AV-8A Harrier

The Harrier is probably the most famous military aircraft with V / STOL characteristics in the history of military aviation. Designed and developed, during the sixties, by the British company Hawker Siddeley, it was widely used in its various versions by the Royal Air Force and the British Royal Navy. The aircraft immediately aroused the interest of the US Marine Corps who identified the Harrier as an ideal solution for their operational needs. The AV-8 A, single-seat version developed for the Marine Corps, entered service in 1971 and went to equip the departments that could operate from land bases and specially converted ships. The AV-8 A could therefore be used for close support missions, ground attack and airspace defense during amphibious operations.