The Hawker-Siddeley AV-8S Matador was an export version of the Hawker Harrier originally ordered in 1972 by Francoist Spain to form their own first carrier fleet group on board the light aircraft carrier Dédalo purchased from the United States. Due to poor relations between the United Kingdom and Spain at that time, Hawker circumvented the embargo by assembling the AV-8S in Europe, then sending it to the US, and finally delivering it to Spain. The AV-8S’s initial difference from the AV-8A in US service was the radio equipment. They remained in service with the Spanish Air Force until 1989, when the attack aircraft were replaced by the AV-8B.

In 1992, the Royal Thai Navy expressed similar desires to operate an aircraft carrier. Therefore, the RTAF ordered ten of the recently retired AV-8S along with the newly built light aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Narubet from Spain. The AV-8S was primarily deployed to combat piracy in the Gulf of Thailand. Due to financial difficulties preventing the procurement of spare parts, however, only one AV-8 was in flying condition in 1999, and the AV-8S was officially decommissioned in 2006 when the RTN decided to reclassify the Chakri Narubet as a helicopter carrier.

Introduced in Update "Firebirds" as part of the Thai aviation sub-tree for Japan, this AV-8S represents the Royal Thai Navy’s AV-8S during the early days of their relatively short service life. Performance-wise, the AV-8S is comparable to the British Harrier GR.1, albeit with several improvements. Chief among these are the option for a pair of AIM-9P missiles, access to a large countermeasures pod, and the addition of an RWR system. The AV-8S Early’s playstyle is similar to its late version, excelling at low altitude combat by using its VTOL capabilities to surprise its enemies.