The U.S. Marine Corps is retiring its AV-8B Harrier II+ fleet, with the last aircraft expected to be out of service by the second half of 2027. This transition is part of a broader plan to replace the Harrier with the F-35B Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter.
USMC F-35B with vapor cone during flight demonstration at Traverse City Air Show. A vapor cone, also known as a Mach cone, is a visible cloud of condensed water vapor that can form around an aircraft traveling at transonic speeds (near the speed of sound).
The U.S. Marine Corps is retiring its AV-8B Harrier II+ fleet, with the last aircraft expected to be out of service by the second half of 2027. This transition is part of a broader plan to replace the Harrier with the F-35B Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter.