As the first successful strike fighter able to perform vertical landings, the BAE Harrier jet built upon the successes of its first generation predecessor and brought a slew of revolutionary capabilities to the forefront of Western air defense. The aircraft was a product of both American and British innovation and, like earlier Harrier jets, relied on thrust vectoring technology for its wide range of vertical and horizontal maneuverability. With that maneuverability, a more powerful engine, an airframe composed substantially of composites and more payload capacity, the BAE Harrier emerged as a multidimensional and very capable strike fighter.