• • CONTACTS
  • • PRIVACY POLICY
  • • GADGETS & TECHNOLOGIES
AERONAUT.media
  • NEWS:
  • • Aviation
  • • UAVs & drones
  • • Flying weapon
  • • Space
  • ARTICLES
  • Language:
  • EN
  • UA
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS:
  • • Aviation
  • • UAVs & drones
  • • Flying weapon
  • • Space
  • ARTICLES
  • Language:
  • EN
  • UA
No Result
View All Result
AERONAUT.media
No Result
View All Result
Home News Aviation news

Last AV-8B Harrier Attack Jet Delivered to U.S. Navy

Svitlana Anisimova by Svitlana Anisimova
30/10/2024
in Aviation news
0
FRCE AV-8B Harrier
2
SHARES
19
VIEWS

The U.S. Marine Corps is continuing its plan to retire all AV-8B Harrier II aircraft by 2026, and the Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE—a maintenance and repair base for naval aviation under the Navy’s Air Systems Command) has delivered the last Harrier jet to the 223rd Marine Attack Squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.

FRCE’s maintenance base supports the operational readiness of various military aircraft, handling maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aviation assets for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. To honor its longstanding partnership with the Harrier II, the FRCE team held a ceremony in the AV-8 hangar, where FRCE Commander Captain Randy Berti, along with AV-8B weapons system program office leaders, recognized the dedication and skill of the attack jet maintenance team.

FRCE AV-8B Harrier

FRCE has been supporting maintenance for the AV-8B Harrier since 1973, starting with the AV-8A model and its F402 engine, playing a crucial role in extending the platform’s service life. Now, as the Marine Corps transitions to F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the FRCE Harrier maintenance team is adapting its knowledge and expertise to this new platform. Many technicians who dedicated a significant part of their careers to the AV-8B Harrier are now facing this transition.

“The F-35 is the next step in capability development, allowing us to continue supporting the Marine Corps mission into the future,” said Mike Stewart, head of aircraft overhaul and maintenance.

FRCE AV-8B Harrier

Business operations specialist Jeff Broughton added that the Harrier team set a high standard for efficiency, often completing repairs faster than initially expected. This track record of meeting and exceeding targets has solidified FRCE’s reputation as a reliable repair center within the AV-8 community.

He recalled how the team swiftly restored an AV-8 damaged in the attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. This occurred on September 14, 2012, when Taliban insurgents breached Camp Bastion’s perimeter, targeting the runway where the attack jets were stationed. The assault was highly organized, lasted several hours, and resulted in the destruction of six AV-8B Harriers and damage to two more. The attack also claimed the lives of two Marines. This incident remains a significant chapter in Marine Corps history, as they rebuilt the squadron with additional AV-8B Harriers and the support needed to restore VMA-211 to combat readiness.

FRCE AV-8B Harrier

“Knowing the circumstances motivated us to quickly return the aircraft to the squadron, and we managed to complete the work a week ahead of schedule and within budget,” said Jeff Broughton. “This was possible thanks to the team’s commitment to supporting combat readiness.”

Following the official end of the AV-8 program, Ike Rettenmaier, head of FRCE’s AV-8 and F-35 repair divisions, reflected on the legacy of the Harrier, which he has supported for 30 years—from his time as a mechanic in the Marine Corps to his current leadership role. “We’ve been fortunate to work with some of the fleet’s most dedicated individuals. As we move to the next generation, we’ll continue to support it with the same commitment to excellence,” he stated.

FRCE employs around 4,000 civilians, military personnel, and contractors, making it the largest maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in North Carolina, with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion.

Source: theaviationist

Tags: NewsUSA
ShareTweetShareShareShareSharePin1
Previous Post

The UK Tests New Laser Aircraft Defense System

Next Post

MUSHER Project Demonstrated Interaction Between Helicopters and Drones

Svitlana Anisimova

Svitlana Anisimova

I'm addicted to books and stationery, and love everything with flour, sugar, and the hate-to-love trope. Have a lot of guilty pleasures for one girl, and don’t feel guilty about it.

RelatedPosts

Gripen
Aviation news

Gripen Fighters Intercept Russian Su-30 Aircraft Near Sweden

23/06/2025
129
NH90
Aviation news

Airbus and Leonardo Begin Study on NH90 Block 2 Helicopter Upgrade

23/06/2025
107
Shenyang J-15
Aviation news

Dangerous Skies: Chinese Fighter Jets Make Risky Approach to Japanese Aircraft

13/06/2025
44
Helix
Aviation news

Revolutionary Aircraft Design Unveiled, Promising 90% Fuel Consumption Reduction

12/06/2025
644
B-2
Aviation news

U.S. Tests New Maritime Version of JDAM: B-2 Spirit Now Capable of Targeting Ships

12/06/2025
629
Boom Supersonic XB-1
Aviation news

U.S. Lifts Ban on Supersonic Flights Over Land After Half a Century

10/06/2025
709
Next Post
MUSHER

MUSHER Project Demonstrated Interaction Between Helicopters and Drones

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Mastodon
  • RSS
  • Twitter

RSS Gadgets & Technologies

  • ChatGPT Destroys the Competition: Era of Super Apps Has Arrived 24/06/2025
  • Sonic X Shadow Generations for Switch 2 review: The Ultimate Version 23/06/2025
  • Gripen Fighters Intercept Russian Su-30 Aircraft Near Sweden 23/06/2025
  • Airbus and Leonardo Begin Study on NH90 Block 2 Helicopter Upgrade 23/06/2025
  • AliExpress Premiere: POCO F7 Announced with 6500mAh Battery 23/06/2025

Recent Comments

  • Vladyslav Surkov on A-10 Thunderbolt II Attack Aircraft Escort Nuclear Submarine Wyoming During Drills
  • Vladyslav Surkov on A-10 Thunderbolt II Attack Aircraft Escort Nuclear Submarine Wyoming During Drills

Recent Posts

  • Gripen Fighters Intercept Russian Su-30 Aircraft Near Sweden
  • Airbus and Leonardo Begin Study on NH90 Block 2 Helicopter Upgrade
  • China Unveils the World’s First Electronic Warfare System Capable of Jamming F-35 Radar
  • U.S. Unveils New AGM-181A LRSO Nuclear Cruise Missile for B-21 and B-52 Bombers
  • Dangerous Skies: Chinese Fighter Jets Make Risky Approach to Japanese Aircraft

SWITCH LANGUAGE:

  • EN
  • UA
  • • CONTACTS
  • • PRIVACY POLICY
  • • GADGETS & TECHNOLOGIES

© 2024-2025 AERONAUT.media

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS:
  • • Aviation
  • • UAVs & drones
  • • Flying weapon
  • • Space
  • ARTICLES
  • Language:
  • EN
  • UA

© 2024-2025 AERONAUT.media