Spain Reinforces Harrier Extension Plan with First A330 MRTT Refuelling

 

Spain has taken a concrete step to sustain its carrier-based aviation capability, as a McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II from the Spanish Navy has successfully conducted its first air-to-air refuelling with an Airbus A330 MRTT operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force.

The milestone is more than a technical achievement. It directly supports Spain’s broader plan to extend the operational life of its Harrier fleet into the next decade, currently projected to reach around 2032. With no immediate replacement available, Madrid has opted to sustain and adapt its existing platform rather than pursue a near-term acquisition of a next-generation STOVL aircraft.

Integrating the Harrier with the A330 MRTT enhances operational flexibility in a way that was previously limited. Air-to-air refuelling significantly increases the aircraft’s range and endurance, allowing for longer missions, extended patrol times, and improved deployment options from sea-based platforms. In practical terms, it helps offset some of the inherent limitations of an aging fleet.

This development also reflects a growing level of joint integration between Spain’s naval and air forces. The A330 MRTT is becoming a central asset within Spain’s aerial refuelling capability, and its compatibility with multiple platforms—including legacy aircraft like the Harrier—broadens its operational value. It also aligns Spain more closely with NATO partners that rely on similar tanker platforms and procedures.

The timing is significant. Spain is already pursuing a sustainment strategy for the Harrier that includes cooperation with Airbus and the acquisition of spare parts from retiring fleets operated by allies such as the United States Marine Corps and the Italian Navy. Ensuring that the aircraft can operate effectively within a modern support ecosystem is essential if that plan is to succeed.

While the Harrier remains a unique asset due to its vertical/short takeoff and landing capabilities, keeping it operational into the 2030s will require continuous adaptation. The successful refuelling test with the A330 MRTT signals that Spain is not merely maintaining the aircraft, but actively integrating it into a more capable and flexible operational framework.

In that sense, this first refuelling is not just a milestone—it is a clear indication that Spain is doubling down on its decision to keep the Harrier flying.

Spain May Turn to Ex-USMC Harriers to Sustain Naval Air Power Beyond 2030

Spain’s naval aviation capability is approaching a critical transition phase, as the EAV-8B+ Harrier II Plus fleet of the Armada Española moves closer to the limits of its economical and technical service life. With no confirmed replacement programme in place and the F-35B procurement decision effectively frozen, attention is increasingly turning toward fleet sustainment strategies based on spare-parts acquisition and life extension.

According to well-connected Spanish naval aviation observers and specialist defence community reporting, Spain may seek to acquire a number of retired AV-8B+ aircraft from the United States Marine Corps, primarily as sources of spare parts, in order to extend the operational viability of its existing fleet into the early-to-mid 2030s.

One such report, shared by respected Spanish defence observer @mistercromer, suggests that up to 13 ex-USMC Harrier II Plus airframes, along with a substantial reserve of spare parts, could be made available to Spain. The same reporting indicates that an Italian option was explored but ultimately deemed unviable, though no official explanation has been provided.

While no formal confirmation exists, the scenario is widely considered operationally logical within naval aviation and defence logistics circles.

A Fleet Without a Clear Successor

The Armada Española currently operates around 11 EAV-8B+ Harrier II Plus aircraft, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I, which functions as Spain’s sole fixed-wing carrier aviation platform.

However, the absence of a confirmed replacement — particularly the political decision to postpone or suspend procurement of the F-35B — has left Spanish naval planners with no viable near-term alternative.

With no European STOVL combat aircraft under development, Spain now faces a looming capability gap, in which Harrier retirement would result in the complete loss of fixed-wing embarked aviation.

Why Spare-Part Harvesting Makes Strategic Sense

Both the United States Marine Corps and the Italian Navy are in the process of retiring their Harrier fleets as they transition to the F-35B. Once this transition is complete, Spain would become the sole remaining frontline Harrier operator worldwide.

From a logistics standpoint, this presents severe challenges:

• Collapse of the global Harrier spare parts ecosystem
• Reduced access to overhaul facilities
• Rising maintenance and sustainment costs
• Increased fleet grounding risk

In this context, acquiring entire retired airframes as donor aircraft becomes the most efficient method of sustaining fleet operations. Cannibalisation of surplus jets allows operators to maintain availability when original manufacturing and supplier networks are no longer economically viable.

Defence analysts consistently note that ultra-small fast-jet fleets require disproportionate logistical investment, making stockpiling of critical components essential for survival beyond 2030.

