Performing Search and Tracking operations optimized for targeting Naval (Surface) and Ground targets. Basically they can be used to help improve targeting accuracy and decrease pilot workload in setting up attacks / locks onto specific targets off boresight.
Something that kinda surprises me is that we never got the original AV-8B (pre-Night Attack), seeing as these were the Harriers we used during the 1991 Persian Gulf War
Did they also already carry targeting pods, or were only the NA’s equipped with them? Could be an argument to get lower BR than the AV-8B (NA) variant…
I did however the source I have was apparently restricted so it was shut down. What I can tell you is that at .7 Mach the IRL AV-8B NA can sustain almost 5G at 5000 feet at over 20,000 lbs weight. With combat thrust 60% ish throttle in game when you work out the RPM of the engine. In game they will not even sustain 4G so its missing over 1 G turn performance.