British Aerospace Harrier II GR.7
British Aerospace · UK · first flew 1989 · fighter
The GR.7 adds night-attack capability to the GR.5 airframe through a FLIR, NVG-compatible cockpit, and expanded weapons fit. It is visually near-identical to the GR.5 but usually carries more equipment and is the version that saw combat over Bosnia and Kosovo.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.36 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- FLIR sensor pod almost invariably carried on centreline — small forward-looking infrared turret
- NVG-compatible cockpit with modified canopy coatings giving a slightly different sheen
- TIALD or Paveway targeting pods commonly carried on outboard pylons; heavier stores fit than GR.5
Visually almost indistinguishable from the GR.5 in clean configuration. The key is equipment carried: FLIR pod under nose or centreline, Paveway LGBs, TIALD pod on outboard station. The GR.7A intake lip is fractionally larger for the Pegasus 107 but essentially invisible in practice. Against the GR.9, avionics blisters and Brimstone missile compatibility only.
Specifications
- The British Aerospace Harrier II GR.7 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
GR.5s upgraded to GR.7 standard from 1990; new-build GR.7s also delivered. Saw combat over Bosnia (1994-95) and Kosovo (1999), marking the Harrier's first use of precision-guided munitions in RAF service. About 96 GR.7s served the RAF.
Variants
The GR.7A has the uprated Pegasus 107. The GR.9 adds further avionics upgrades and new weapons compatibility.
Where you'll see it
RAF 1990-2010; retired in the 2010 SDSR. JFH (Joint Force Harrier) with Royal Navy. Static examples at Cosford and Yeovilton.
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