WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harrier II completed its final flight today at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina as part of a sundown ceremony for the ground attack jet — concluding more than 40 years in service for the aircraft.
The Harrier’s retirement marks a significant milestone as the Marine Corps moves through its Tactical Aircraft Transition Plan, and fully adopts fifth-generation aircraft across the entire fleet.
Today’s ceremony included a flyover featuring five Harriers. The ground attack jet has short takeoff and vertical landing capability. Despite the scheduled retirement, the aircraft have remained active even in their final weeks.
The Marine Corps’ last Harriers are part of Marine Attack Squadron 223 and were last deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which just concluded a 10-month deployment on Monday.
During the deployment, the 22nd MEU supported operations in US Southern Command amid the Trump administration’s naval buildup there, leading up to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s ouster in January. Marine Attack Squadron 223 returned to Cherry Point on May 20, and Marine and sailors assigned to the 22nd MEU started returning home on Monday, according to the service.
The Marine Corps revealed in its 2026 Aviation Plan released in February that the service would conduct a final flight for the aircraft in June, and said that efforts are underway to preserve the aircraft’s legacy in museums across the US.
“As the Harrier era concludes, its highly experienced aircrew and maintenance personnel are transitioning their skills to other platforms, primarily the F-35B, ensuring their expertise continues to benefit Marine Corps Aviation,” the Marine Corps’ aviation plan said.
The AV-8A Harrier first entered the Marine Corps in 1971, while the upgraded AV-8B Harrier II joined the service in 1985. The aircraft were capable of deploying and operating from carriers, as well as other “seagoing platforms,” expeditionary airfields, and remote tactical landing sites, according to Naval Air Systems Command.
