defense ( DoD ) in 1976 . The United States Navy ( USN ) , which has traditionally procured military aircraft for the USMC , insisted that the new design be verified with flight testing . McDonnell Douglas therefore modified two AV - 8As with new wings , revised intakes , redesigned exhaust nozzles , and other aerodynamic refinements ; the modified forward fuselage and cockpit that would be found on all subsequent aircraft were not incorporated on these prototypes . Designated " YAV - 8B " , the first converted aircraft flew on 9 November 1978 , followed on 19 February 1979 by the second aircraft which crashed in November due to engine flameout . These modified AV - 8s were flight - tested during 1978 and 1979 . Test results showed greater than expected drag ( resistance to forward motion ) , somewhat hampering the aircraft ' s maximum speed . Refinements to the aerodynamic profile yielded little improvement . Positive results in other areas , including payload , range and V / STOL performance , led to the award of a development contract in 1979 . The contract stipulated that 12 aircraft would initially be procured , and a further 324 thereafter . Between 1978 and 1980 , the DoD and USN repeatedly attempted to terminate the AV - 8B program . There had previously been conflict between the USMC and USN , which is responsible for funding the former ' s programs , over budgetary issues . At the time , USN wanted to procure A - 18s to constitute its attack force , and so pressured the USMC to adopt the F - 18 instead of the AV - 8B to fulfill the role of close air support ( both designs would eventually be amalgamate to create the F / A - 18 Hornet ) . Despite these political obstacles , in 1981 , the DoD included the Harrier II in its annual budget and five - year defense plan . The USN declined to participate in the procurement , citing the limited range and payload compared with conventional aircraft . In August 1981 , the program received a boost when British Aerospace ( BAe ) and McDonnell Douglas signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) , marking the UK ' s re - entry into the program . Under the agreement , BAe was relegated to the position of a subcontractor , instead of the full partner status that would have been the case had the UK not left the program . Consequently , the company received , in man - hours , 40 percent of the airframe work - share . Aircraft production would occur at McDonnell Douglas ' facilities in suburban St . Louis , Missouri , and manufacturing by BAe would take place at its Kingston and Dunsfold facilities in Surrey , England . Meanwhile , 75 percent work - share for the engine went to Rolls - Royce , who had previously absorbed Bristol Siddeley , with the remaining 25 percent assigned to Pratt & Whitney . The two companies planned to manufacture 400 Harrier IIs , with the USMC expected to procure 336 aircraft and the RAF , 60 . Four full - scale development ( FSD ) aircraft were constructed . The first of these ( BuNo 161396 ) , used mainly for testing performance and handling qualities , took its maiden flight on 5 November 1981 . The second and third FSD aircraft , which introduced wing leading edge root extensions ( LERX , which are extensions to the root of the wing ' s leading - edge ) and revised engine intakes , first flew in April the following year ; the fourth would follow in January 1984 . The first production AV - 8B was delivered to the Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 ( VMAT - 203 ) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point ( MCAS Cherry Point ) on 12 December 1983 , and officially handed over one month later . The last of the initial batch of twelve was delivered in January 1985 to the front - line Marine Attack Squadron 331 ( VMA - 331 ) . The engine used for these aircraft was the F402 - RR - 404A , with 21 , 450 lb ( 95 . 4 kN ) of thrust ; aircraft from 1990 onwards received upgraded engines . Further development . During the initial pilot conversion course , it became apparent that the AV - 8B exhibited different flight characteristics from the AV - 8A , and that both these and the use of a digital cockpit instead of the analog cockpit of the TAV - 8A necessitated additional pilot training . In 1984 , funding for eight AV - 8Bs was diverted to the development of a two - seat TAV - 8B dedicated trainer . The first of the twenty - eight TAV - 8Bs eventually procured had its maiden flight on 21 October 1986 . This aircraft was delivered to VMAT - 203 on 24 July 1987 , while the TAV - 8B was also ordered