What is McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II?
[[File:United States Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II hovering.jpg|thumb|right|300px|{{Center|US AV-8B Harrier [[Wikt:hover|hover]]ing}}]] The '''McDonnell Douglas''' (now '''Boeing''') '''AV-8B Harrier II''' is a single-[[engine]] [[ground-attack aircraft]]. It is the second [[generation]] of the [[Harrier Jump Jet]] family. It is capable of [[V/STOL|vertical or short takeoff and landing]] (V/STOL). The aircraft was designed in the late 1970s as an [[Anglosphere|Anglo-American]] development of the [[British]] [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier]], the first operational V/STOL [[aircraft]]. It can hover like a [[helicopter]] but can also fly like a jet at near [[supersonic]] speeds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/equipment/av-8b-harrier-ii |title=AV-8B HARRIER II |publisher=Military Advantage |access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref> It is named after the [[Harrier (bird)|a bird of prey]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Searle, Adrian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/jun/28/tate-britain-fiona-banner1|title=Fiona Banner's toys for boys are a turn-on at Tate Britain|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=29 June 2010|access-date=21 October 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131020211702/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/jun/28/tate-britain-fiona-banner1|archive-date=20 October 2013|quote=the Harrier is in any case named after a bird of prey.|url-status=live}}</ref> It is primarily used on light [[attack]] or multi-role [[Combat mission|missions]]. These range from [[close air support]] of ground [[Soldier|troops]] to armed [[Reconnaissance aircraft|reconnaissance]]. The AV-8B is used by the [[United States Marine Corps]] (USMC), the [[Spanish Navy]], and the [[Italian Navy]]. A variant of the AV-8B, the [[British Aerospace Harrier II]], was developed for the British military. Another is the TAV-8B, is a dedicated two-seat [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]]. The project that eventually led to the AV-8B's creation started in the early 1970s. It was a cooperative effort between the [[United States]] and [[United