|
The Harrier GR9 is the latest of the Harrier 'Jump Jets' originating
from the 1960s.
Capable of taking off and landing vertically, the
Harrier is not tied to airfields with long concrete runways but, if
necessary can be dispersed to sites in the field close to the forward
edge of the battle area.
The Royal Air Force and The Royal Navy will standardise on the Harrier GR9/9A in a
move announced by the MoD in 2002, UK MoD officials said the type
rationalisation was in preparation for the introduction of the Future
Joint Combat Aircraft and the Future Aircraft Carrier in 2012.
The MoD explained that the optimum development of the JFH is to
support only one Harrier type to its end of service life, the 'more
capable GR 9'.
The JFH received its first upgraded Harrier GR9 from BAE Systems'
Warton facility in November 2005. Under the terms of a £500 programme
the avionics of some 60 x Harrier GR 7/7A will be upgraded to GR9
standard and 11 x Harrier T 10 will be upgraded to T 12 standard.
The GR9 programme will incorporate a major upgrade to the aircraft's
avionics and weapons systems will enable the aircraft to carry a
variety of current and future weapons. These include Maverick
air-surface missiles, Brimstone anti-armour missiles and AIM-9L
Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defence. A new, stronger
composite rear fuselage will also be fitted. These aircraft will
become Harrier GR9s, whilst those with the uprated engines and weapons
systems will be Harrier GR9As. The programme also includes an upgrade
of the two-seater T10 aircraft to the equivalent GR9 standard known as
the Harrier T12.
|
Harrier
GR7/7A GR9 GR9A T MARK 10 Specifications
|
| Crew
(GR7, GR7A, GR9, GR9A)
|
1 |
| Crew
(T Mark 10, T12)
|
2 |
| Length (GR7, GR7A,GR9)
|
14.1m
|
| Length (T10, T12)
|
17m
|
| Wingspan (normal)
|
9.2m
|
| Height (GR7)
|
3.45m
|
| Height (T10)
|
4.17m
|
| Length (GR
3/3A) |
16.83m
|
| All
Up Operational Weight |
Approx 13,494
kg |
| Max
Weapon Load |
10,000lb/4,500kg |
| Ferry Range
(with 4 x drop tanks) |
5,382 km (3,310 miles) |
| Max
Speed (at sea level) |
1,065
k/ph (661mph) |
| Engine (GR7, GR9, T10,
T12) |
1 x Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 105 |
| Engine
(GR7A, GR9A) |
1 x Rolls-Royce
Pegasus Mk 107 |
| Armament
on seven available wing stations |
2
x 30mm Aden guns |
|
4
x wing weapon pylons |
|
1
x under-fuselage weapon pylon |
|
Conventional
or cluster bombs |
|
2
x Sidewinder AIM-9L AAM |
|
ASRAAM |
|
Up
to 16 x Mk 82 or six Mk 83 bombs |
|
4 x Maverick air-to-ground
anti-armour missiles |
|
Paveway II and III laser-guided
bombs |
|
Brimstone
anti-armour missiles |
|
CRV-7 rocket
pods |
|
2 x Storm Shadow
CASOM |
Photo Copyright Alasdair Taylor
|