by Italy and Spain . With export interest from Brazil , Japan and Italy serving as a source of encouragement for McDonnell Douglas and BAe to continue development of the Harrier II , the former commenced work on a night - attack variant in 1985 . The 87th production AV - 8B thereafter became the first Harrier II to be modified with equipment for night attacks , having rolled off the McDonnell Douglas production line in June 1987 . Flight tests proved successful and the night attack capability was validated . The first of 66 AV - 8B ( NA ) s was delivered to the USMC in September 1989 . An equivalent version to the AV - 8B ( NA ) also served with the RAF under the designation " GR Mk . 7 " ; earlier GR Mk . 5 aircraft were subsequently upgraded to GR Mk . 7 standards . In June 1987 , as a private venture , BAe , McDonnell Douglas and Smiths Industries signed an MoU for the development of what was to become the AV - 8B Plus . This agreement was endorsed by the USMC , and , after much consideration , the Spanish and Italian navies developed a joint requirement for a fleet of air - defense Harriers . The United States , Spain and Italy signed an MoU in September 1990 to define the responsibilities of the three countries and establish a Joint Program Office to manage the program . On 30 November 1990 , the USN , acting as an agent for the three participating countries , awarded McDonnell Douglas the contract to develop the improved Harrier . The award was followed by an order from the USMC in December 1990 , which included 30 new aircraft , as well as 72 that would be rebuilt from older aircraft . The Italians ordered 16 Harrier II Plus and two twin - seat TAV - 8B aircraft , while the Spaniards signed a contract for eight aircraft . Production of the AV - 8B Harrier II Plus would be conducted , in addition to McDonnell Douglas ' plant , at CASA ' s facility in Seville , Spain , and Alenia Aeronautica ' s facility in Turin , Italy . The UK also participated in the program by manufacturing components for the AV - 8B . Authorization for production was given on 3 June 1992 . The maiden flight of the prototype ( BuNo 164129 ) took place on 22 September , marking the start of a successful flight test program . The first production aircraft was delivered to St . Louis and , on 17 March 1993 , made its first flight . Deliveries of new aircraft took place from April 1993 to 1995 . At the same time , the plans to remanufacture existing AV - 8Bs to the Plus standard proceeded . On 11 March 1994 , the Defense Acquisition Board approved the program , which initially involved 70 aircraft , with four converted in financial year 1994 . The program aimed to use new and refurbished components to rebuild aircraft at a lower cost than new - built aircraft . Conversion began in April 1994 , and the first aircraft was delivered to the USMC in January 1996 . Despite the apparent advantages of the program , in March 1996 the US General Accounting Office stated that it was financially sounder to buy the Harrier II Plus outright under a procurement program than to remanufacture existing AV - 8Bs . The USN estimated the cost for remanufacture of each aircraft to be US $ 23 – 30 million , instead of $ 30 million for each new - built aircraft , while the GAO estimated the cost per new aircraft at $ 24 million . Nevertheless , the program continued , and in 2003 , the 72nd and last remanufactured AV - 8B was delivered to the USMC . Spain also participated in the program , with the delivery of its last refurbished aircraft occurring in December 2003 , which marked the end of the AV - 8B ' s production . In the 1990s , Boeing and BAE Systems assumed management of the Harrier family following corporate mergers which saw Boeing ' s acquisition of McDonnell Douglas and BAe amalgamate with various other defense companies to form BAE Systems . Between 1969 and 2003 , 824 variants were delivered . While manufacture of new - built Harriers concluded in 1997 , the last remanufactured aircraft ( in Harrier II Plus configuration ) was delivered to Spain in December 2003 . In 2001 , " Flight International " reported that Taiwan might choose to meet its requirement for a short take off and vertical landing ( STOVL ) aircraft by purchasing AV - 8Bs , outfitted with the F - 16 Fighting Falcon ' s APG - 66 radar . A Taiwanese purchase would have allowed the production line to stay open beyond 2005 . Despite the possibility of leasing AV - 8Bs , interest in the aircraft waned as the country switched its intentions to procuring the F - 35 . While there