GR.7 - ZG511 - No.4 Sqn
Recovering slowly with nozzles set nearly vertical. Note
the distinctive FLIR lump on the nose distinguishing the
GR.7 from the earlier GR.5, and the small outrigger wheels.
TYPE
Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) multi-role
attack aircraft, night attack capability, tactical reconnaissance
MANUFACTURER
Hawker Siddeley - British Aerospace
ENGINE
single Rolls Royce Pegasus Mk.105 vectored thrust turbofan,
21,750lb (9,866kg) static thrust
DIMENSIONS
- span : 30'4"(9.25m)
- length : 46'4"(14.12m)
- height : 11'8"(3.55m)
- wing area (including LERX) : 238sqft(22.18mē)
WEIGHTS
- empty : 14,000lb(6,350kg)
- max VTO : 18,950lb(8,595kg)
- max STO : 31,000lb(14,061kg)
- max external load : 9,200lb(4,173kg)
PERFORMANCE
- max speed at sea level : 661mph(1,065km/h) - at
36,000' : 600mph (966km/h)
- ceiling : 50,000ft(15,250m)
- tactical radius : 103miles(167km)
- with external tanks : 553miles(889km)
- ferry range : 2,015miles(3,243km)
FIRST FLIGHT
- first Harrier : 21st October 1960
- first GR.7 : 29th November 1989
AVIONICS
- FBW fly by wire flight control system
- HOTAS controls, hands on throttle and stick
- Hughes ARBS (Angle/Rate Bombing System)
- dual tv/laser target seeker and tracker linked to
the advanced Smiths HUD via a computer
- Autopilot, stabilisation computer, automatic vertical
landing system
- FLIR forward looking infra red, NVGs night vision
goggles
- colour digital moving map, including navigation
& threat warning
WEAPONS
- 2x25mm Aden cannon
- BL.755 cluster bomb
- AIM-9L Sidewinder AAM
- AIM-120 AMRAAM
- Laser Maverick ASM
- LAU-3/19 rocket pod
- Mk82 & Mk83 Bombs
- Alenia-Marconi Brimstone anti-armour missile
NOTES
The Harrier GR.7 is a development of the GR.5, itself
the RAF version of the US Marine Corps' AV-8B, built
jointly by BAe and McDonnell Douglas. The GR.7 has a
night/bad weather attack capability due to the FLIR
Forward Looking Infra Red seeker in the nose attached
to the pilot's Night Vision Goggles, NVGs. This device
makes night flying a far easier task, but the heavy
goggles can cause problems if the time comes to eject.
Instrument lighting has to be modified so as not to
blind the pilot while wearing the sensitive eye-pieces.
UPDATE 1998
The GR.7s currently based in Germany will soon move
back home to RAF Cottesmore.
Squadrons using the GR.7 are:
- No.1 Squadron, RAF Wittering (GR.7, T.10)
- No.3 Squadron, RAF Cottesmore (GR.7, T.10)
- No.4 Squadron, RAF Cottesmore (GR.7, T.10)
- No.20 (Reserve) Squadron, RAF Wittering (GR.7, T.10)
UPDATE 2003
The maiden flight of the first Harrier GR.9 took place
on May 30 2003. GR.9s will be made from time expired
GR.7s with numerous upgrades and replacement aft fuselages,
and should remain in service till 2015
GR.7 - ZG477 - No.4 Sqn
Taxiing down to take off from RAF Valley, this example
has fuel tanks only on its inner pylons. The forward
jet nozzle is set to approx. 45°, with as yet unused
gun pods just visible below.
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