OVERVIEW: The AV-8B Harrier II+ belongs to the second generation of the Harrier family, a single-engine, subsonic, V/STOL, multirole aircraft equipped for maritime strike, close air support, and limited air defense missions. Italy’s 1997 configuration integrated night-attack avionics and radar for naval operations from short-deck aircraft carriers.

DETAILS: Powered by the Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408 Pegasus turbofan engine, the aircraft reaches a top speed of approximately Mach 0.9 and features 7 external hardpoints for mission payloads. It is equipped with a night-vision-compatible cockpit, digital moving map, RWR, AN/AAR-51 FLIR, and the AN/APG-65 radar for multimode targeting in both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. The aircraft operated from the Giuseppe Garibaldi carrier and was compatible with NATO-standard munitions. Air-to-air capability was supported by AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, and precision strike missions employed AGM-65 Maverick missiles.

The “+” designation indicates the addition of radar capability compared to the earlier Night Attack model. Italian Navy aircraft retained the full Night Attack avionics suite, adding the AN/APG-65 radar, enabling over-the-horizon maritime targeting and enhanced air combat modes. Integration of NATO weapons and datalinks allowed seamless interoperability in joint operations. All systems were optimized for shipboard use, including reinforced landing gear and anti-corrosion treatments.

TYPE: V/STOL multirole strike aircraft

FUNCTION: This model was primarily used for carrier-based strike, fleet protection, and reconnaissance missions. It offered flexibility for Italy’s naval aviation by operating from short-deck carriers without requiring catapults or arresting gear, making it suitable for rapid-deployment and littoral scenarios.

NOTE:
IOC: 1997 (AV-8B Harrier II+ Italy)
Operators: Italy
Conflict used in: Libya (2011)

SOURCE:
Italian Navy Official Site: https://www.marina.difesa.it ; U.S. Naval Air Systems Command: https://www.navair.navy.mil ; Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) ; Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_AV-8B_Harrier_II