are no replacement Harrier variants for the AV - 8B , in 1990 , McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace began discussions on an interim aircraft that would bridge the AV - 8B and the next generation of advanced STOVL aircraft . The Harrier III would have presented an " evolutionary approach to get the most from the existing aircraft " , as many of the structures employed on the Sea Harrier and AV - 8B would be used . The wing and the torsion box would be enlarged to accommodate extra fuel and hardpoints to improve the aircraft ' s endurance . Due to the increase in size , the wing would have had folding wing tips . To meet the heavier weight of the aircraft , Rolls - Royce was expected to design a Pegasus engine variant that would have produced more thrust than the latest production variant at the time . The Harrier III would have carried weapons such as AIM - 120 AMRAAM and AIM - 132 ASRAAM missiles . Boeing and BAE Systems continued studying the design until the early 2000s , when the project was abandoned . , the USMC is studying potential enhancements to the AV - 8B Harrier IIs to keep the type operational until its planned retirement date . Upgrades under consideration include Link 16 data links , increased compatibility with the AIM - 120 AMRAAM , and integrating a helmet - mounted cueing system . It is also predicted that additional work to the aircraft ' s radars and sensor systems may take place . The Marines Corps Harrier II fleet is to remain in service until 2030 , due to delays with the F - 35B and the fact that the Harriers have more service life left than do the Marine Corps F / A - 18s . Design . Overview . The AV - 8B Harrier II is a subsonic attack aircraft . It retains the basic layout of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier , with horizontal stabilizers and shoulder - mounted wings featuring prominent anhedral ( downward slope ) . The aircraft is powered by a single Rolls - Royce Pegasus turbofan engine , two intakes and four synchronized vectorable nozzles of which are located close to the turbine . Two of these nozzles are located near the forward , cold end of the engine while two nozzles are near the rear , hot end of the engine . This arrangement contrasts with most fixed - wing aircraft , which have their engine nozzles at the rear . The Harrier II also has smaller valve - controlled nozzles in the nose , tail and wingtips to provide control at low airspeeds . The AV - 8B is equipped with one centerline fuselage and six wing hardpoint s ( up from five in total on the original Harrier ) along with two fuselage stations for a 25 mm GAU - 12 cannon and ammunition pack . These hardpoints give it the ability to carry a total of of weapons , including air - to - air , air - to - surface and anti - ship missile s , as well as unguided and guided bomb s . The aircraft ' s internal fuel capacity is , up 50 percent compared to its predecessor . Fuel capacity can be enlarged using hardpoint - compatible external drop tanks , which give the aircraft a maximum ferry range of 2 , 100 mi ( 3 , 300 km ) and a combat radius of 300 mi ( 556 km ) . The AV - 8B can also receive additional fuel via aerial refueling using the probe - and - drogue system . The British Aerospace Harrier II , a variant tailored to the RAF , uses different avionics , and has one additional missile pylon on each wing . The Harrier II retains the tandem undercarriage layout of the first - generation Harriers , although the outrigger landing gears were moved from the wingtip to mid - span for a tighter turning radius when taxiing . The engine intakes are bigger than those of the first - generation Harrier , and have a revised inlet . Underneath the fuselage centerline McDonnell Douglas added lift - improvement devices , which capture the reflected engine exhaust , equivalent to 1 , 200 lb ( 544 kg ) of lift . The technological advances incorporated into the Harrier II , compared with the original Harrier , significantly reduce the workload on the pilot . The supercritical wing , hands - on - throttle - and - stick ( HOTAS ) control principle , and deliberately - engineered lateral stability make the aircraft fundamentally easier to fly . Ed Harper , general manager for the McDonnell Douglas Harrier II development program , summarized : " The AV - 8B looks a lot like the original Harrier and it uses the same operating fundamentals . It just uses them a lot better " . A large cathode - ray tube multi - purpose display , taken from the F / A - 18 , makes up much of the instrument panel in