BRIEFING: The AV-8B Harrier II’s primary tasks are to conduct fire support, close air support (CAS), interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and air-to-air operations.
Its short-takeoff, vertical-landing (STOVL) capability provides greater basing flexibility and sortie-generation rates than any other tactical jet aircraft. The Harrier can perform a short takeoff using from 300 to 1,200 feet of ground/shipboard distance and then return from the mission to perform a vertical landing.
The AV-8B II+ program has greatly increased the capabilities of the Harrier by converting 74 day-attack variants to the radar/night-attack standard by adding the APG- 65 radar; a navigational forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor; digital moving map and fully integrated, night-vision-goggle- (NVG-) compatible cockpit; and by tripling the capacity for expendable countermeasures.
In 2002, the Harrier added the Litening targeting pod to its capabilities. The AV-8B was the lead platform in the introduction of the Litening video downlink capability that revolutionized CAS, time-sensitive targeting and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations by providing a live video feed of the targeting pod displays directly to the joint terminal attack controller/forward air controller using the Remote Operational Video Enhanced Receiver ground station. This system greatly increases the Harrier’s lethality and survivability while reducing the potential for fratricide, collateral damage and time to kill. It has proven invaluable to ISR operations. The version currently in use is the Litening G4.
Growth for the AV-8B was seen with the installation of OSCAR, the Open-System Core Avionics Requirement. This system provided an advanced mission systems computer and a warfare-management computer. OSCAR provided Joint Direct-Attack Munition (JDAM) capability and the necessary architecture to rapidly streamline integration of such advanced weaponry and systems as the AIM- 120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), Dual-Mode Guided Bomb, Laser JDAM, Anti-Jam/Anti-Spoof Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver, upgraded Tactical Aircraft Moving Map capability and an upgraded self-protection countermeasure expendable system. The two-seat TAV-8B trainer variant also is being modified with the OSCAR capability, a more powerful F402-RR-408 engine and an NVG-compatible cockpit.
The most recent advancement in capability growth is the Harrier 5.0 and 6.0 Block Upgrades. The 5.0 Block Upgrade accommodated carriage of the Litening pod on the centerline weapon station, which allows for precision placement of high explosives on time-critical targets and greater weapons carriage on wing stations. The 6.0 Block Upgrade incorporates integration of a new bomb rack, the BRU- 70 Digital Improved Triple Ejector Rack, ALE- 47 Countermeasure Dispensing System, APG- 65 radar 23X software for improved radar performance and other system improvements. Link 16 also is being funded for the Harrier II in 2017-18.
Providing critical firepower to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), the AV-8B operates close to, or from, the battlefield and littoral waters with Marine ground combat elements and has provided the fastest response time of any fixed-wing aircraft. The five AV-8B attack squadrons continue to deploy to support overseas contingency operations aboard amphibious assault ships and from austere forward operating bases in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Other recent AV-8B operations included Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Odyssey Dawn/Unified Protector and current operations against Islamic State extremists.
In November 2011, the Marine Corps purchased 72 retired Harriers from the United Kingdom as a source of spare parts to help improve current readiness and facilitate the long-term sustainment plans as the AV-8B’s out-of-service date has been extended to 2026. As of October 2016, the Marine Corps inventory included 111 AV-8Bs and 16 TAV-8Bs.
CON TRAC TORS: . . . . . . . . . Boeing Co., BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Northrop Grumman Corp.
BRIEFING: The F/A- 18 Hornet has replaced the F- 4 Phantom II in all of the Marine Corps’ fighter-attack squadrons. The two-seat F/A-18D has assumed tactical and forward air control missions in addition to the all-weather attack missions formerly carried out by the A-6E Intruder. In 1999, with the delivery of the Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance System (ATARS), the F/A-18D assumed the tactical reconnaissance mission previously accomplished by the RF-4B. ATARS permits transmission of real-time imagery to joint commanders via digital data link.