The Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first operational vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet fighter, first flew in 1967. Its ability to take off and land vertically revolutionized air power, allowing it to operate from small ships and remote locations without needing long runways. This capability made it a unique and valuable asset for the British military.

The Harrier, with its unique ability to hover, became a symbol of technological adaptability and the merging of aircraft with the ground. It was a frequent subject in literature about the Falklands War and represented a new kind of flexibility in military power. Its appearance in poetry and prose was often used to explore themes of innovation and the changing nature of warfare.