the cockpit . It has a wide range of functions , including radar warning information and weapon delivery checklist . The pilots sit on UPC / Stencel 10B zero - zero ejection seats , meaning that they are able to eject in a stationary aircraft at zero altitude . Airframe . With the AV - 8B , McDonnell Douglas had overhauled the entire airframe of the Harrier , incorporating numerous structural and aerodynamic changes . Perhaps the most thorough redesign was conducted on the wing , as the standard Pegasus engine was to be retained while performance was expected to match that of the AV - 16 . Engineers had designed a new , one - piece supercritical wing , which improves cruise performance by delaying the rise in drag and increasing lift - to - drag ratio . Made of carbon - fibre composites , the wing is thicker and has a longer span than that of the AV - 8A . Compared to the AV - 8A ' s wing , it has a higher aspect ratio , reduced sweep , and an area increased from to . The wing has a high - lift configuration , employing flaps that automatically deploy during aircraft maneuvers , and drooped ailerons . The wing , when used in concert with LERX , allows for a 6 , 700 lb ( 3 , 035 kg ) increase in payload compared with the first - generation Harriers after a 1 , 000 ft ( 300 m ) takeoff roll . Because the wing is almost exclusively composite , it is lighter than the AV - 8A ' s wing . Another notable change can be observed in the front - fuselage . To improve visibility and better accommodate the crew and avionics hardware , McDonnell Douglas had elevated the cockpit by and redesigned the canopy . This redesign improves the forward ( 17° down ) , side ( 60° ) and rear visibility . The front - fuselage is composed of a moulded skin with an epoxy - based core sandwiched between two carbon - fibre sheets . To compensate for the changes in the front - fuselage , the rear fuselage was extended by , and the taller vertical stabilizer of the Sea Harrier is used . Like the wing , the tail assembly is made up of composites to reduce weight . Indeed , the Harrier II was the first combat aircraft to employ composite materials extensively ; they are used on the wings , rudder , flaps , nose , forward fuselage and empennage . In total , 26 percent of the aircraft ' s structure is made of composites , reducing the weight of the aircraft by 480 lb ( 217 kg ) compared with a conventional metal structure , boosting its performance dramatically . Differences between versions . The first AV - 8B Harrier IIs were commonly known as the " Day Attack " variant . Most of these were upgraded to Night Attack Harrier or Harrier II Plus standards , with the remainder being withdrawn from service . The AV - 8B cockpit was also used for the early trialing of Direct Voice Input ( DVI ) , which allows the pilot to use voice commands to issue instructions to the aircraft , using a system developed by Smiths Aerospace . The main attack avionics system comprised the nose - mounted Hughes AN / ASB - 19 . The trainer version of the AV - 8B is the TAV - 8B , seating two pilots in tandem . Among other changes , the forward fuselage features a 3 ft 11 in ( 1 . 19 m ) extension to accommodate the second cockpit . To compensate for the slight loss of directional stability , the vertical stabilizer ' s area was enlarged through increases in chord ( length of the wing ' s root ) and height . Marine Corps TAV - 8Bs feature the AV - 8B ' s digital cockpit and new systems , but have only two hardpoints and are not combat capable . Initial TAV - 8Bs were powered by a 21 , 450 lbf ( 95 . 4 kN ) F402 - RR - 406A engine , while later examples were fitted with the 23 , 000 lbf ( 105 . 8 kN ) F402 - RR - 408A . Fielded in 1991 , the Night Attack Harrier was the first upgrade of the AV - 8B . It was different from the AV - 8B " sans suffix " in having a forward looking infrared ( FLIR ) camera added on top of the nose cone , a wide Smiths Industries head - up display ( HUD ) , provisions for night vision goggle s , and a Honeywell digital moving map system . The FLIR uses thermal imaging to identify objects by their heat signatures . The variant would be powered by the F402 - RR - 408 engine that was more powerful and reliable , and featured an electronic control system . The flare and chaff dispensers were moved , and the ram air intake was lengthened at the fin ' s base . Initially known as the AV - 8D , the night - attack variant was designated the AV - 8B ( NA ) . The Harrier II Plus is very similar to the Night Attack variant , with the addition of an