List of Harrier operators

This is a list of operators of the Harrier family of military V/STOL aircraft, designed and built in the United Kingdom and United States of America. The members of family were Hawker Siddeley P.1127, Hawker Siddeley Harrier (AV-8A), British Aerospace Sea Harrier, McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, and British Aerospace Harrier II. As of 2023, only the AV-8B remain in active service.

P.1127 / prototype / evaluation aircraft operators

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment P.1127 and Kestrel trials and evaluation Royal Air Force Central Fighter Establishment – Kestrel (P.1127) Evaluation Squadron (also known as the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron), nine Kestrel aircraft allocated for evaluation in 1965. One aircraft was lost in an accident, six aircraft later passed to the United States Army, one to the RAE and one to Hawker-Siddeley for further trials.Mason 1991, pp. 419–420. Royal Aircraft Establishment P.1127 and Kestrel trials and evaluation.

United States Army (aircrew participated in both the Tri-partite Evaluation Squadron and as part of the American XV-6A Tri-service evaluation team. Had three Kestrel aircraft allocated after the evaluation at West Raynham and also acquired the three allocated to Germany. Four later transferred to the United States Air Force and two to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration). United States Air Force (aircrew participated in both the Tri-partite Evaluation Squadron and as part of the American XV-6A Tri-service evaluation team but had no aircraft allocated after the evaluation at West Raynham, four former United States Army aircraft operated for trials). United States Navy (aircrew participated in both the Tri-partite Evaluation Squadron and as part of the American XV-6A Tri-service evaluation team but had no aircraft allocated after the evaluation). NASA operated two former United States Army Kestrels.

German Air Force (aircrew participated in the Tri-partite Evaluation Squadron, three allocated Kestrel aircraft not delivered and passed to United States Army)

First generation Harrier operators

Indian Navy - Indian Naval Air Arm Indian Naval Air Squadron 552 Operated the Harrier T.60 for Sea Harrier training, with two T4(I) as replacements.

Spanish Navy No. 008 Escuadrilla – AV-8S and TAV-8S Matador.

Royal Thai Navy Squadron 1 Wing 3 (HTMS Chakri Naruebet Flying Unit) – AV-8S and TAV-8S. By 1999, only one aircraft of the 10 former Spanish aircraft received was believed to be airworthy because of lack of available spares.Carpenter 2000, p. 302. In 2006 the Harrier was retired from service.

Royal Air Force No. 1 Squadron RAF re-equipped with Harrier GR.1s between July and October 1969 at RAF Wittering. It started to replace its first generation Harriers with Harrier GR.5s in 1988, discarding its last GR.3 on 31 March 1989.Jackson 1991, pp. 89–90. No. 3 Squadron RAF formed at RAF Wildenrath with the Harrier GR.1A on 1 January 1971, moving to RAF Gütersloh in 1977. It re-equipped with Harrier GR.5s in 1989.Jackson 1991, p. 90. No. 4 Squadron RAF converted to Harrier GR.1s at RAF Wittering in early 1970, moving to Wildenrath in Germany in June that year. It moved to RAF Gütersloh in January 1977 and replaced its GR.3s with Harrier GR.7s in 1990.Jackson 1991, p. 91. No. 20 Squadron RAF reformed at RAF Wittering in October 1970, moving to Wildenrath later that year. It disbanded in February 1977, with its aircraft being shared between the other two Germany based squadrons.Jackson 1991, p. 92. No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit RAF formed at Wittering from the Harrier Conversion Unit in October 1970.Jackson 1991, p. 89. No 233 OCU was assigned the numberplate 20(R) Squadron in 1992,"20 Squadron" . Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2 March 2011. with the unit flying GR.3 until 1994Evans 1998, p. 37. and the T.4 until 1996.Evans 1998, p. 31. No. 1417 Flight RAF Deployed to Belize from 1980 to 1993.Sturtivant 2007, p. 122. No. 1453 Flight RAF Deployed to Stanley, in the Falkland Islands from August 1983 to June 1985.Sturtivant 2007, p. 123. Royal Navy - Fleet Air Arm 899 Naval Air Squadron operated the Harrier T.4A and T.4N for training purposes for the Sea Harrier.Sturtivant 2004, pp. 80–90.

United States Marine Corps VMA-231 AV-8A/C Harrier. 1973–1985.Jackson 1991, pp. 99–100. VMA-513 AV-8A/C Harrier. 1971–1986.Jackson 1991, p. 98. VMA-542 AV-8A/C Harrier. 1972–1986.Jackson 1991, p. 99. VMAT-203 Training squadron, equipped with AV-8A and TAV-8A Harrier. 1975–1987.Jackson 1991, p. 100.

Sea Harrier operators

Indian Navy - Indian Naval Air Arm – Sea Harrier F.52 Indian Naval Air Squadron 300 'White Tigers'

Fleet Air Arm – Sea Harrier FRS.1 and Sea Harrier F(A).2 800 Naval Air Squadron disbanded 2006 801 Naval Air Squadron disbanded 2006 809 Naval Air Squadron disbanded 1982 899 Naval Air Squadron disbanded 2006

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II operators

Italian Navy Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati 16 AV-8B Plus and 2 TAV-8B ordered; 2 AV-8B Plus lost in accidents (On 4 March 2002, respectively on 14 May 2010). 14 AV-8B Plus and 1 TAV-8B remain in service as of January 2024.https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=98881

Spanish Navy 9th Squadron 12 EAV-8B ordered in 1987-88; 5 were upgraded to EAV-8B Plus and an additional 8 EAV-8B Plus were acquired; 1 EAV-8B Plus lost in an accident (On 12 April 2003). The original 1 TAV-8B was replaced by a ex-USMC TAV-8B on 3 March 2021. 12 EAV-8B Plus and 1 TAV-8B aircraft remain in service as of January.

United States Marine Corps The Marine Corps has 87 AV-8B/+ and 12 TAV-8B trainer as of Jan 2024 . Each fighter squadron operates 16 AV-8B Harrier jets. The Marine Corps currently plans to have all squadrons transitioned to or start to transition to the F-35 platform by 2026. VMA-211 (1990-2016. Converted to F-35B) VMA-214 (1989-2022. Converted to F-35B) VMA-223 (1987-present. To convert to F-35B) VMA-231 (1985-2025. To convert to F-35B in 2026) VMA-311 (1988-2020. Converted to F-35C) VMA-513 (1944-2013. Reactivated as VMFAT-502 in 2020. Converted to F-35B) VMA-542 (1986-2022. Converted to F-35B) VMAT-203 (1983-2021. Former Harrier Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS)) VX-31

BAE Systems Harrier II operators

Royal Air Force (1989–2011) – BAE Systems Harrier II GR.5 / GR.5a / GR.7 / GR.7a / GR.9 / GR.9a / T.10 / T.12 No. 1 Squadron No. 3 Squadron (until 2006) No. 4 Squadron No. 20 Squadron (until 2010) Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit (SAOEU)

Royal Navy – Fleet Air Arm BAE Systems Harrier II GR.7 / GR.7a / GR.9 / GR.9a 800 Naval Air Squadron (2006–2007, 2010) Naval Strike Wing (2007–2010)

List of Harrier operators

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