OVERVIEW: The AV-8B Harrier II+ belongs to the second generation of the Harrier family, a single-engine, subsonic, V/STOL multirole aircraft developed for naval strike, close air support, and limited air defense. The 2002 Italian Navy configuration retained night-attack capability and integrated radar for all-weather operations from short-deck aircraft carriers.

DETAILS: The aircraft is powered by the Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408 Pegasus turbofan engine with vectoring nozzles, allowing short or vertical takeoff and a maximum speed of approximately Mach 0.9. It includes 7 external hardpoints, AN/APG-65 radar, AN/AAR-51 FLIR, RWR, and a digital moving map system, supporting day and night missions in maritime and littoral environments. The cockpit is night-vision-goggle compatible, and systems are optimized for carrier operations, including hardened airframe components. Confirmed missile armament includes AIM-9L Sidewinder and AGM-65 Maverick.

The “+” designation reflects the integration of the AN/APG-65 radar, expanding capabilities to include radar-based air-to-air and maritime strike modes. The aircraft maintained the full Night Attack suite with forward-looking infrared and digital avionics. By 2002, Italian Harrier IIs operated with NATO-standard communications and could deploy from Giuseppe Garibaldi under full joint tasking. No new sensor or weapons system upgrades are confirmed for this year beyond earlier improvements.

TYPE: V/STOL multirole strike aircraft

FUNCTION: This configuration was primarily used for carrier-based close air support, anti-surface warfare, and rapid-reaction air defense. Its operational flexibility from small carriers without catapults enabled Italy to project airpower in expeditionary missions with minimal logistical footprint.

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