AV-8B (NA)

This page is about the American jet fighter AV-8B (NA). For other versions, see Harrier (Family).

AV-8B (NA)

AV-8B (NA)

USA

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.3	11.3	11.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Strike aircraft

Naval aircraft

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Description

During the late '80s, the new AV-8B was starting to show its shortcomings as a "day attacker", and therefore a "night attacker" variant was proposed. This variant would have advanced navigation and targeting systems for nighttime strikes, relying on FLIR thermal imaging, day/night color maps, and various other improvements. One of the largest upgrades was the addition of the Hughes AN/ASB-19 FLIR targeting sight in the nose, similar to that found on the British Harrier IIs, allowing for highly accurate bombing, navigation, and guidance of precision ordnance in almost all weather conditions and times of day. This new variant was originally going to be designated the AV-8D, but to avoid complications, was redesignated to the AV-8B (NA), with NA standing for "Night Attack". All initial AV-8Bs were upgraded to either the AV-8B NA or the AV-8B+ standard, the latter of which was a further upgrade of the AV-8B which integrated more advanced avionics, a built-in radar, and AIM-120 capability.

Introduced in Update "Dance of Dragons", the AV-8B (NA) is a very strong aircraft at its BR, being directly better than the other Harrier at this BR, the Sea Harrier FRS.1, in almost every way. What the AV-8B (NA) lacks in BVR capability, due to its lack of radar or long-range missiles, is made up for in the incredible flight performance, great IR missiles for its battle rating, and the VIFFing (Vector In Forward Flight) potential using the thrust vectoring nozzles, allowing the Harrier to catch enemies off guard and turn almost any low-speed dogfight in its favour. However, where the AV-8B Night Attacker truly shines is in the attacker role, as its name implies. The AV-8B NA has access to one of, if not the best, ground strike packages at its battle rating in ground battles, with the capability to use a plethora of guided ordnance such as the laser-guided Paveways and AGM-65E, the TV-guided AGM-65D and G, and the GPS-guided JDAMs, along with various other unguided weapons. The GAU-12 Equalizer 25 mm rotary cannon also has access to a very high fire rate and a very punchy set of ammunition belts, which when aided with the EEGS for air combat or the CCIP for ground attack, allow this aircraft to make short work of pretty much any tank or plane it faces at closer ranges. Coupled with the advanced avionics, an incredible targeting pod which can further enhance low-visibility targeting over the built-in FLIR camera, and its vast amount of countermeasures, the AV-8B NA is overall a very powerful, jack-of-all-trades aircraft for its battle rating.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 0 m1 134 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude12 192 m

EngineRolls-Royce F402-RR-408

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight14 t

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	___	___	12192	__._	__._	__._	__._	550
Upgraded	1,134	1,125		29.2	30.0	111.4	90.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
X	✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1,137	648	-	___	___	~__	~__

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Rolls-Royce Pegasus F402-RR-406		1	_,___ kg		___ kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel
___ kg	___		_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
Condition	100%	___%/WEP	_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel	MGW
Stationary	___ kgf	___ kgf	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__
Optimal	___ kgf (_ km/h)	___ kgf (_ km/h)	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear648 km/h

The AV-8B (NA) lacks any internal or external armour, and has little chance of survival when encountering a close hit or direct impact of SAM or AAMs. However, VTOL capabilities could help slightly, as it would be easier to land a wounded AV-8B compared to other jets not capable of vertical landing.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB2 245

RB5 627

SB7 751

Crew training10 000

Experts1 560 000

Aces3 200

Research Aces2 420 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 90 / 340 / 600 %

2 × 244 / 244 / 244 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor New boosters Wings repair Engine	Fuselage repair Airframe Cover EFS	Flares/Chaff LAU-3/A LITENING II gau_12_belt_pack MK 77 G-suit LAU-10/A GBU-12 gau_12_new_gun 40px Mk82/GBU-38 AIM-9L GBU-16 Mk83 Mk83 40px AGM-65E 40px AGM-65G

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)	EEGS

Offensive armament

The AV-8B (NA) is armed with:

• 180 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The AV-8B (NA) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
25 mm GAU-12/U cannons (300 rpg)					1
250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs	1	3	3	2		3	3	1
250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs	1	3	3	2		3	3	1
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs	1	3	3	2		3	3	1
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs	1	3	3	2		3	3	1
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs		1	2			2	1
500 lb GBU-38(V)2/B JDAM bombs		2	3			3	2
277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs		2*	3*			3*	2*
1,092 lb GBU-16 Paveway II bombs		1*	1*			1*	1*
Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs	1	2	2			2	2	1
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets		38	57			57	38
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets		8	12			12	8
AGM-65E2 missiles		1*	1*			1*	1*
AGM-65G missiles		1	1			1	1
AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles	1	1					1	1
LITENING II targeting pod				1*
* The LITENING II pod must be equipped when carrying laser-guided munitions

