In the game Red Alert 2, there is a CG scene of an "Invader" fighter launching an air raid. Even today, 20 years later, it still feels beautifully crafted and full of dynamism. In fact, the "Invader" fighter in this game is the Harrier fighter developed by the UK in real life! Its biggest feature is the ability to break free from the constraints of the runway, perform vertical takeoff and landing, and even hover in the air.

So why are the British so enthusiastic about vertical takeoff and landing? There are two main reasons: firstly, the UK is too close to Europe; Secondly, the British government is very poor. In the 1960s and 1970s, Europe was shrouded in the shadow of the Cold War, and although Britain was already located in the westernmost part of Europe, it was still within the range of Soviet (Warsaw Pact) medium range missiles. Once a war broke out, Soviet missiles could land on British soil within ten minutes, and facilities such as airports, which were highly dependent on space, would inevitably be destroyed in the first place. So, how can the air force fight without airports? Ten minutes after the start of the war, the pilots should collectively leave work and go back for tea. Therefore, for the British military, there is a great need to develop an aircraft that can operate vertically without relying on runways and still have combat capabilities even after being attacked at the airport. Therefore, the Harrier fighter jet emerged! As the saying goes: chasing the wind, the black bird pulls up the mountains, the waves move the earth, and the clouds roll up. Once thunder strikes on the flat ground, the sky stretches thousands of miles with swords and frost cold!

Secondly, in the 1960s and 1970s, it was a period when Britain rapidly declined and retreated from a global empire to a second rate country. You should know that Britain is a small country after all. After leaving the vast colonies for blood transfusion, it is difficult to afford the cost of building a strong navy, and it can no longer live up to the glory of the empire that never sets. Since there is no money, we cannot afford a large aircraft carrier with catapults. We can only use cheap small aircraft carriers to dress up. However, if the aircraft carrier is too small, it will inevitably be unable to take off and land conventional fighter jets. At this time, it is necessary to have a vertical short-range takeoff and landing fighter jet. Therefore, after the emergence of the Harrier fighter, the navy immediately transformed it into the Sea Harrier fighter, which was used as an invincible and lightweight carrier based aircraft, forming a pioneer of small aircraft carriers+vertical takeoff and landing carrier based aircraft. Not to mention, this combination of Harrier and small aircraft carriers does have its merits.

Now everyone knows that the Harrier fighter is a British product, but it must be surprising that the development of this fighter was started by a Frenchman, who later became the world famous Michel Wibert. Combining the experience and lessons of the seniors, Michel designed a centrifugal engine, which works downward through four rotating nozzles to achieve the purpose of vertical takeoff and landing. As a treasure, he immediately found several large aircraft manufacturing companies in the country, but unfortunately, the U.S. military thought that this performance was time-consuming and labor-intensive, and there was little demand, so he politely rejected it. After being disappointed, Michel found France again. At this time, all of France's body and mind were studying atomic bombs, and when Michel was ready to give up, a British company called Bristol found him, In the situation of meeting a kindred spirit in a foreign land, Michelle decided to dedicate her life to this company, and thus came up with the Harrier fighter jet we see!