The aerial weapon has nowadays the following devices on board the Príncipe de Asturias (the combination of them depends on the particular mission to be carried out)

The R-11 features a ski jump to allow the Harriers to save some fuel upon take-off and be able to carry more weapons.

It also carries four Meroka anti-missile mounts produced in the country (12 tubes each), which, together with the ones carried by the Balearea and Santa María escort ships, conform a very efficient anti-missile shield.

Regarding to the aircrafts, the AV8A have disappeared, because they were sold to Thailand, with the twin ship of the "Príncipe de Asturias", which was built in Spain for the Thailand Navy.

The AV8A was replaced by Harriers AV8B Plus, with night sight and attack capability. You can distinguish them for the more stylized nose. The helicopters have changed their paint scheme, and now they share the same of the Harriers.

This photos were taken in the Alicante harbor in 2001.

Part I > Here 

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