Talyn
Emissary
With the sunsetting of the AV-8B in USMC service in May, it is refreshing to see these images from the recently concluded Neptune Strike 26-3 of Spanish AV-8Bs (the world’s youngest Harriers) of Novena Escuadrilla (9th Squadron, the Spanish Navy’s sole fixed-wing fighter aircraft unit), doing their thing in the Atlantic aboard the 26,000-ton carrier SPS Juan Carlos I (L 61).
The country recently acquired five retired USMC Harrier airframes for spare parts cannibalization, and the Spanish intend to be the final user of the type, scheduled to sunset in 2032.
laststandonzombieisland.com
The Italian Navy is set to retire its last Harriers by 2029, and could pass on its final cache of parts to the NATO ally at that point.
The last American Harriers were 68 AV-8B+(R)-25/26/27-MC models which were remanufactured (“REMAN”) from 74 earlier airframes between 1997 and 2003, with the last delivered being BuNo 166288 (ex-163665). That final airframe, last Modex 18 of VMA-223, completed its final flight in March 2026, a fly-in to the NNAM in Pensacola for preservation two months before U.S. Harrier operations wound down.
Just 340 precious American-made B-series Harriers were delivered to all countries of all types, including AV-8B attack jets, TAV-8B two-seat trainers, and YAV-8B prototypes.
The country recently acquired five retired USMC Harrier airframes for spare parts cannibalization, and the Spanish intend to be the final user of the type, scheduled to sunset in 2032.
The Harrier Still Serves…
With the sunsetting of the AV-8B in USMC service in May, it is refreshing to see these images from the recently concluded Neptune Strike 26-3 of Spanish AV-8Bs (the world’s youngest Harriers)…
laststandonzombieisland.com
The Italian Navy is set to retire its last Harriers by 2029, and could pass on its final cache of parts to the NATO ally at that point.
The last American Harriers were 68 AV-8B+(R)-25/26/27-MC models which were remanufactured (“REMAN”) from 74 earlier airframes between 1997 and 2003, with the last delivered being BuNo 166288 (ex-163665). That final airframe, last Modex 18 of VMA-223, completed its final flight in March 2026, a fly-in to the NNAM in Pensacola for preservation two months before U.S. Harrier operations wound down.
Just 340 precious American-made B-series Harriers were delivered to all countries of all types, including AV-8B attack jets, TAV-8B two-seat trainers, and YAV-8B prototypes.
with the coast guard 