Here's What The US Marine Corps Actually Loses By Trading The AV-8B Harrier For The F-35B

The U.S. Marine Corps’ planned trade of the AV-8B Harrier II for the F-35B reflects both capability upgrades and operational losses, as the last operational Harrier concluded its final flight. The Marines’ VMA-223 “The Bulldogs” landed June 3 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, ending an operational era for the Harrier, which entered U.S. Marine service in 1971. Under the transition, the squadron will replace its “Jump Jets” with Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters for Marine “Lightning Carrier” forces, focused on close air support. The article attributes a major downside to the stealth fighter’s lower aircraft availability and reduced sortie-generation speed and cost efficiency versus the Harrier. It cites Government Accountability Office estimates of F-35B readiness averaging around 50%, with periods as low as 10% to 16%, and notes specialized maintenance environments limit rapid turnaround from austere airfields.