- "Multiple aircraft approaching this airspace. They're Harriers."
- ― AWACS Long Caster
The AV-8B Harrier II plus, sometimes abbreviated as AV-8B+, is an upgraded variant of the AV-8B Harrier II. It has a few improvements over the original plane, including an FLIR (forward-looking infrared camera), an upgraded cockpit with compatibility for night vision goggles, a more powerful engine, and an advanced radar.
History[]
Strangereal[]
Several AV-8B+s were utilized by the Belkan Air Force against the Allied Forces during the Belkan War. AV-8B+ squadrons engaged the Allied Forces during Operation Hell Bound[1] and Operation Dynamo[2], but were shot down.
During the Emmeria-Estovakia War, the Estovakian Air Force deployed multiple AV-8B+s to ambush the Emmerian Army's Warlock Separate Battalion during the battle of Ragno Fortress. Ultimately, their ambush failed as all AV-8B+s were shot down by Emmerian escort aircraft.[3]
AV-8B+s were utilized in the Lighthouse War by Erusea during Operation One Pair,[4] Operation Siren's Song,[5] Operation Magic Spear,[6] Operation Werewolf,[7] and Operation Giant's Step.[8] Following the collapse of Usea's satellite network, the reestablished Voslagian Air Force gained access to two AV-8B+s and were used in the defense of Shilage Castle during Operation Beehive.[9]
Assault Horizon universe[]
Harriers were utilized during the New Russian Federation uprising.
Infinity universe[]
The USEA Federation operated Harriers during Operation Eternal Liberation.
Game Analysis[]
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown[]
How to Unlock
- This aircraft is not available to the player.
Gallery
Erusean Air Force Harrier
Erusean Air Force Harrier
Erusean Air Force Harrier
Erusean Air Force Harrier
Two Erusean Air Force Harriers over Sierraplata
Two Erusean Air Force Harriers over Sierraplata
An Erusean AV-8B over Snider's Top
An Erusean AV-8B over Shilage
Another Erusean AV-8B over Shilage
A Harrier get shot down over Shilage
Ace Combat Infinity[]
- "This attacker was developed to make VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) a reality. It has a unique design featuring high mounted wings and four rotating nozzles. This makes it possible to operate in limited spaces such as light aircraft carriers and small airfields. The aircraft is commonly known as the "Harrier"."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
- The AV-8B is available through the Aircraft Tree.
| Lv. | Cst | Price | GUN | MSL | 4AGM | RKTL | LASM | SP | MO | ST | AA | AG | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 425 | 10,710 | 215 | 84 | 10 | – | – | F | F+ | E | F+ | E | F |
| 2 | 460 | 2,680 | 236 | 88 | 14 | – | – | F+ | F+ | E+ | F+ | E+ | F+ |
| 3 | 495 | 3,750 | 257 | 92 | 18 | – | – | F+ | E | E+ | F+ | E+ | E |
| 4 | 530 | 10,890 | 278 | 96 | 20 | 9 | – | E | E | D | E | D | E+ |
| 5 | 565 | 16,070 | 300 | 100 | 22 | 10 | – | E+ | E+ | D+ | E | D | D |
| 6 | 600 | 80,330[a] | 321 | 106 | 26 | 12 | – | E+ | E+ | D+ | E | D+ | D+ |
| 7 | 635 | 57,840 | 343 | 112 | 28 | 13 | 13 | D | E+ | D+ | E | C | C |
| 8 | 670 | 114,240 | 365 | 118 | 30 | 14 | 14 | D | D | D+ | E | C | C |
| 9 | 705 | 214,200 | 387 | 124 | 32 | 15 | 15 | D+ | D | C | E+ | C | B |
| 10 | 740 | 510,510 | 409 | 130 | 34 | 16 | 16 | D+ | D | C | E+ | C | B+ |
| 11 | 787 | 757,420 | 430 | 134 | 36 | 17 | 17 | C | D+ | C+ | E+ | C+ | B+ |
| 12 | 834 | 1,570,800 | 452 | 138 | 38 | 18 | 18 | C+ | C | B | D | B | A |
| 13 | 881 | 2,106,300 | 474 | 142 | 40 | 19 | 19 | B | C+ | B+ | D | B+ | A+ |
| 14 | 928 | 2,677,500 | 496 | 146 | 42 | 20 | 20 | B+ | C+ | A | D+ | A | S |
| 15 | 975 | 2,723,910 | 518 | 150 | 46 | 22 | 22 | B+ | B | A | D+ | A | S+ |
| 16 | 1031 | 4,755,240 | 537 | 152 | 48 | 23 | 23 | A | B+ | A+ | C | A+ | S+ |
| 17 | 1093 | 5,440,680 | 556 | 154 | 50 | 24 | 24 | A+ | B+ | S | C+ | S | S+ |
| 18 | 1152 | 6,118,980 | 576 | 156 | 52 | 25 | 25 | A+ | A | S+ | C+ | S+ | S+ |
| 19 | 1211 | 7,818,300 | 595 | 158 | 54 | 26 | 26 | S | A | S+ | B | S+ | S+ |
| 20 | 1270 | 9,853,200 | 615 | 160 | 58 | 28 | 28 | S+ | A+ | S+ | B+ | S+ | S+ |
- Part Slots
- At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 12 BODY, 12 ARMS, and 12 MISC part slots. See Tuning § Slot Expansion for further information.
