The US Marines with the 223rd Marine Assault Squadron (VMA) conducted a live-fire surface-to-air missile launch using the AV-8B Harrier II.
The AV-8B Harrier II jets assigned to VMA-223 use AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and ADM-141A Tactical Air Launch Decoys for pilots to practice air combat.
The Harrier is a unique tactical aircraft developed by a team representing McDonnell Douglas, British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce. Its vertical take-off capability makes it one of the most maneuverable fighters in service. It can launch out of the enemy’s range extremely quickly.
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All variants of the Harrier are capable of carrying and delivering a wide range of air-to-ground weapons. GPS-guided, laser-guided and general-purpose bombs make up the bulk of the aircraft’s operational payload. Missiles, precision-guided missiles, flares, bombs, cluster munitions and other special weapons add to the capabilities of the aircraft. Litening Targeting Groups is still an important target detection, identification and assignment system. In addition, weapons AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAA and 25mm guns were also used. The aircraft is designed to perform all Assault Air Defense Support missions and a subset of Air Defense Operations missions.
Two years earlier, officials said the US Marine Corps would continue to be a fourth/fifth generation fleet through about 2030, with the Harrier likely to arrive in 2028.
