Tag Archives: jump jet

Harrier Sunset

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The final USMC AV-8B Harrier deployment with a Marine Expeditionary Unit, a det of VMA-223 “Bulldogs” with the 22nd MEU aboard the USS Iwo Jima, earlier this month returned home to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina.

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), prepares to land aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during flight operations while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Nov. 26, 2025. 

U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly over the coast of North Carolina, May 15, 2026. The “sundown” of the AV-8B, an iconic aircraft that has supported joint and Marine Corps operations for over 40 years, also represents the dawn of a new era; it paves the way for 2nd MAW’s full transition to the F-35B and C Lightning II. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Ornelas Baeza)

U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly over the coast of North Carolina, May 15, 2026. The “sundown” of the AV-8B, an iconic aircraft that has supported joint and Marine Corps operations for over 40 years, also represents the dawn of a new era; it paves the way for 2nd MAW’s full transition to the F-35B and C Lightning II. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Ornelas Baeza)

The first deployed Marine Harriers, 14 AV-8As of VMA-231, went to sea in October 1976 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) for a Mediterranean deployment with the Sixth Fleet, thus bookending an almost perfect 50 years of Devil Dog jump jet operations underway and 55 years, counting the first at-sea evaluations aboard USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) in 1971.

USMC AV-8A Harrier Evaluation Onboard USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), March 1971. Now that’s a beautiful aircraft

Now, the AV-8B in Marine service will be retired.

VMA-223 will host a Sundown Ceremony at Cherry Point from 2 – 4 June 2026.

That just leaves the navies of Spain (12 EAV-8B Plus and 1 TAV-8B operated by 9. Escuadrilla) and Italy (14 AV-8B Plus and 1 TAV-8B of Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati along with 15 stored airframes) as the keeper of the Harrier flame outside of the U.S. with the Spanish planning on putting the type to bed in 2030 and the Italians doing the same in 2028. Both allies will undoubtedly be inheriting the final couple of pallets of parts from the USMC.

Just 824 Harrier models of all types were produced, making the bird a rare one, with only about 60 airframes preserved worldwide.

So yeah, at this point, there are more jump jets in museums than in active service.

The Harrier line-up at Pima

Harrier II at 40

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Prototype AV-8B Harrier II pictured in front of a hangar at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri. Offering double the payload and combat radius of its predecessor, the AV-8B made its maiden flight on 9 November 1978, some 40 years ago today.

The above model was one of two generations and six main variants of the “jump jet” produced between the prototype Hawker Siddeley P.1127 first flew in 1960 and the Harrier II ended production in 1997. With less than 900 of all types produced, a Harrier in any condition is a rare bird indeed.

early Harrier Kestrel

While Harriers once served with the Indian Navy, Italian Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Royal Thai Navy, Royal Spanish Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps, just the Corps (124) and the Italians (30) still operate late-model aircraft refurbished in the 2000’s.

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166 sits on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Arabian Sea Oct. 20, 2013. The Boxer was underway in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class J. Michael Schwartz, U.S. Navy/Released)

They are expected to be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II within the next decade.