The last of the Marine Corps’ venerable AV-8B Harrier II fighter jets will be retired in June, to be replaced by the F-35B.

For more than 41 years, since January 1985, the US Marine Corps has operated the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II. The Marines adopted the first-generation Harrier (AV-8A) 15 years earlier, in January 1971.

Now, after more than five decades of service with the vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL), the service announced this week that it will host a “Harrier Sundown” celebration in June to “honor the legacy of the aircraft and the Marines who served with it.” The event will be hosted by the USMC’s 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

“All units associated with planning and execution for Harrier Sundown events should provide maximum support to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 to ensure mission success,” the Marine Corps announced on March 17.

The celebration at MCAS CP will be held from June 2 to 4 of this year. The “main effort will be the official AV-8B Sundown Ceremony held on the flightline at 1000 EDT,” on June 3.

The sundown will include several events, with many open to the public and free to attend, while others—notably a gala—will require invitation and/or paid admission.

The End Is in Sight for the Marines’ Harrier Fighter Jets

Although the Sundown Ceremony is slated for this summer, the Marine Corps has been preparing for the upcoming retirement of the Harrier II for several years.

Last year, one of the oldest fighter squadrons concluded flight operations with its McDonnell Douglas AV-8B.

Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231), the “Ace of Spades”—established as the 1st Division, Squadron 1, in February 1919—had operated the AV-8B since September 1985 and became the first unit to operate the Harrier II in combat during the 1991 Desert Storm. It went on to take part in Operations Allied Force, Odyssey Dawn, Inherent Resolve, and Prosperity Guardian.

The squadron has transitioned to the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, as part of the modernization efforts being undertaken by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), the aviation combat element of the Marine Expeditionary Force.

About the AV-8B Harrier II

• Year Introduced: 1985 (AV-8B Harrier II, US Marine Corps)
• Number Built: ~340 (including all variants of AV-8B)
• Length: 46 ft 4.5 in (14.13 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)
• Weight (MTOW):
  • ~20,755 lb (10,000 kg) vertical takeoff
  • 31,000 lb (14,100 kg) rolling takeoff
• Engine: One Rolls-Royce Pegasus 11-61 vectored-thrust turbofan (23,500 lbf / 105 kN thrust)
• Top Speed: ~Mach 0.9 (approx. 673 mph or 1,083 km/h) at sea level
• Combat Radius: ~300–400 mi (480–640 km), mission-dependent
• Service Ceiling: ~43,000 ft (13,100 m)
• Loadout: Up to 9,200 lb (4,200 kg) of ordnance on six wing and one centerline hardpoints (total 7)
• Aircrew: 1

The United States Marine Corps operated a total of 215 AV-8B Harrier IIs, including the TAV-8B two-seat trainers.

As Harrison Kass previously wrote for The National Interest, “The design of the Harrier jump jet has allowed the Marine Corps to project air power in ways that would not have been possible with conventional aircraft.”

The Harrier II could serve as a light attack fighter or take part in multirole missions, ranging from close air support of ground troops to armed reconnaissance. It was routinely deployed aboard amphibious assault ships and simple forward operating bases, as well as other austere locations.

The Harrier II was armed with a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air AMRAAM and Sparrow missiles, air-to-surface AGM-65 Maverick missiles, anti-ship Harpoon and Sea Eagle missiles, a 25mm cannon, and a range of bombs and rockets.

Although the USMC will see the aircraft fly off to the sunset, or at least into museums, the AV-8B Harrier II will remain in operation with NATO member Spain, at least for a few years longer. In May 2025, the Spanish Navy announced that its Harrier fleet would not be retired until at least 2030. Madrid’s sea service operates a total of 10 Harriers, seven of which are currently deployed on the flagship Juan Carlos I.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

The post US Marine Corps to Host Harrier ‘Jump Jet’ Sundown appeared first on The National Interest.