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When the first Harrier strike fighter was introduced by the Royal Air Force in the late 1960s, it was hailed as a technological breakthrough with its speed, vertical, short takeoff and landing capability (V/STOL). Today, the Harrier II is one of the top weapons of choice for ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan who need effective air support. This book chronicles the incredible development of this tactical fixed wing aircraft, a journey that, in the author's opinion, was successful solely because of the unswerving commitment of the U.S. Marine Corps. In tracing the Harrier II's history, Lon Nordeen highlights the teamwork, creativity, and innovation that went into the design, development, fielding, and operation of this unique aircraft. The story begins with the development of the U.S. Marine Corps air-ground team close air support concepts in the 1920s, on the battlefields of the Pacific in the Second World War and the Korean conflict. Later in Vietnam, efforts were directed at improving the aviators' response time to calls for air support. Seeing V/STOL tactical airplanes as the only practical solution to this problem, the Marine Corps received their first AV-8As in 1971 and then set out to improve the Harrier's capability. This is the Harrier II's story, including its near-cancellation in the late 1970s during the Carter Administration, developmental challenges in the early 1980s, international growth path with the addition of night attack capability and radar to its success in the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. This book includes interviews and insights from those involved- from pilots and military commanders to engineers and production personnel and even tothose who opposed the program. It is the first book to be written about the Harrier II from the U.S. Marine Corps perspective that also discusses the selection and operational use of the aircraft by the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy.
The AV-8B Harrier was, and still is, the only tactical aircraft that can deploy with the US Marine Corps on amphibious assault ships and provide air cover and close air support separate from large deck aircraft carriers. Having seen action during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the Harrier II returned to the theatre from March 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the initial conflict some 76 AV-8Bs were deployed, providing more than 40 per cent of the 3rd Marine Air Wing's fixed-wing offensive firepower. Around 60 of these aircraft were sea-based aboard four 'Harrier Carriers', while a unit flew jets from Ahmed al Jaber, in Kuwait. Unlike in 1991, when Harrier IIs employed unguided weapons, 79 per cent of the ordnance dropped was precision-guided. This was primarily due to the AV-8B's upgrading to Night Attack or radar-equipped configuration, and the introduction of the Litening II targeting pod. Following the occupation of Iraq by Coalition troops, Harrier IIs remained in-theatre supporting anti-insurgent operations through to 2008 as part of OIF II-VI.
The AV-8B is the only tactical aircraft that can deploy with Marine forces on amphibious assault ships and provide air cover and close air support separate from large deck aircraft carriers. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, a coalition of nations launched Operation Desert Shield in order to defend Saudi Arabia, and the Harrier II was among the first tactical air assets to be deployed to the region. During Operation Desert Storm, the five units flying the AV-8B in-theatre became some of the top tactical squadrons of choice by air mission planners because of the pilots' skill as well as the plane's vertical take-off ability. The previously untold story of the AV-8B in this conflict is vividly brought to life by the author through first-hand accounts and period photography sourced from those that were there and official archives. This will be the first of three volumes on USMC Harrier IIs in combat, with follow-on titles covering the jet's operations in Iraq in 2003–08 and Afghanistan in 2001–2009.
In the 1970s the USMC bought the AV-8A Harrier from the UK whose VTOL capabilities allowed it to serve as a tactical aircraft that could deploy with Marine forces on amphibious assault ships and provide air cover and close air support from large deck aircraft carriers. Third in a trilogy on US Marine Corps Harrier IIs in combat, it will be the first volume to cover the whole story of the AV-8B's service employment during peacekeeping operations and then in Afghanistan. With profile artwork for all frontline AV-8B units detailing the unique colours and markings applied by each squadron, this volume presents the widest variety of first-hand accounts of AV-8B air operations and missions by pilots and ground forces involved in Operation Enduring Freedom published to date.
