A Short Take-Off & Vertical Landing [STOVL] aircraft, currently flying off the Indian Navy's [IN] Aircraft Carrier, INS Viraat [R22].
Though this British-built aircraft is capable of performing Vertical Take-off & Landing [VTOL] too, complexity involved in doing so, along with significant reduction in permissible payload that can be carried, therefore, leads its operators to fly the Harrier in STOVL mode. Ski jumps on the Viraat aid its take-off. It would be interesting to see if the IN carries out any of its flights from the INS Vikramaditya or Vikrant-class carriers that are otherwise to host the MiG-29K/KUB fighter aircraft, and further into the future, the Naval variant of the LCA.
A few nice shots of the aircraft, taken during the 2005 edition of the Aero India airshow.
click on the images to view them in larger size
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via aeroprints
Godspeed
Also Read: RAF Harrier Jump Jet fighter aircraft - the last of flights [Video]