All told, the aircraft was to be more powerful, better performing, and carry a more formidable warload into battle. Beyond the six underwing hardpoints was a single fuselage mounting. A single 30mm ADEN internal automatic cannon would be featured in British models at production time while the USMC version would be cleared to carry and fire the latest-generation Air-to-Air (A2A) and Air-to-Ground (A2G) missiles including "Sidewinder" and "Maverick", respectively.
With the project designation of "AV-16", the design was to be eventually advanced under the developmental "YAV-16A" used to cover flyable prototype forms, this then giving way to the operational-quality "AV-16A" airframes to follow. Hawker Siddeley knew the project as "HS.1185". The USMC was in the market to acquire a total fleet of 342 AV-16 attackers and a first-flight of the new machine was planned for the early part of 1977 by McDonnell Douglas, leading to service entry before the end of 1979. However, all things changed when the British, with their reduced defense budget heading into uncertain economic times, removed themselves from the project in March of 1975. Without foreign support, the USMC could not justify the cost of their new VTOL attacker and the program eventually died before it gained too much traction.
The Harrier was then advanced along the lines of the American-directed AV-8B by McDonnell Douglas. First-flown in November 1978 as the YAV-8B, the enhanced attacker entered service in January of 1985 and continues to be operated by the USMC today (2020). 337 B-models were produced from 1981 until 2003. For the British, the requirement was fulfilled by the derivative "Harrier II" of 1985 which, in turn, produced the GR.5, GR.7, and GR.9 operational marks for service. The Harrier II saw its first flight during April of 1985 and a total of 143 of these were produced and operated into March 2011 exclusively by the RAF and Royal Navy services. The USMC AV-8B was taken into service by the navies of Italy and Spain.
As designed, the AV-16 was to feature a running length of 46.5 feet with a wingspan of 30.3 feet. Gross weight reached 28,000lb while VTOL capability would be limited to 21,000lb. With its Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine, the aircraft was expected to reach speeds of 720 miles-per-hour though operational range and operating altitude estimates were not given. Range was to be enhanced by way of fuel drop tanks as necessary.
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