First-Generation Hawker Siddeley Harrier Family

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier was the first operational fixed-wing aircraft family able to combine short takeoff with vertical landing. Developed through the P.1127 and Kestrel experimental programs, it used a single Pegasus turbofan with four rotating exhaust nozzles and small reaction-control jets to transition between hovering and forward flight. First-generation Harriers served from dispersed land sites in ground-attack and reconnaissance roles, while export derivatives introduced the configuration to additional operators.