Harrier GR3 Aden guns & Sidewinders

Harrier GR3 Aden guns & Sidewinders
 
 
Detailed 1-200 scale 3D printed Hawker Siddeley Harrier jet representing the Royal Air Force with ADEN guns and Sidewinders.
 
 
Available Scales
1-200
1-300
1-285 Print on Demand
1-144 Print on Demand
 
 
Historical Context
The Harrier GR3 is an upgraded variant of the first-generation Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the world’s first operational V/STOL (Vertical and Short Take-Off and Landing) fighter jet. 
Introduced into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the early 1970s, it remained a staple of British air power until its retirement in the early 1990s. 
Key Features & Design
The GR3 featured several critical improvements over the original GR1: 
Laser Nose: The most distinctive visual change was a lengthened, "bulbous" nose housing the Ferranti Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) for improved bombing accuracy.
Engine Power: It was equipped with the more powerful Rolls-Royce Pegasus 103 turbofan engine, which used four rotating nozzles to vector thrust.
Avionics: Added an Inertial Navigation and Attack System (INAS) and a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) in the tail fin.
Armament: Typically carried two 30mm ADEN cannons in under-fuselage pods and could be fitted with Sidewinder missiles, rockets, and bombs. 
Combat History
The Harrier GR3 is best known for its role in the 1982 Falklands War. 
Ground Attack: While the Royal Navy's Sea Harriers handled air defense, the RAF's GR3s focused on close air support and ground-attack missions, including strikes against Argentine artillery and Stanley airfield.
Field Flexibility: It famously operated from the decks of HMS Hermes and rudimentary landing strips on the islands, showcasing its ability to function without traditional runways.
Cold War Service: Outside of the Falklands, GR3s were a key part of RAF Germany, designed to hide in camouflaged "hides" in forests to survive a Soviet first strike on airfields.
 
 
Key Aspects of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier History:
Development and Origin: The first-generation Harrier was the world’s first operational fixed-wing V/STOL combat aircraft. The GR.1 established the concept in RAF service and the GR.3 added improved sensors, avionics, and attack capability.
Military and Combat Operations: RAF Harriers were deployed widely from dispersed and austere sites. The GR.3 saw combat during the 1982 Falklands War, operating from carriers and forward locations in the ground-attack role.
Foreign Operators: Related first-generation Harrier variants were operated by the United States, Spain, and other services, although RAF GR marks were specifically British configurations.
Upgrades and Retirement: GR.1 aircraft were progressively improved into later marks before the first-generation RAF Harrier force gave way to second-generation Harrier II variants.
Design and Armament: Typical weapons included twin 30 mm ADEN cannon pods, bombs, rockets, external fuel tanks, laser-guided bombs, and—during some deployments—Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
 
 
About Flight Deck Decals 3D Prints
Flight Deck Decals 3D prints are created for gamers and modelers who expect exquisite detail, highest quality, and models that are ready to paint and put on the table.
Most aircraft are available in 1-300, 1-285, 1-200, and 1-144 scales
Printed using Flight Deck Decals' premium proprietary resin, created specifically for miniature aircraft
Excellent paint and primer adhesion compared with many lower-cost resins
Produced on high-resolution 8K or greater resin printers for exceptional detail and smooth layer reproduction
Fine, crisp surface detail with clean panel lines and scale-appropriate features
Carefully printed and inspected with the same attention to detail that has defined Flight Deck Decals for more than 10 years
 
 
Built by a Life Long Gamer, for Gamers
Flight Deck Decals wasn't created by a manufacturer looking for another market to enter.
I'm a lifelong gamer and modeler who built the store I always wished existed.
For more than a decade, the goal has remained the same: provide fellow hobbyists with the highest-quality decals and 3D printed miniatures available.