Aircraft/Marines

Sea Power, Jan 2002

AV-8B HARRIER 11

BRIEFING: The mission of the AV-813 Harrier II is to "attack and destroy surface targets under day and night conditions and to escort assault support aircraft." The Harder's primary tasks are to: (1) conduct close air support; (2) conduct armed reconnaissance and interdiction operations; (3) conduct armed escort of assault support operations; and (4) conduct air-defense operations. The short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) capability of the Harrier provides greater basing flexibility and sortie generation rates than any other tactical jet aircraft in the world. Its Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine developing 23,400 pounds of vectored thrust enables the Harrier to perform a short takeoff using 300 to 1,200 feet of ground/shipboard roll and then return from the mission to perform a vertical landing. This STOVL capability proved itself in Desert Storm, where the Harrier was the most forward-deployed strike aircraft in-theater while operating from amphibious assault ships and two expeditionary airfields. Located and fighting with the Marine Ground Combat Element enabled the fastest response time of any aircraft; Harriers responding from Tanijib forward base were over the target in less than 10 minutes. Additionally, AV-8Bs flew combat missions over Kosovo during Operation Allied Force and, due to the advanced global positioning system (GPS) integration, were one of the few aircraft permitted to deliver ordnance from above the weather. AV-8Bs also conducted long-range strikes against terrorist targets inside Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The number of aircraft per squadron has been reduced from 20 to 16 in accordance with procurement and personnel limitations. The desired inventory goal is to remove all day-attack variants from service by 2002 and realize a squadron mix of 12 radar variants and four night-attack variants. A Boeing remanufacturing program is converting 74 older day-attack variants to the radar/night-attack standard by adding the APG-65 radar, navigation FLIR, digital moving map, night-vision goggle (NVG)-compatible cockpit, and tripling the capacity for expendable countermeasures. By re-using the wing and other major components the cost of a remanufactured AV-8B is held to approximately 80 percent of the cost of a new aircraft. Moreover, the existing Pegasus F402-RR-406 engine is being replaced with the more powerful and reliable RR-408. As of October 2001, 51 remanufactured aircraft had been delivered. Additional upgrades being installed in fleet aircraft include the ARC-210 radio with HaveQuick/Sincgars, GPS, and the Automatic Target Hand-off System (ATHS) digital modem. Continued growth for the AV-SB is ensured by the Open System Core Avionics Requirement (OSCAR) that will provide an Advanced Mission Computer and Warfare Management Computer. OSCAR provides the necessary architecture to allow streamlined integration of such advanced weaponry as the Joint Direct-Attack Munition (JDAM) and the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The two-seat TAV-813 trainer is also being modified with the RR-408 engine and an NVG-compatible cockpit. To date, six TAV-8Bs have been upgraded. The recent acquisition of the Litening II targeting pod provides the AV-813 with the most advanced precision targeting pod currently fielded by DOD. Litening II incorporates a thirdgeneration FLIR, television camera, laser rangefinder/tracker/designator, infrared pointer, and VHS recorder. This system will greatly increase the Harrier's lethality and survivability while reducing the potential for fratricide and collateral damage.

As of 2001, there were 145 AV-8Bs and 17 TAV-8Bs in the Marine Corps inventory. After a hiatus caused by engine problems, detachments of AV-8Bs resumed deployments on board amphibious assault ships in 2001 as part of the aviation combat element of Marine Expeditionary Units.

WING SPAN: ........................30.25 feet

LENGTH: ...........................46.25 feet

HEIGHT ..........11.6 feet ......... ............ ... ... ....... ..... 11.6-feet

WEIGHT: ................... empty, 14,800 pounds; maximum for short takeoff, 32,000 pounds; vertical takeoff, 20,700 pounds

SPEED: .................................Mach 1.0

FERRY RANGE: ..................1,600 nautical miles (unrefueled)

ARMAMENT: ...................general purpose and laser-guided bombs (14 500-pound bombs maximum), cluster munitions, napalm, 2.75- or 5-inch rockets; laser and IR-guided Maverick missiles, and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, one 25mm cannon

POWER PLANT .................Rolls Royce F402-RR-408

CREW: ..............................one pilot (AV-SB); two pilots (TAV-8B)

CONTRACTORS: ................Boeing, BAE, Rolls-Royce

F/A.18 HORNET

BRIEFING: The F/A-18 Hornet replaced the F-4 Phantom II in all of the Marine Corps' fighter-attack squadrons. The two-seat F/A-18D also has assumed the tactical and forward air-control missions formerly carried out by OV-10 and OA-4M aircraft in addition to the all-weather attack missions formerly carried out by the A-6E Intruder. In 1999, with the delivery of the ATARS (Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance System), the FIA-18D assumed the tactical reconnaissance (TACRECCE) mission previously carried out by RF-48 aircraft. ATARS permits transmission of real-time imagery to joint commanders via digital data link. The Corps now has two active squadrons of F/A- 18As, six of F/A-18Cs, and six of F/A-18Ds, and four reserve squadrons flying FIA-18As. A fleet-replacement squadron operates F/A-1 8A/B/C/D aircraft. From 1995 to mid-1997, FIA-18D squadrons made rotational deployments to Aviano Air Base, Italy, providing support to NATO forces in Bosnia. Two F/A-18D squadrons-the first to deploy with the ATARS-were staged in Hungary in early 1999 and flew strike and reconnaissance missions over Serbia and Kosovo in Operation Allied Force. Four Marine FIA-18C squadrons have been integrated into Navy carrier air wings; one of these flew strikes against Iraq in Operation Desert Fox in 1998 and against terrorist targets in Afghanistan in 2001. The Marine Corps is presently upgrading all the FIA-18As to F/A-18C capability (as F/A-18A+) through Engineering Change Proposal-583. The Corps does not now plan to acquire F/A-18E/Fs; instead, it will continue to operate F/A-18A+/C/Ds until they are replaced by F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs). The last Hornet to be manufactured (an F/A-18D) was delivered to the Corps in August 2000. (See Navy Aircraft Section for F/A-18 specifications.)