Marine Corps Says Goodbye to the Harrier with Final Flight Next Month

The U.S. Marine Corps is preparing for the AV-8B Harrier II’s final official flight next month, marking the end of more than four decades of service for the iconic jump jet.

According to a Marine Corps administrative message (MARADMIN) released in March, the service will hold an official “AV-8B Sundown Ceremony” at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, on June 3, 2026. The ceremony will mark the end of the Harrier’s planned operational service life as the Marine Corps completes its transition to the F-35B Lightning II.

The Harrier’s final public events will run from June 1 through June 4 and include squadron open houses, flyovers, community events, and the official sundown ceremony hosted by 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Attack Squadron 223, or VMA-223.

The retirement closes a major chapter in Marine aviation. The Harrier became famous for its short takeoff and vertical landing capability, allowing Marines to launch fixed-wing attack aircraft from amphibious assault ships, expeditionary airfields, and austere forward operating locations without relying on traditional aircraft carriers.

The Marine Corps first fielded the Harrier in the early 1970s and later transitioned to the upgraded AV-8B Harrier II. Over the decades, the aircraft supported operations during the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and numerous Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments.

The End of Marine Harrier Operations

Marine aviation officials have described the retirement as part of the Corps’ broader Tactical Aircraft Transition Plan, which consolidates Marine tactical aviation around the F-35B and F-35C.

The AV-8B’s replacement, the F-35B Lightning II, retains the Harrier’s short takeoff and vertical landing capability while adding stealth technology, advanced sensors, and networked targeting systems. The Marine Corps’ latest aviation planning documents state the service ultimately intends to field 420 F-35 aircraft across the force.

The Corps has already retired most Harrier squadrons as the transition accelerated over the past several years. VMA-223 now represents the final operational Harrier squadron in Marine service.

The transition also reflects broader changes in Marine aviation strategy. Marine aviation planners increasingly view aircraft like the F-35 as multi-role platforms capable of combining strike missions with intelligence gathering, sensor fusion, and battlefield coordination functions.

The Corps is also exploring how F-35s could eventually operate alongside autonomous drone systems known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

An Aircraft Unlike Any Other

The Harrier occupied a unique place in military aviation because of its short takeoff and vertical landing capability, often referred to as STOVL. Using rotating exhaust nozzles, the aircraft could hover, land vertically, and operate from locations inaccessible to most fighter jets.

That capability became central to Marine expeditionary doctrine for decades. Harriers routinely operated from amphibious assault ships and forward expeditionary sites where traditional runways were unavailable.

The aircraft also developed a reputation for being technically demanding to fly and maintain. Earlier versions of the Harrier experienced high accident rates during portions of their service history, though Marine aviation officials and pilots often credited the aircraft’s operational flexibility and close-air-support role as invaluable during combat deployments.

As the final Harrier ceremony approaches, Marine officials say the event is intended not only to mark the aircraft’s retirement, but also to recognize the Marines who flew and maintained it over decades of combat operations and expeditionary deployments.