Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3
Hawker Siddeley / British Aerospace · United Kingdom · first flew 1976 · fighter
The Harrier GR.3 is the definitive first-generation RAF Harrier, distinguished by its laser nose sensor and radar-warning equipment added to the original GR.1 airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.27 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Laser Ranging and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) in a distinctive chisel-shaped nose extension, elongating the nose compared with the GR.1
- Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) fairing on the top of the fin, adding a small angular blister absent from GR.1
- Slightly lengthened nose ahead of the windscreen compared with GR.1 / T.2 baseline
Against the original GR.1 or AV-8A, the GR.3 is instantly identified by the longer pointed nose with the rectangular LRMTS window at the tip and the small fin-cap RWR blister. Against the AV-8B Harrier II the GR.3 has a much shorter, narrower wing and simpler single-piece gun pods.
Specifications
- The Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 has a length of 14.27 m (47 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.7 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1176 km/h (731 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1976, the GR.3 incorporated the Ferranti LRMTS in a longer, chisel-shaped nose and an ARI.18223 radar-warning receiver on the fin to enhance survivability over the Central European battlefield. Many GR.1s were rebuilt to GR.3 standard. The type saw combat in the 1982 Falklands War, flying from Hermes and from Stanley airstrip.
Variants
The GR.1 was the initial production variant; GR.1A introduced a more powerful Pegasus 103; the GR.3 added the laser nose and RWR. The two-seat T.4 parallel trainer lacked the laser nose and combat systems.
Where you'll see it
The GR.3 served with No. 1, 3, 4 and 233 OCU at RAF Wittering and RAF Gütersloh in Germany. Falklands War GR.3s flew ground-attack missions under combat conditions. The type was replaced in RAF service by the Harrier GR.5/7 from 1988 onward.
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