Default weapon presets

1 x 25 mm GAU-12/U cannon (300 rpg) 4 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles 190 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets 40 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets 16 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,000 lb total) 16 x 250 lb Mk 81 Snakeye bombs (4,000 lb total) 16 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (8,000 lb total) 16 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (8,000 lb total) 6 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (6,000 lb total) 10 x 500 lb GBU-38(V)2/B JDAM bombs (5,000 lb total) 10 x 277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs (2,770 kg total) 4 x 1,092 lb GBU-16 Paveway II bombs (4,368 lb total) 4 x AGM-65E2 missiles 10 x Mk 77 mod 4 incendiary bombs 4 x AGM-65G missiles

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• VTOL capability
• Large number of payload options, including the AGM-65 Maverick, GBU guided bombs, and JDAMs
• All-weather combat capability and LITENING II targeting pod
• All-aspect AIM-9L missiles
• 180 countermeasures
• Hard-hitting gun, with SAPHEI, HVAP, and HEI rounds

Cons:

• Subsonic, cannot exceed Mach 1 in level flight
• Lacks a radar or radar-guided missiles
• Mediocre flight capabilities
• Extremely limited ammo count for the autocannon

History

As the first generation of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, designated as the AV-8A and the Harrier GR.1, came into use, several drawbacks were revealed including limited combat radius, low payload delivery, lack of ECM (electronic countermeasure) systems, etc. While some problems could be addressed with the installment of improved avionics (resulting in the AV-8C and Harrier GR.3), issues in payload delivery required a redesigned fuselage and engine. Thus, Hawker Siddeley and McDonnell Douglas began to develop a more advanced version of the Harrier with a larger fuselage and the Pegasus engine, unofficially dubbed the "AV-16", due to the goals of producing a plane with twice the payload and range of the AV-8. In 1975, however, the RAF pulled out of the project due to budget constraints, and the USMC was unwilling to sponsor the project by itself, resulting in its cancellation in the same year. Since then, McDonnell Douglas began to design a new Harrier based on the existing AV-8A, reconfiguring two AV-8As with redesigned wings, intake, exhaust nozzles, and other aerodynamic changes, leading to the YAV-8B. Further tests with YAV-8B regarding payload delivery, range, and VTOL capabilities proved satisfactory, and the AV-8B was officially procured by the USMC as its new generation of VTOL strike aircraft.

In 1985, McDonnell Douglas sought to enhance the all-weather capability of the AV-8B, fitting it with FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) sensors, Hughes AN/ASB-19 ARBS (Angle Rate Bombing System), F-402-RR-408 engine, and an improved HUD and MFD, offering night attack capabilities. Though initially called the AV-8D, this new variant came into service in 1987 designated the AV-8B (NA), or the Harrier Night Attack variant.

The AV-8B saw extensive combat during its long service history. It was first used in Operation Desert Storm where AV-8Bs based on the USS Nassau and USS Tarawa supported coalition forces in the Battle of Khafji, dropping guided munitions on Iraqi artillery and provided support for USMC and coalition forces. Later, during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, AV-8Bs were deployed at forward operation bases (FOBs) due to their STOL/VTOL capabilities and had a much faster response time compared to USAF and USN aircraft, which had to take off from airfields in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, or carriers. AV-8Bs carrying LITENING targeting pods flew reconnaissance missions and dropped guided munitions on Al-Qaeda forces and the Iraqi military, flying over 5000 sorties and demolishing a large number of Taliban and Iraqi vehicles and personnel. AV-8Bs also took part in Operation Odyssey Dawn. When a USAF F-15E crashed in Libya due to mechanical failure, both pilots ejected successfully and were stranded deep in enemy territory. Two AV-8Bs dropped 250lb Paveway munition to deter Libyan ground forces from approaching the pilots, and one of the AV-8Bs dropped additional munitions on the wreckage of the F-15E to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. All AV-8B (NA) and AV-8B Plus continue to serve until 2025, by then replaced by newer F-35Bs.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] Pre-order: AV-8B Night Attack

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
Jet Fighters	F2H-2 · F3H-2
	F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
	F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E
Strike Aircraft	AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
Helicopters	AH-6M
Export/Licensed
Aircraft	◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV · Phantom FG.1 · Phantom FGR.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
	F-15J · F-15J(M) · Baz · Baz Meshupar · F-15I Ra’am
	▄AV-8B Plus
Helicopters	Lahatut
	The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation merged with Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Later it was merged with The Boeing Company in 1997.
See Also	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries