Documents
United Kingdom Legacy BAE Systems
Harrier GR9
Final and most advanced Royal Air Force variant of the second-generation Harrier jump jet, upgraded with new avionics, a wider weapons envelope and a digital cockpit before the type was retired from UK service in 2010 as part of defense cuts.
In service since 2006 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,065
km/h
3,300
km range
13,100
m ceiling
4,170
kg payload
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
UK export-licensed
Subject to UK SPIRE licensing (ECJU); generally available to allied states.
Channel: Government-to-government or direct
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2006. Status: legacy · ~62 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Harrier GR9 can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 1,065 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 0.87 Mach |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 3,300 km |
| Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range. | 830 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 13,100 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 25 mm ADEN cannon pod |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 9 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 4,170 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 14.36 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 9.25 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 3.55 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 6,740 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 14,100 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Rolls-Royce Pegasus 105 vectored-thrust turbofan |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 1 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 106 kN |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan (V/STOL) |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | digital moving map, night-vision compatible cockpit |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 62 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public BAE Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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What is the top speed of the BAE Systems Harrier GR9? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9 has a maximum speed of 1,065 km/h.
What is the range of the BAE Systems Harrier GR9? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9 has a maximum range of 3,300 km.
What is the weapons payload of the BAE Systems Harrier GR9? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9 can carry up to 4,170 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the BAE Systems Harrier GR9 weigh? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9 has a combat weight of 14,100 kg.
How many crew does the BAE Systems Harrier GR9 require? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the BAE Systems Harrier GR9? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9's primary weapon is the 25 mm ADEN cannon pod.
What engine does the BAE Systems Harrier GR9 use? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9 is powered by the Rolls-Royce Pegasus 105 vectored-thrust turbofan.
What is the BAE Systems Harrier GR9 used for? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9 is a fighter aircraft typically used for close air support, multirole combat.
How many countries operate the BAE Systems Harrier GR9? +
The BAE Systems Harrier GR9 is operated by 1 countries.
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