Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:40:29-2:41:15

Sea Harrier FA2 and AV-8B excelled at different missions

The Harrier comparison separates fleet interception from precision strike, with Tornado variants providing a similar example of mission specialization.

AV-8B Harrier IIFleet Air DefenceNaval AviationSea Harrier Fa2Strike AircraftVTOL Aircraft
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Question

Which was the better Harrier, the Sea Harrier FA2 or the AV-8B Harrier II Plus?

Short answer

Choose the FA2 for fleet interception and the AV-8B for bombing and modern precision-strike missions; neither dominates every role.

Notes

The Sea Harrier FA2 is preferred for a long-range air-to-air interception, while the AV-8B Harrier II Plus is preferred for bombing with newer guided weapons. Each choice follows the mission rather than a universal ranking of the aircraft. Tornado F3 and ground-attack variants provide a parallel comparison between interception and bombing requirements. Related aircraft can therefore remain useful for distinct tasks even when a question asks which version is best.