APG - 65 multi - mode pulse - Doppler radar in an extended nose , allowing it to launch advanced beyond - visual - range missile s such as the AIM - 120 AMRAAM . To make additional space for the radar , the angle - rate bombing system was removed . The radars used were taken from early F / A - 18 , which had been upgraded with the related APG - 73 . In addition to the AIM - 120 , the AV - 8B Plus can also carry Harpoon and AGM - 65 Maverick missiles . According to aviation author Lon Nordeen , the changes made " had a slight increase in drag and a bit of additional weight , but there really was not much difference in performance between the [ – 408 - powered ] Night Attack and radar Harrier II Plus aircraft . " Operational history . United States Marine Corps . To prepare for Marine Corps service , the AV - 8B underwent the standard evaluations . In the operational evaluation ( OPEVAL ) , lasting from 31 August 1984 to 30 March 1985 , four pilots and a group of maintenance and support personnel put the aircraft under combat type conditions . The aircraft was graded for its ability to meet its mission requirements for navigating , acquiring targets , delivering weapons , and evading and surviving enemy actions , all at the specified range and payload performance . The first phase of OPEVAL , running until 1 February 1985 , required the AV - 8B to fly close and deep air support missions ( close air support refers to air actions against hostile targets that require coordination with friendly ground forces , while deep air support does not require coordination ) in concert with other close air support aircraft , as well as flying battlefield interdiction and armed reconnaissance missions . Missions were flown from military installations at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake ( both located in California ) , Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake ( Canada ) and MCAS Yuma ( Arizona ) . The second phase , which took place at MCAS Yuma from 25 February to 8 March , required the AV - 8B to perform fighter escort , combat air patrol , and deck - launched intercept missions . Even though the evaluation identified some remaining shortfalls in the design that were subsequently rectified , OPEVAL was deemed successful . The AV - 8B Harrier II reached initial operating capability ( IOC ) in January 1985 with Marine Corps squadron VMA - 331 . The AV - 8B saw extensive action in the Gulf War of 1990 – 91 . Aircraft based on and , and at on - shore bases , flew training and support sortie s , as well as practicing with coalition forces . The AV - 8Bs were to be held in reserve during the initial phase of the preparatory air assault of Operation Desert Storm . On the morning of 17 January 1991 , a call for air support from an OV - 10 Bronco forward air controller against artillery that was shelling Khafji and an adjacent oil refinery , initiated the AV - 8B into combat . The following day , Marine Corps AV - 8Bs attacked Iraqi positions in southern Kuwait . Throughout the war , AV - 8Bs performed armed reconnaissance and worked in concert with coalition forces to destroy hostile targets . During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm , the AV - 8B amassed 3 , 380 flights and 4 , 083 flight hours , with a mission availability rate of over 90 percent . Five AV - 8Bs were lost to enemy surface - to - air missile s , and two Marine pilots were killed . The AV - 8B had an attrition rate of 1 . 5 aircraft for every 1 , 000 sorties flown . US Army General Norman Schwarzkopf would later name the AV - 8B among the seven weapons — along with the F - 117 Nighthawk and AH - 64 Apache — which played a crucial role during the war . In the aftermath of the war , from 27 August 1992 until 2003 , Marine Corps AV - 8Bs and other aircraft patrolled the sky over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch . The AV - 8Bs launched from amphibious assault ship s in the Persian Gulf , and from forward operating bases such as Ali Al Salem Air Base , Kuwait . The AV - 8B participated , in 1999 , in NATO ' s bombing of Yugoslavia in Operation Allied Force . Twelve Harriers were split evenly between the 24th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit s ( MEU ) . AV - 8Bs of the 24th MEU were introduced into combat on 14 April , and over the next 14 days flew 34 combat air support missions over Kosovo . During their six - month deployment onboard USS " Nassau " , 24th MEU Harriers averaged a high mission - capable rate of 91 . 