Signals from the Specialist Community

Discussion within specialist military aviation forums and defence journalism circles has increasingly highlighted:

Quiet coordination between US and European naval aviation planners

Internal studies assessing Harrier sustainment pathways beyond 2030

The logistical fragility of single-operator combat aircraft fleets

These conversations, while informal, consistently point toward spare-parts harvesting as the only realistic bridge strategy available to Spain until a political decision on future naval aviation is reached.

Operational Reality: A Matter of Physics, Not Policy

From an operational perspective, Spain’s strategic dilemma is governed by physical constraints, not political preferences.

Without STOVL aircraft, Juan Carlos I cannot operate fixed-wing jets, reducing the vessel to a helicopter-only platform and sharply limiting strrike reach, deterrence value, coalition interoperability and power projection

As a result, extending Harrier operations becomes a strategic necessity, not simply a budgetary decision.

Spain’s apparent pursuit of retired USMC Harriers as spare-parts donors reflects a pragmatic response to strategic uncertainty. While not a substitute for a long-term fleet replacement plan, it offers a temporary stabilisation mechanism, preventing the abrupt collapse of naval air power.

It buys time, but it is not a solution, delays — but does not solve — the carrier aviation dilemma

Risks locking Spain into progressively diminishing operational relevance

Unless Madrid commits either to F-35B acquisition or to a fundamentally new carrier aviation architecture, Spain’s fixed-wing naval air capability will likely remain in strategic limbo throughout the next decade.

In that sense, Harrier life extension is best understood as a defensive strategic bridge — not a destination.

Russian Su-24 buzzing Spanish carrier Juan Carlos I as it was about to launch AV-8Bs during NATO BALTOPS 2019

Flagship of the Spanish Navy Juan Carlos I was buzzed by a Russian Su-24 this week while the amphibious assault ship was preparing to launch its AV-8B fighters during Exercise Baltops.
okdiario

Despite Pressures From China, Taiwan Might Procure Harriers

Taiwan will have the opportunity to procure refurbished AV-8 Harrier Jump Jets as the US Marine Corps (USMC) begins replacing the aircraft with F-35B stealth fighters, said US government sources.
The Harriers will be offered to Taiwan through the Pentagon’s Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program under the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The AV-8 would fulfill Taiwan’s much-needed vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) requirement. China is expected to destroy Taiwan’s air bases within the first few hours of a war with its estimated 1,400 short-range ballistic missile arsenal and the Harrier’s V/STOL capability will allow the Taiwan air force to maintain air operations by hiding the aircraft in the mountainous interior.
A US defense industry analyst working in Taiwan said that it was a “great idea,” but the USMC’s AV-8s are “too worn to be of much sustainable service value, at least not without some, probably very costly, structural rehabilitation and avionics upgrade.”
The Taiwan Air Force is not crazy about the AV-8 and there is tremendous pressure to continue efforts to secure procurement of the F-35B short take-off and vertical landing aircraft (STOVL) aircraft.
defensenews

