HARRIER GR7/7A GR9/9A T10/T12 (No longer in service)

The Harrier GR9 was the last of the Harrier 'Jump Jets' originating from the 1960s. Capable of taking off and landing vertically, the Harrier was not tied to airfields with long concrete runways but, if necessary could be dispersed to sites in the field close to the forward edge of the battle area.

The RAF Harrier fleet was retired in March 2011

The RAF standardised on the Harrier GR9/9A in a move announced by the MoD in 2002.

The MoD explained that the optimum development of the JFH was to support only one Harrier type to its end of service life, the 'more capable GR 9'.

The JFH received its first upgraded Harrier GR9 from BAE Systems' Warton facility in November 2005. Under the terms of a £500 programme the avionics of some 60 x Harrier GR 7/7A were upgraded to GR9 standard and 11 x Harrier T10 will be upgraded to T12 standard.

The GR9 programme which incorporated a major upgrade to the aircraft's avionics and weapons systems enabled the aircraft to carry a variety of current and future weapons. These included Maverick air-surface missiles, Brimstone anti-armour missiles and AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defence. A new, stronger composite rear fuselage was also fitted. These aircraft became Harrier GR9s, whilst those with the uprated engines and weapons systems became Harrier GR9As. The programme also included an upgrade of the two-seater T10 aircraft to the equivalent GR9 standard known as the Harrier T12.

All three RAF Harrier squadrons were deployed for the 2003 Iraq War in Operation Telic. And Harriers have been deployed in Afghanistan in support of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) since September 2004. Aircraft operated from Kandahar airfield.
 

Photo Courtesy of Alasdair Taylor