Hawker Siddeley Harrier variant
Hawker Siddeley Harrier Harrier GR.1A
An interim standard for the RAF single-seater: GR.1s re-engined with a more powerful version of the Rolls-Royce Pegasus that became available in the early 1970s, together with several improvements first tried on the US Marine Corps AV-8A. Seventeen aircraft were built new to this configuration and a further 41 were converted, for 58 in service. None survived as GR.1As: all were eventually rebuilt to GR.3 standard.
- 17
- Units built
- 1,900 km
- Range
History
Why the standard existed
The first-generation Harrier lived and died by available thrust. The Pegasus Mk 101 of the early GR.1 constrained payload in vertical and short take-off, so as soon as a more powerful engine version was available the RAF fitted it across the fleet. Aircraft in that configuration were designated GR.1A.
Scale of the programme
According to the Military Factory variant listing, 17 aircraft were built new as GR.1As and another 41 were obtained by converting existing GR.1s, giving 58 aircraft in service to the standard. Alongside the engine came changes first introduced on the US Marine Corps AV-8A, aimed largely at service life and maintainability.
What followed
The GR.1A was never a long-lived variant. The RAF was already developing the GR.3 standard, with a lengthened nose housing a laser tracker, improved sensors, radar warning receivers and electronic countermeasures, and every surviving GR.1 and GR.1A was ultimately rebuilt to that final configuration.