8 percent . On 28 April , the 24th MEU was relieved by the 26th MEU , based on . The first combat sorties of the unit ' s AV - 8Bs occurred two days later , with one aircraft lost . The 26th MEU remained in the theater of operations until 28 May , when it was relocated to Brindisi , Italy . Marine Corps Harrier IIs participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2001 . The Marine Corps 15th MEU arrived off the coast of Pakistan in October 2001 . Operating from the unit ' s ships , four AV - 8Bs began attack missions into Afghanistan on 3 November 2001 . The 26th MEU and its AV - 8Bs joined 15th MEU later that month . In December 2001 , Harrier IIs began moving into Afghanistan to a forward base at Kandahar . More AV - 8Bs were deployed with other Marine Corps units to the region in 2002 . The VMA - 513 squadron deployed six Night Attack Harrier IIs to Bagram in October 2002 . These aircraft each carried a LITENING targeting pod to perform reconnaissance missions along with attack and other missions primarily at night . The aircraft returned to Iraq during the Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 , acting primarily in support of Marine Corps ground units . During the initial action , 60 AV - 8Bs were deployed on ships such as the and , from where over a thousand sorties were flown throughout the war . When possible , land - based forward arming and refuelling points were set up to enable prompt operations . Marine Corps commander Lieutenant General Earl B . Hailston said that the Harriers were able to provide 24 - hour support for ground forces , and noted that " The airplane . . . became the envy of pilots even from my background . . . there ' s an awful lot of things on the Harrier that I ' ve found the Hornet pilots asking me [ for ] . . . We couldn ' t have asked for a better record " . Major General James F . Amos later commented on the AV - 8B ' s performance in Iraq , stating : " I simply could not have been more pleased with the reliability of the airplane and its weapons systems . . . and in the courage and discipline of my AV8 pilots . " Marine Corps sources documented the Harrier as holding an 85 percent aircraft availability record in the Iraq War , and in just under a month of combat , the aircraft had flown over 2 , 000 sorties . When used , the LITENING II targeting pod achieved greater than 75 percent kill effectiveness on targets . In a single sortie from USS " Bonhomme Richard " , a wave of Harriers inflicted heavy damage on a Republican Guard tank battalion in advance of a major ground assault on Al Kut . Harriers regularly operated in close support roles for friendly tanks , usually with one carrying a LITENING pod . Despite the Harrier ' s high marks , the limited amount of time that each aircraft could remain on station , around 15 – 20 minutes , led to some calls from within the USMC for the procurement of AC - 130 gunships , which could loiter for six hours and had a heavier close air support capability than the AV - 8B . AV - 8Bs were later used in combination with artillery to provide constant fire support for ground forces during heavy fighting in 2004 around the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah . The urban environment there required extreme precision for airstrikes . On 20 March 2011 , Marine Corps AV - 8Bs were launched from USS " Kearsarge " in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn , enforcing the UN no - fly zone over Libya . They carried out air strikes on Sirte on 5 April 2011 . Multiple AV - 8Bs were involved in the defense of a downed F - 15E pilot , attacking approaching Libyans prior to the pilot ' s extraction by MV - 22 Osprey . In addition to major conflicts , Marine Corps AV - 8Bs have been deployed in support of various contingency and humanitarian operations , providing fixed - wing air cover and armed reconnaissance . The aircraft had served in Somalia throughout the 1990s , Rwanda ( 1994 ) , Liberia ( 1996 and 2003 ) , Central African Republic ( 1996 ) , Albania ( 1997 ) , Zaire ( 1997 ) , Sierra Leone ( 1997 ) and East Timor ( 2002 – 2002 ) . During its service life with the USMC , the Harrier has had an accident rate three times that of the Corps ' other aircraft , the F / A - 18 . The AV - 8 was dubbed a " widow maker " by some in the military . The " Los Angeles Times " reported in 2003 that the Harrier family had the highest rate of major accidents among military aircraft in service then , with 148 accidents and 45 people killed . Lon Nordeen notes that several other Marine Corps single - engine strike aircraft , like the A - 4 Skyhawk and