Tag Archives: VMA-223

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

A must for fans of the Jump Jet

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A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 223, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, taxis on the runway at Bodø Air Station, Norway, March 3, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam Henke)

This week’s Fighter Pilot Podcast is on the Harrier, specifically the AV-8B, and has as guests the final skipper, Lt. Col. “Traper” Cumbie, and XO Major Eric “Porky” Scheibe, of the last Marine Harrier squadron, VMA-223, the “Great American Bulldogs.”

The ‘Dogs have a hell of a history, flying Brewster F2A-1 Buffalos at the beginning of WWII, then moving to Wildcats and Corsairs (bagging 146 victories 1942-45), Panthers in Korea, Skyhawks in Vietnam, and the Harrier since 1987.

And yes, 223 supported True Lies back in the day with actual Harriers– you can even see the Bulldog on the side. The trio of Harriers used in the Schwarzenegger flick was real and loaned from the USMC to the production for $100,000 per day, plus $2,400 per flying hour per aircraft.

It is a treat and well worth your time.

 

Marines: Harriers out by 2027, More F-35Cs, and Hornets C/Ds to Tread Water

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The 44-page 2025 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, released earlier this week by Lt. Gen. Bradford Gering, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, gives lots of insight into how the Corps intends to move forward with preserving its legacy MAGTF model that has been a thing since 1963 despite deep cuts to field the Marine Littoral Regiments of (supposedly) highly mobile anti-ship missile slingers.

The way of the future: 

U.S. Marines and Sailors with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, pose for a unit photo before a ceremony on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Nov. 26, 2024. At the ceremony, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division officially received the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) from Marine Corps Systems Command, becoming the first U.S. Marine Corps unit to field the system. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons) (This image was created using photo merging techniques.)

Out are the last 39 AV-8B Harriers, set to leave the force by 2027 while plans to sunset the elderly Charlie and Delta F-18s are on hold until FY30 ish (the Navy already ditched the type in 2019 in favor of the Rhino Super Hornets, with even the Angels converting over).

The Harrier line closed in 2003 while the F-18C/D line ended in 2000. For what it’s worth, Boeing plans to halt all Super Hornet (E/F) production in 2027 when the last 17 on the order books are delivered to the Navy.

In are more carrier-optimized F-35Cs at the expense of STOVL F-35Bs. This will allow the Corps to field four more squadrons (eight total) for likely inclusion in Navy CVN-based air wings than what was originally planned. I wouldn’t be surprised if a ninth squadron gets moved to that in the near future, which would be one per active CVW. 

The Marine Tactical Air transition plan (click to big up):

Takeaways:

“At the end of 2025, 183 F-35B and 52 F-35C aircraft will have been delivered to the Marine Corps. While the program of record (420 total F-35 aircraft) has not changed, we have updated our F-35 procurement profile to reflect an increase in F-35C squadrons. Per the TACAIR Transition plan, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA) and VMFA-323, VMFA-112, and VMFA-134 will now transition as F-35C squadrons. The program of record now includes 280 F-35Bs and 140 F-35Cs to support 12 F-35B squadrons and 8 F-35C squadrons.”

Tsushima Strait, (Sept. 18, 2024) A U.S Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Tsushima Strait, Sept. 18, 2024, for a defensive counterair mission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms)

“The Marine Corps F/A-18 inventory includes 161 F/A-18C/D aircraft. FMF will maintain four active squadrons and one reserve squadron through the end of FY25. F/A-18C/D structure requirements remain in place until the end of FY29 then will transition to F-35s by FY30/31.”

“Of the two Harrier squadrons, Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA) will sundown in late FY25, VMA-223 will sundown in late FY26, and both squadrons will transition to F-35B.”

U.S. Sailors and Marines conduct preflight checks on U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers with the Aviation Combat Element, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in the Atlantic Ocean, June 27, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Armando Elizalde)