This book is the third of three volumes on US Marine Corps Harrier IIs in combat, and it is the first volume in print to cover the whole story of the AV-8B's service employment during peacekeeping operations and then in Afghanistan. In the 1970s the USMC bought the AV-8A Harrier from the UK to test V/STOL (vertical and/or short take-off and landing) concepts for close air support. A successful funding battle was subsequently fought in the 1980s to secure military, political, and economic support to expand this concept to develop and field the second generation AV-8B Harrier II from the late 1980s onward. The AV-8B was, and still is, the only tactical aircraft that could deploy with Marine forces on amphibious assault ships and provide air cover and close air support separate from large deck aircraft carriers. Having seen action in-theater during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the Harrier II was heavily involved in peacekeeping operations in Balkans in the 1990s, as well as in Africa from 1992 to 2002. From late 2001, the jet took part in the 'War on Terror" during the early phase of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Units equipped with the aircraft initially flew from amphibious assault ships off the Pakistani coast, before becoming land-based in-theater from early 2002 following the occupation of Afghanistan by Coalition troops. Harrier II squadrons have maintained a presence in-theatre supporting anti-Taliban and al-Qaeda operations ever since.
The 'Jump-jet' was the world's first vertical/short take-off and landing (VSTOL) operational jet aircraft. Developed using the revolutionary Pegasus engine, the Harrier has served the RAF and US Marine Corps well for over 30 years. Here, vividly told, is the fascinating story from tentative hovering by the Hawker P1127 in 1960 to today's frontline Harrier GR9 and AV-8B warplanes. A naval version, the Sea Harrier, entered service with the Royal Navy in 1979. Alongside the RAF Harrier it saw action in the Falklands War in 1982. More recently, Harriers have seen combat over Kosovo, Bosnia and Iraq. In the USA, a license-built version (the AV8-A/B) equips the US Marine Corps and is in service today in Iraq. Harriers also equip air forces in Spain and Thailand. This competitively priced, full colour hardback is packed with clear and accessible information and is the latest in a series including The Concorde Story and The Spitfire Story.
The Marine Corps has granted Michael Green and photographer Greg Stewart all-access approval to its bases for collecting historical and current background information and for photographing the weapons, tactical gear, techniques and support elements of the Modem U.S. Marines. The latest installment of the Battle Gear series, "Weapons of the Modern Marines covers individual weapons, machine guns and sniper rifles, antitank weapons and mines, antiaircraft weapons, armored fighting vehicles, artillery and aviation, including aircraft, ground-to-air and air-to-air weaponry.
America's Secret MiG Squadrons is the story of a group of incredibly brave military pioneers who put their lives on the line to establish a training program that would prepare the US Air Force for a potential Cold War battle with Soviet aircraft. As a F-4 Phantom II pilot in Vietnam, Col. Peck had been shocked by the technological abilities of Soviet-built aircraft, and at the poor level of training available to US pilots to aid them in their battles with Soviet MiGs in the skies over Vietnam. Working with the support of Gen Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr., and under conditions of extreme secrecy, the CONSTANT PEG program was launched with Peck as the original Red Eagle. This is the fascinating history of the men who trained to fly and maintain covertly obtained MiGs, for the first time providing an insider's perspective, personal anecdotes, and photographs, revealing how Peck battled bureaucracy and scepticism to ultimately establish the premier fighter pilot training center – the real Top Gun.
Why do states collaborate in the production of advanced weaponry? Under what conditions do such collaborative arrangements succeed? What are the implications of armaments collaboration for the international economic and security environments? Arms collaboration is not a new phenomenon, but there is increasing debate-both in the United States and abroad-over the associated costs and benefits. Critics charge that collaborative projects result in technology give-aways, the creation of defense-industrial competitors, and the loss of domestic jobs. Supporters argue that the very same projects strengthen alliance relations, provide access to new technology, and result in arms sales which might otherwise have been lost to foreign competitors. In Global Arms Production these issues are addressed by distinguished contributors such as Ethan B. Kapstein, Jacques S. Gansler, William Keller, Joel L. Johnson, Jack Nun, Robert H. Trice, C. Michael Farr, Grant T. Hammond and Stanley Sienkiewicz. Co-published with the Center for International Affairs of Harvard University.
Provides an overview of different types of military aircrafts, including interceptors, bombers, and transport helicopters.