Breaking News: U.S. VMA-231 squadron ends Harrier vertical takeoff jet legacy to modernize with F-35B fighter jet
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According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on May 29, 2025, U.S Marines Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) conducted its final AV-8B Harrier II, a vertical or short takeoff and landing flight ground-attack aircraft during a formal ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The historic event marked the closing chapter of the Harriers’ service in the unit, as the squadron prepares for deactivation in September 2025 and reactivation in 2026 as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231 (VMFA-231) operating the F-35B Lightning II fighter jet. This transition not only represents the end of an era but also symbolizes a significant tactical and strategic leap forward for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation forces.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II from Marine Attack Squadron VMA-231 taxis during the unit’s final flight ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, on May 29, 2025. The event marked the squadron’s last operational Harrier flight ahead of its scheduled deactivation in September 2025. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
The AV-8B Harrier II, with its vertical and short takeoff and landing capabilities, revolutionized Marine expeditionary air power for nearly four decades. Its ability to deliver precision close air support from austere and improvised locations without relying on long, prepared airfields made it a cornerstone of Marine air-ground task force operations. However, the evolving nature of high-end peer competition and advanced anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) threats has driven the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to reevaluate their tactical aviation frameworks.
The replacement of the AV-8B vertical or short takeoff and landing ground-attack aircraft with the fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II fighter jet aligns directly with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps modernization priorities outlined in the Force Design 2030 and Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) strategies. The F-35B brings unmatched stealth, sensor fusion, network-enabled warfare, and precision strike capability to both land-based and sea-based aviation units. Its seamless integration with naval battle networks enhances not only the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) but also joint and allied maritime strike capabilities.
Tactically, the F-35B introduces multi-domain combat effectiveness, allowing squadrons like VMFA-231 to operate within contested and denied environments while collecting, sharing, and acting upon real-time battlefield intelligence. Unlike the AV-8B, which was primarily a close air support platform, the F-35B is a versatile asset capable of executing suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), electronic warfare missions, and high-value target strikes—all while maintaining low observability.
From a naval modernization standpoint, the transition to F-35B significantly enhances the combat effectiveness of America’s amphibious assault ships, such as the America- and Wasp-class vessels. These ships, when deployed with Marine F-35Bs, can function as “lightning carriers,” delivering strategic-level power projection without the logistical burden of a full-size aircraft carrier. This shift expands the Navy’s capacity to conduct distributed, unpredictable operations in the Indo-Pacific and other critical theaters.
Furthermore, as all remaining Marine AV-8B squadrons transition to the F-35B, interoperability across joint and allied forces will reach new heights. The Lightning II’s ability to seamlessly communicate with Navy F-35Cs, Air Force F-35As, and NATO partners ensures unified situational awareness and coordinated strike capabilities, which are vital in modern multi-domain operations. The retirement of the AV-8B also reduces the burden of maintaining aging legacy systems, allowing for more efficient allocation of resources toward high-end readiness and future combat platforms.
The activation of VMFA-231 as an F-35B unit reflects a deliberate move by the U.S. Department of Defense to position Marine aviation at the forefront of great power competition. It reinforces the U.S. Navy’s ambition to maintain air dominance, project power from dispersed maritime platforms, and maintain persistent forward presence under any threat conditions.
With the Ace of Spades U.S Marines Attack Squadron 231 embracing the F-35B fighter jet, the Marine Corps not only honors its past but prepares decisively for the battlespaces of tomorrow, delivering unmatched flexibility, survivability, and firepower wherever American interests demand.
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According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on May 29, 2025, U.S Marines Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) conducted its final AV-8B Harrier II, a vertical or short takeoff and landing flight ground-attack aircraft during a formal ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The historic event marked the closing chapter of the Harriers’ service in the unit, as the squadron prepares for deactivation in September 2025 and reactivation in 2026 as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231 (VMFA-231) operating the F-35B Lightning II fighter jet. This transition not only represents the end of an era but also symbolizes a significant tactical and strategic leap forward for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation forces.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II from Marine Attack Squadron VMA-231 taxis during the unit’s final flight ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, on May 29, 2025. The event marked the squadron’s last operational Harrier flight ahead of its scheduled deactivation in September 2025. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
The AV-8B Harrier II, with its vertical and short takeoff and landing capabilities, revolutionized Marine expeditionary air power for nearly four decades. Its ability to deliver precision close air support from austere and improvised locations without relying on long, prepared airfields made it a cornerstone of Marine air-ground task force operations. However, the evolving nature of high-end peer competition and advanced anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) threats has driven the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to reevaluate their tactical aviation frameworks.
The replacement of the AV-8B vertical or short takeoff and landing ground-attack aircraft with the fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II fighter jet aligns directly with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps modernization priorities outlined in the Force Design 2030 and Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) strategies. The F-35B brings unmatched stealth, sensor fusion, network-enabled warfare, and precision strike capability to both land-based and sea-based aviation units. Its seamless integration with naval battle networks enhances not only the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) but also joint and allied maritime strike capabilities.
Tactically, the F-35B introduces multi-domain combat effectiveness, allowing squadrons like VMFA-231 to operate within contested and denied environments while collecting, sharing, and acting upon real-time battlefield intelligence. Unlike the AV-8B, which was primarily a close air support platform, the F-35B is a versatile asset capable of executing suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), electronic warfare missions, and high-value target strikes—all while maintaining low observability.
From a naval modernization standpoint, the transition to F-35B significantly enhances the combat effectiveness of America’s amphibious assault ships, such as the America- and Wasp-class vessels. These ships, when deployed with Marine F-35Bs, can function as “lightning carriers,” delivering strategic-level power projection without the logistical burden of a full-size aircraft carrier. This shift expands the Navy’s capacity to conduct distributed, unpredictable operations in the Indo-Pacific and other critical theaters.
Furthermore, as all remaining Marine AV-8B squadrons transition to the F-35B, interoperability across joint and allied forces will reach new heights. The Lightning II’s ability to seamlessly communicate with Navy F-35Cs, Air Force F-35As, and NATO partners ensures unified situational awareness and coordinated strike capabilities, which are vital in modern multi-domain operations. The retirement of the AV-8B also reduces the burden of maintaining aging legacy systems, allowing for more efficient allocation of resources toward high-end readiness and future combat platforms.
The activation of VMFA-231 as an F-35B unit reflects a deliberate move by the U.S. Department of Defense to position Marine aviation at the forefront of great power competition. It reinforces the U.S. Navy’s ambition to maintain air dominance, project power from dispersed maritime platforms, and maintain persistent forward presence under any threat conditions.
With the Ace of Spades U.S Marines Attack Squadron 231 embracing the F-35B fighter jet, the Marine Corps not only honors its past but prepares decisively for the battlespaces of tomorrow, delivering unmatched flexibility, survivability, and firepower wherever American interests demand.
