The Last "Harrier" Aircraft of the U.S. Marine Corps Retires

Reference News Network, June 6 According to the Spanish website "Confidential Report" on June 3, the last AV-8B Harrier vertical takeoff and landing fighter jet of the United States Marine Corps has been retired, and Spain will become its only user after 2030.

The report states that on the 3rd, the Harrier fighter completed its final landing on the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, and the unique roar of its engines has fallen silent. The U.S. Marine Corps has officially retired the AV-8B Harrier II fighter jet, marking the end of its service that began in 1971. The Spanish Navy's Harrier fleet will become the final chapter in the operational history of this aircraft type.

The Harrier has never been a conventional fighter jet. It was born from the design philosophy of the British Hawker Siddeley Group, which allowed the fighter to take off and land without a runway, providing the Marine Corps with advantages that other fixed-wing aircraft could not match: the ability to operate from amphibious vessels, jungle clearings, and forward operating bases without any infrastructure. The AV-8B Harrier fighter jet has undergone significant improvements based on this foundation: it features composite material wings, increased payload capacity, advanced avionics systems, and is equipped with the AN/APG-65 radar from retired F/A-18A/B Hornet fighter jets. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, this aircraft type conducted thousands of combat missions.

The final chapter of the Harrier in the U.S. military was written by Marine Attack Squadron 223, the last remaining operational Harrier unit in the United States. As part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, the squadron's pilots completed the last deployment of the Harrier on the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima.

Replacing the Harrier is the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. This aircraft features radar stealth capabilities, advanced sensors, precise electronic warfare capabilities, and the same short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities as the Harrier. The retirement of the Harrier marks the end of an era defined by a specific concept, where relatively simple machines could project power from anywhere. The F-35 is a "flying supercomputer," while the Harrier is almost "a machine from the era of simulators."

As the U.S. retires its Harrier jets and Italy plans to complete the retirement of this aircraft type by 2028, the Spanish Navy quietly gains a title: the last country in the world to operate the AV-8B Harrier II fighter jet. The Spanish Navy currently has about 10 single-seat EAV-8B Harrier fighter jets deployed on the strategic projection ship Juan Carlos I. Admiral Antonio Piñeiro, Chief of the Spanish Navy, stated that Spain plans to maintain the Harrier fighter jets "according to a plan that extends to 2032." However, due to the inevitable shrinkage of the supply chain, this fleet faces severe challenges.

Becoming the last operator of any equipment system is akin to a struggle destined for an end in terms of logistical support. Spare parts cease production, and the knowledge of system development fades away with the passing of the engineers who built these systems.

To address this issue, Spain is considering purchasing retired Harrier fighter jets from the U.S. Marine Corps or Italy, not for flight, but for disassembly and use as a parts warehouse to maintain the operational fleet. This is a strategy born out of necessity and has a clear deadline. After 2030, maintaining these aircraft will face numerous cumulative challenges, and any contract extensions or parts recovery plans will not resolve them.

Spain did not voluntarily become the last guardian of this legendary aircraft. The actions taken by Madrid next will determine whether the concept of vertical takeoff and landing fighters can continue to exist. (Translated by Wang Meng)