Harrier



"We have 'em on radar."
 * Harrier on attack vector

"YAHOO! SHAKE IT BABY!"
 * Tanya after liberating the Harriers at an Allied Base

Description
The Harrier was the high speed VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) fighter employed by most of the Allies during the Great World War III (Korea being the only exception, as they employed the Black Eagles Fighter-Bomber instead). It was built at the Airforce Command Headquarters. They are located and reloaded in the Airforce Command Headquarters as well. They use Maverick Missiles. In the opening of the Psychic Dominator disaster a group of at least 24 Harriers attempted to destroy the Psychic Dominator at San Fransisco, but before any of them could get within striking distance of the Device, Yuri's Gatling cannons opened fire, Even though the Harriers took evasive action, they were all caught by the Gatling cannon's fire and were subsequently destroyed, One harrier was hit in the engine and crashed into the Nuclear Reactor powering the Psychic Dominator, robbing it of power and buying the Allies and Soviets valuable time to go back in time and defeat Yuri.

Counters
Since the Harrier has poor armour, it is capable of being ripped to shreds by most anti-aircraft defenses. Gatling cannons and Gatling tanks prove to be extremely effective, as the high rate of fire and AP rounds can easily punch through the light fuselage of a Harrier. Flak is as less useful, but better at taking out large groups, due to the area effect caused by exploding shells. Commanders were advised to avoid air defenses whenever possible.

Usage
They were used for destroying specific immobile targets as well as ground-based units, but the presence of Flak Cannons defending Soviet bases, as well as the tight formations often employed by harriers, often made this a difficult business. However, they can also be assigned to take out columns of enemy tanks provided that there are very little to none air defenses. Roughly three Harriers can destroy a tank, less if Veteran or Elite. It is however, rare for a harrier pilot to survive long enough to gain a promotion.

Retirement
In WWIII, the F-11X Apollo Fighter has replaced the aging Harrier on its AA duty, while the B2-X Century Bomber has taken over its Ground attack duty.