US Marine Corps Confirms Harrier Retirement in 2026
In late January the United States Marine Corps released its 2025 aviation plan, which contained confirmation on the retirement timeline of the AV-8B Harrier, as well as more information on the future of other aircraft within its fixed wing fleet.
The plan is quoted saying; “the inventory comprises of 39 AV-8Bs spread across two VMAs aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina. 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.”
The report then goes on to explain that the personnel and MOSs currently serving the Harrier program across the Marine Corps fleet will be retrained and reassigned to other platforms and duties by the time of the program’s sundown in 2026, with the two squadrons currently flying the Harrier, VMA-231 and VMA-223, will transition to the F-35B in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
After this, the Harrier will completely leave Marine Corps active service, and will be sent into extended storage. This leaves the Italian and Spanish Navies as the only remaining operators of the type. The AV-8B has been in active service to the Marine Corps since 1985, after being first delivered in 1971, marking 41 years of service. The plan then goes on to say; “The AV-8B has realized its final weapons, sensors, and survivability upgrades and will remain relevant for the remaining years during its sustainment and transition. Marine Aviation and PMA-257 are committed to supporting the AV-8B program with its current programmed sustainment funding until the program’s sundown.”
The Marine Corps Aviation Plan also included information regarding the future of the F/A-18C/D hornet fleet, stating that it will continue to maintaining four Legacy Hornet Squadrons, with three in active service and one in reserve, with the Marine Corps prioritizing the sustainment of their F/A-18C/D fleet as the future sundown of that program approaches the horizon in the future, with the structure requirements of the Legacy Hornet remaining until at least 2029.