Hawker P.1121 Staff having been unable to understand the concept of the multi-purpose functionality of the aircraft, which would become commonplace on later aircraft. While seeking a new project to take the place of the P.1121, Camm soon began work upon another new and radical aircraft design, designated as the Hawker Siddeley P.1127. The P.1127 would become the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first effective vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) combat aircraft. The Hawker P.1121 was envisioned as being one of the first British-built supersonic fighter aircraft, being projected to be capable of speeds of up to Mach 2.5. It was to have
Hawker Siddeley Harrier War, the greatest threats to the Harriers were deemed to be surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and small arms fire from the ground. In total, four Harrier GR.3s and six Sea Harriers were lost to ground fire, accidents, or mechanical failure. More than 2,000 Harrier sorties were conducted during the conflict—equivalent to six sorties per day per aircraft. Following the Falklands war, British Aerospace explored the Skyhook, a new technique to operate Harriers from smaller ships. Skyhook would have allowed the launching and landing of Harriers from smaller ships by holding the aircraft in midair by a crane; secondary cranes were to