- Nicknames
- Upgrading this aircraft to these levels unlocked the respective nicknames for use at any time.
- Lv.3: Harrier Pilot
- Lv.10: Pegasus
- Lv.15: The Select Few
- Lv.20: Microburst
Skins
- Default
- "Inferno" Skin: Flame pattern with "flaming skull" on top
- Event Skin #01: 2-tone green camouflage; based on the AV-8B Harrier IIs of VMAT-203
Gallery
Flyby
Hangar view
Cockpit
"Inferno" Skin icon
Hangar view
Event Skin #01 icon
Hangar view
Flyby
Flyby
Flyby
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon[]
- "This attacker was developed to make VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) a reality. It has a unique design featuring high mounted wings and four rotating nozzles. This makes it possible to operate in limited spaces such as light aircraft carriers and small airfields. The aircraft is commonly known as the "Harrier"."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
- The AV-8B can only be obtained via the "Online Map Pack" which also contains Tokyo, Honolulu, and the CFA-44 Nosferatu.
Statistics
Special Weapons
Colors
- Color 1: Grey drab
- Color 2: Grey and green active camouflage
- Color 3: White, red, black and gold livery based upon that worn by early AV-8B flight test models
Gallery
Color 1
Hangar view of Color 1
Color 2
Hangar view of Color 2
Color 3
Hangar view of Color 3
Cockpit
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation[]
How to Unlock
- The Harrier is not available to the player in this game.
Gallery
Estovakian Harriers
Trivia[]
- The tail code CF is used by the United States Marine Corps Marine Attack Squadron 211.
- "RADAR" is written on the nose when using Color 3 in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, unlike the original test aircraft that featured this livery. This is due to the AV-8B+ being fitted with a radar, specifically the same AN/APG-65 used in the first generation F/A-18 Hornets. Other Harrier II variants do not feature any radar.
- Handheld and older Ace Combat games, outside of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, featured the AV-8B Harrier II. The easiest way to discern between the plus and non-plus variants is by the radar system on the nose of the aircraft, which was added in the plus variant. As previously stated, other Harrier II variants did not feature any radar. The radar system can be seen on the nose of enemy Harriers in Ace Combat Zero, but not in any of the other older or handheld games.
- In Assault Horizon and Ace Combat Infinity, the AV-8B+, along with the F-35B Lightning II and the ASF-X Shinden II, is capable of keeping its nose pointed upward while in the middle of a stall. This was likely intended to simulate VTOL, and it allows for effective targeting and firing at extremely slow speeds.
Footnotes[]
- ↑ Players could use one Nonstandard Upgrade Request Form instead of credits for the Lv.6 upgrade.
References[]
- ↑ Mission 07: "Bastion", Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ Mission 08: "Merlon", Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ Mission 10: "Ragno Fortress", Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
- ↑ Mission 06: "Long Day", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ Mission 11: "Fleet Destruction", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ Mission 13: "Bunker Buster", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ Mission 14: "Cape Rainy Assault", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ Mission 15: "Battle for Farbanti", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ Mission 18: "Lost Kingdom", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.