LTV A - 7 Corsair II , had worse accident rates . The Harrier ' s high accident rate is largely due to the higher percentage of time it spends taking off and landing , which are the most critical times in flight . The AV - 8B is to be replaced by the F - 35B version of the Lockheed Martin F - 35 Lightning II , which had been slated to enter service in 2012 . The USMC had wanted a replacement since the 1980s , and has argued strongly in favor of the development of the F - 35B . The Harrier ' s performance in Iraq , including its ability to use forward operating bases , have reinforced the need for a V / STOL aircraft in the Marine Corps arsenal . In November 2011 , the USN purchased the UK ' s fleet of 72 retired BAe Harrier IIs ( this figure included the 63 single - seat GR . 7 / 9 / 9As plus 9 twin - seat T . 12 / 12As ) and replacement engines to provide spares for the existing Marine Corps Harrier II fleet . A March 2012 report in the magazine " Air Forces Monthly " suggested that the USMC might acquire some of the 72 ex - British Harrier IIs . The service planned to equip two squadrons with the latter GR . 9 / 9A models due to the well maintained condition of the airframes at RAF Cottesmore , where the aircraft were stored and maintained following their retirement . Naval Air Systems Command ( NAVAIR ) has since stated , however , that the USMC has never had any plans to operate the ex - RAF Harriers . On 14 September 2012 , a Taliban raid destroyed six AV - 8Bs and severely damaged two others while they were parked on the tarmac at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan ' s Helmand Province . All of the aircraft belonged to VMA - 211 . The two damaged Harrier IIs were flown out of Afghanistan in the following hours . Some of the VMA - 211 pilots also fought as infantrymen . The squadron commander , Lieutenant Colonel Chris Raible , 40 , was killed while leading an attack on the infiltrators , armed only with his pistol . The attack was described as " the worst loss of U . S . airpower in a single incident since the Vietnam War . " Italian Navy . In the late 1960s following a demonstration of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier on the Italian Navy ( " Marina Militare " ) helicopter carrier " Andrea Doria " , the country began investigating the possibility of acquiring the Harrier . Early efforts were hindered by a 1937 Italian law that prohibited the navy from operating fixed - wing aircraft because they were the domain of the air force . In early 1989 the law was changed to allow the navy to operate any aircraft with a maximum weight of over 3 , 300 lb ( 1 , 500 kg ) . Following a lengthy evaluation of the Sea Harrier and AV - 8B , an order was placed for two TAV - 8Bs in May 1989 . Soon a contract for a further sixteen AV - 8B Plus aircraft was signed . After the TAV - 8Bs and the first three AV - 8Bs , all subsequent Italian Navy Harriers were locally assembled by Alenia Aeronautica from kits delivered from the US . The twin - seaters , the first to be delivered , arrived at Grottaglie in August 1991 . They were used for proving flights with the Navy ' s helicopter carriers and on the light aircraft carrier " Giuseppe Garibaldi " . Deliveries of the initial US - built aircraft began in early 1994 to MCAS Cherry Point for pilot conversion training . In 1995 , the first Italian - assembled Harrier was rolled out . In mid - January of that year , the " Giuseppe Garibaldi " set off from Taranto to Somalia , with three Harriers on board , to maintain stability following the withdrawal of UN forces . The Harriers , flown by five Italian pilots , accumulated more than 100 flight hours and achieved 100 percent availability during the three - month deployment , performing reconnaissance missions and other roles . The squadron returned to port on 22 March . In 1999 , Italian AV - 8Bs were used for the first time in combat missions when they were deployed aboard the " Giuseppe Garibaldi " , which was participating in Operation Allied Force in Kosovo . Italian pilots conducted more than 60 sorties alongside other NATO aircraft , attacking the Yugoslav army and paramilitary forces and bombing the country ' s infrastructure with conventional and laser - guided bomb s ( LGB ) . In 2000 , the Italian Navy was looking to acquire a further seven remanufactured aircraft to equip the " Giuseppe Garibaldi " and a new carrier , the " Cavour " . Existing aircraft , meanwhile , were updated to allow them to carry AIM - 120 AMRAAMs and JDAM guided bombs . From November 2001 to March 