British Aerospace Harrier II GR.5
British Aerospace / McDonnell Douglas · UK · first flew 1985 · fighter
The GR.5 is the first UK variant of the Harrier II — a substantially redesigned aircraft sharing only the engine and concept with the original Harrier. The larger wing and raised cockpit are the key visual changes over GR.1/3.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Raised cockpit giving better forward view — canopy sits noticeably higher on fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Larger, broader wing with supercritical section — significantly wider chord than GR.1/3
- Raised cockpit giving better forward view — canopy sits noticeably higher on fuselage
- LERX (leading-edge root extensions) ahead of wing root — curved fillets visible from above and below
The broader, larger-chord wing with LERXes is the clear Harrier II versus original Harrier identifier. The GR.5 lacks the NVG-compatible cockpit and FLIR of the GR.7. Against the AV-8B, RAF camouflage and the absence of the USMC sensor fit distinguish it.
Specifications
- The British Aerospace Harrier II GR.5 has a length of 14.36 m (47 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.25 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1065 km/h (662 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Co-developed by British Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas as the AV-8B in the US; the GR.5 is the RAF variant. First delivered to 1 Squadron in 1987. Around 60 GR.5s were built for the RAF, all later upgraded to GR.7 standard.
Variants
The AV-8B is the US Marine Corps equivalent. The GR.7 adds night-attack capability; the GR.9 adds improved avionics. Almost no pure GR.5s remain unmodified.
Where you'll see it
RAF 1987-1994 in GR.5 standard before GR.7 upgrades. As the Harrier II family, served until 2010 when the UK controversially retired the entire fleet. A GR.5/7 is preserved at Cosford.
Related aircraft
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