AV-8B/+, TAV-8B Harrier II
Developed by McDonnell Douglas,
the AV-8B was intended as a more
capable replacement for the
earlier AV-8A Harrier. It entered
service with marine attack training
squadron VMAT-203 at MCAS
Cherry Point, North Carolina, in
January 1984 and subsequently
achieved IOC with marine attack
squadron VMA-331 in August 1985.
The Harrier’s short take-o and
vertical landing (STOVL) capability
provides the MAGTF with a exible
tactical platform. In addition to
regular MEU deployments aboard
US Navy amphibious vessels the
AV-8B squadrons are regularly
tasked to support special purpose
marine air-ground task forces
(SPMAGTF). The type is tasked
with close air support (CAS),
interdiction and air-to-air missions.
In support of those the AV-8B can
carry a wide array of weapons on
seven stations including 500lb
(227kg) and 1,000lb (454kg)
laser-guided bombs, Joint Direct
Attack Munitions (JDAMs) and
Laser JDAMs, 2.75in (70mm)
unguided and laser-guided
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon
System (APKWS) rockets, AIM-9
and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles and
AGM-65 air-to-ground missiles. It
can also carry a 25mm cannon and
is compatible with the AN/AAQ-28
Litening Gen4 targeting pod.
The AV-8B rst ew in November
1981 and US Marine Corps Harriers
made their combat debut in 1991
during Operation ‘Desert Storm’.
Since 2003, the aircraft have own
more than 50,000 hours in combat
over Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and
Syria. The initial two-seat TAV-8B
ew for the rst time in St Louis,
Missouri, on October 21, 1986 and
deliveries to VMAT-203 began in
July 1987.
McDonnell Douglas delivered the
rst of 66 night attack variants in
September 1989. It was followed
by the AV-8B+, which rst ew in
prototype form in September 1992.
The new model, which featured
the AN/APG-65 radar, was rst
elded to VMA-542 at MCAS Cherry
Point in August 1993. The AV-8B+
retained the forward-looking
infra-red (FLIR) and night attackcapabilities incorporated on the
night attack variant. Production
ended in April 1993, when the
last of 27 new-build aircraft was
delivered; however, 74 earlier day
attack models were upgraded to
the later con guration. The marines
accepted the last of 259 AV-8Bs and
22 TAV-8Bs in September 2003.
The AV-8B is powered by a
single Rolls-Royce F402-RR-406
or -408 turbofan. It serves with
ve operational squadrons and
an FRS. Each of the operational
squadrons has a primary mission
aircraft inventory (PMAI) of 16
aircraft, which allows them to
deploy as a full 16-jet squadron,
a 10- or six-jet (MEU) squadron,
or an eight and eight-jet (MEU)
squadron. In accordance with the
most recent TACAIR transition
plan, the marines will maintain
ve squadrons until 2021 and
the two remaining west coast
VMAs will transition to the F-35B
by FY 2022. The training of new
aviators will conclude when the
FRS deactivates in FY 2026 and
VMA-231 will assume the role as
a eet replacement detachment.
Operations will continue at Cherry
Point until FY 2026. The Harrier
eet will be consolidated at Cherry
Point by 2022 and east coast units
will continue to support MEU and
squadron deployments until the
last AV-8Bs are retired.Recent upgrades added a video
downlink capability that allows
the Harrier to transmit live video
from the pod to the joint terminal
attack controllers/forward air
controllers (JTAC/FAC) via the
remote-operated video enhanced
receiver (ROVER) ground
station. Additionally, its weapon
capabilities were improved
through the incorporation of
the BRU-70/A digital improved
triple ejector rack (DITER), which
increases the aircraft’s smart
weapon carriage capability from
four weapons to as many as 10
500lb (227kg) GBU-38 JDAMs.
Planned upgrades will equip
the Harrier eet with the H6.2
operational ight program
(OFP) beginning in FY 2018. The
software will integrate a Link 16
positive position location and
identi cation (PPLI) capability
and FAA-compliant required
navigation performance/required
area navigation (RNP/RNAV)
capability. The subsequentH7.0 software upgrade will
provide the AV-8B+ with Link
16 full integration and AIM-9X
Block II capability. Software
reprogrammable payload (SRP)
radios will be integrated with
the airframe along with the AN/
ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II (IT II) V1
Block X electronic warfare pod,
which will provide the Harrier with
an expanded organic electronic
warfare capability.
As of December 2017, the Harrier
inventory included 126 aircraft
comprising 110 AV-8Bs and 16
two-seat TAV-8B trainers. The
single-seat models were further
broken down as 34 night attack
models and 76 radar-equipped
AV-8B+ models. The bulk of the
eet, comprising 74 aircraft,
was assigned to the 14th MAG
squadrons at MCAS Cherry Point,
while the 13th MAG at MCAS
Yuma had 32. Four additional
AV-8Bs supported development
and operational testing with VX-31
at NAWS China Lake, California.Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
VMA-214 ‘Black Sheep’
(see note 1) MCAS Yuma, Arizona AV-8B/AV-8B+ MAG-13 WE
VMA-223 ‘Bulldogs’ MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina AV-8B/AV-8B+ MAG-14 WP
VMA-231
‘Ace of Spades’MCAS Cherry Point,
North Carolina AV-8B/AV-8B+ MAG-14 CG
VMA-311 ‘Tomcats’
(see note 2) MCAS Yuma, Arizona AV-8B/AV-8B+ MAG-13 WL
VMA-542 ‘Flying Tigers’MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina AV-8B/AV-8B+ MAG-14 WH
VMAT-203 (FRS) ‘Hawks’MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina AV-8B, TAV-8B MAG-14 KD
VX-31 ‘Dust Devils’ NAWS China Lake, California AV-8B+ COTEF DD
1 VMA-214 will transition to the F-35B in mid-FY 2020.
2 VMA-311 will transition to the F-35B in FY 2022.An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Medium
Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) 162 (Reinforced),
of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU),
takes o from the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7).
USMC/Cpl Jon Sosner98US NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018
AIR POWER REVIEW
86-99 Marine Tables C.indd 98 01/06/2018 14:05