2002 , eight AV - 8Bs were embarked aboard the " Giuseppe Garibaldi " and were deployed to the Indian Ocean in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . The aircraft , equipped with LGBs , performed operations throughout January and February 2002 , during which 131 missions were logged for a total of 647 flight hours . In 2011 , Italian Harriers , operating from the " Giuseppe Garibaldi " , worked alongside Italian Eurofighter s and the aircraft of other nations during Operation Unified Protector as part of the 2011 military intervention in Libya . They conducted intelligence and reconnaissance operations over Libya , using the LITENING targeting pod s while armed with AIM - 120 AMRAAMs and AIM - 9 Sidewinder s . In total , Italian military aircraft delivered 710 guided bombs and missiles during sorties : Italian Air Force Tornados and AMX fighter bombers delivered 550 bombs and missiles , while the eight Italian Navy AV - 8Bs flying from the carrier " Giuseppe Garibaldi " dropped 160 guided bombs during 1 , 221 flight hours . Italian Navy AV - 8Bs are slated to be replaced by 15 ( originally 22 ) F - 35Bs , which will form the air wing of the " Cavour " . Spanish Navy . Spain , already using the AV - 8S Matador , became the first international operator of the AV - 8B by signing an order for 12 aircraft in March 1983 . Designated VA - 2 Matadors II by the Spanish Navy ( " Arma Aérea de la Armada " ) , this variant is known as " EAV - 8B " by McDonnell Douglas . Pilot conversion took place in the US . On 6 October 1987 , the first three Matador IIs were delivered to Naval Station Rota . The new aircraft were painted in a two - tone matt grey finish , similar to US Navy aircraft , and deliveries were complete by 1988 . BAe test pilots cleared the aircraft carrier " Príncipe de Asturias " for Harrier operations in July 1989 . The carrier , which replaced the World War II - era " Dédalo " , has a 12° ski - jump ramp . It was originally planned that the first unit to operate the aircraft would be the " 8 Escuadrilla " . However , this unit was disbanded on 24 October 1986 following the sales of AV - 8S Matadors to Thailand . Instead , " 9 Escuadrilla " was formed on 29 September 1987 to become part of the Alpha Carrier Air Group and operate the EAV - 8B . In March 1993 , under the September 1990 Tripartite MoU between the US , Italy and Spain , eight EAV - 8B Plus Matadors were ordered , along with a twin - seat TAV - 8B . Deliveries for the " Plus " - standard aircraft started in 1996 . On 11 May 2000 , Boeing and the NAVAIR finalized a contract which would see the company remanufacture Spanish EAV - 8Bs to bring them up to Plus standard . Boeing said the deal required it to remanufacture two EAV - 8Bs , with an option for another seven aircraft ; other sources say the total figure was eleven aircraft . The remanufacture would allow the aircraft to carry four AIM - 120 AMRAAMs , enhance the pilot ' s situational awareness through the installation of new radars and avionics , and provide a new engine . Eventually , five aircraft were modified , with the last delivered on 5 December 2003 . Spanish EAV - 8Bs participated in Operation Deny Flight , enforcing the UN ' s no - fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina . Spain did not send its aircraft carrier to participate in the Iraq War in 2003 , instead deploying F / A - 18s and other support aircraft . In 2007 , Spain conducted a contractual study into a replacement for the Harrier II , the likely option being the F - 35B . According to a Lockheed Martin vice - president , Spain was still evaluating the F - 35B as of 2010 . Incidents and accidents . Throughout its operational history , the AV - 8B has gained a reputation as a " widow maker " by its operators , mainly the USMC , due mainly to the amount of time it spends taking off and landing , which are the most critical phases in flight . Approximately 117 aircraft have been written off since the type entered service in 1985 , with the first having occurred in March 1985 , and the latest in July 2013 . Popular culture . As part of its 1996 Pepsi Stuff marketing campaign , Pepsi ran an advertisement promising a Harrier jet to anyone who collected 7 , 000 , 000 Pepsi Points , a gag that backfired when a participant attempted to take advantage of the ability to buy additional points for 10 cents each to claim a jet for US $ 700 , 000 . When Pepsi turned him down , a lawsuit ensued , in which the judge ruled that any reasonable person would conclude that the advertisement was a joke .