Designed by the Hawker aircraft company around the Bristol Pegasis engine. Bristol aviations engine division was later taken over by Rolls Royce. This aircraft was origally intended to be a supersonic fighter. It first entered service with the R.A.F in 1969 and was greatly modified by Macdonell Douglas in the early 90's which improved weapons capacity, targeting and range. Still at this time the only VTOL aircraft operational. Operated by the U.S. Marine corps, the British R.A.F & Royal Navy.