The Rise And Fall Of The Argentine Air Force

There was a time when the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentine Air Force) was considered to be one of the best Air Forces in Latin America, if not the world. Created into its own independent entity out of the Argentine Army in 1945, the Argentine Air Force began a massive modernization program which saw them becoming the first country in South America to operate jet aircraft.
This occurred when they took delivery of British made Gloster Meteors in 1947. As well as operating a formidable bomber force that was made up of Avro Lincolns and Lancasters, all of which were also acquired from Britain.
In later years, Argentina went as far as attempting to develop their own indigenous jet aircraft with the aid of former Luftwaffe personnel and other German engineers. A program which resulted in the creation of the FMA IAe 33Pulqui II, making Argentina the first country in Latin America to develop its own jet aircraft and 6th in the world to do so. Even though the Pulqui never entered service (the Government had decided to purchase F-86 Sabers from the U.S. Instead.) , it still showed just what the Argentine Air Force was truly capable of and as the years passed, they continued to build up its fleet by adding newer and more advanced aircraft to its already impressive line up.
But that all changed in the 1980’s, the Falklands War in 1982. Where in an attempt to shift attention away from their troubled economy, the Military Junta which ruled the Latin American country at the time, invaded the British Territories of East and West Falklands.
Thinking that the British government (who had supplied Argentina with a number of military equipment in the years before the invasion) would be unable, if not unwilling, to commit military forces to retake the islands.
The resulting conflict saw the Argentine Air Force sustain heavy losses, losing dozens of fighters, helicopters, cargo aircraft, and even two Canberra Bombers, the majority of which were shot down by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Harrier jets.
Many had believed to be no match for Argentina’s fleet of supersonic Mirage jet fighters.
By contrast, the Argentine Air Force could only boast of one air to air kill when 2 IA-58 counter-insurgency aircraft shot down a scout helicopter during the battle of Goose Green. Even though both the air force and navy had gained some successes during the conflict, it still was not enough to secure a victory for Argentina as the British were able to retake the islands just after two months since the war began. It also did not help that a number of aircraft and equipment had been captured and shipped back to Britain after the Argentine surrender.
The years following the war saw the Argentine military as a whole and especially the Argentine Air Force , took a sharp decline as the country’s economy worsened and traditional arms suppliers placed arms embargos on their former client.
This saw the Latin American nation unable to procure new assets. After some of these embargoes were lifted in the 1990s and Argentina was able to acquire upgraded A-4s from the United States, the military still continued their steady decline throughout the decade and into the 2000s.
Today, the Argentine Air Force is nothing more than a shadow of its former self. 2015 saw the Argentine Air Force retiring their remaining Mirage and Dagger Fighters, as their airframes had reached a point where they were no longer safe to fly.
Leaving only their remaining fleet of A-4AR “Fighthawks” and IA-63 advanced jet trainers to fill the gap left by these aircraft. Both of which are unsuited for air to air combat and are largely outmatched by aircraft used by their neighbors Chile and Brazil. Even more so, a shortage of spare parts could also see their A-4 fleet being grounded in the near future.
Recent attempts to acquire new aircraft such as the Chinese JF-17, the Swedish Saab Gripen (which is made with British components) and even secondhand Kifr jets from Israel have all failed due to either technological, political, or economic restrictions suffered by the Argentine government.
Problems in the air force also extend to their fleet of C-130 transport aircraft, as their airframes are starting to show their age. These aircraft provide a vital component of the air force, as they are used to not only supply Argentina’s arctic bases, but also assist in supplying their peace keeping contingents in Haiti and Cyprus. Though these aircraft have undergone major upgrades, and Argentina has shown interest in acquiring new aircraft to replace the C-130s, it is unknown whether if they would be able to keep their current fleet flying for long, or even if they will have a transport wing as the economic situation in the country worsens.
It is believed that in the years to come, the Argentine Air Force will cease to exist as a major military component of the Argentine Armed Forces and with an economy in shambles and embargoes still in place due to the Falklands war, it is still unknown whether if the Argentine Air Force will ever fully recover. It is possible that what was once Latin America’s most formidable air forces, maybe flying into the sunset for the last time.
defensionem

U.S. Marines to Retire Harrier Fleet Earlier Than Planned, Extend Life of Hornets

The U.S. Marine Corps will phase out the AV-8B Harrier II by 2025 — about five years earlier than planned — and will instead extend the life of its fleet of aging Boeing F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters, according to the service’s recently released 2015 aviation plan.
In previous years, the service had said it would replace its increasingly older fleet of original model Boeing F/A-18A – D Hornet strike fighters before retiring the Harriers before replacing both fighters with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Now, the Harrier will be retired in 2025 and the Hornets will hang on until 2029 for the active duty Marines.
The Marine short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B is planned to operational in the summer of 2015 will eventually replace the Harrier.
The Hornets will finally leave the Marine inventory in 2030 when the reserve component transitions to the F-35B.
The first Harrier squadron to transition to the F-35B will be VMA-211, which will make the switch in Fiscal Year 2016 (FY 2016). If all goes according to plan, the entire West Coast Harrier force will transition to the JSF by 2020.
The remaining East Coast Harriers will be retired 2025. In the meantime—since the AV-8B still has another 11 years to go in service—the Marines will focus on improving the fleet’s readiness.
The Marines will also continue to modernize the aging jet. The jet will receive new ALE-47 V2 countermeasures dispenser, ALR-67 radar warning receivers and ALQ-164 electronic countermeasures pods. The Harriers will also be modified with variable message format terminals, full Link-16 data-link capability and possibly the Tactical Targeting Network Technologies high-speed data-link.
With full integration of the fourth generation Litening pod, it will be able to self-designate the AGM-65E missiles and GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions.
The Marines are also planning on integrating the AIM-120C/D AMRAAM and AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missiles onto the AV-8B. Flight testing of the AMRAAM onboard the Harrier is slated for 2016.
usni.org

US Marines Harrier strikes Islamic State for the first time

A Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier has struck an Islamic State target near the Haditha Dam in Iraq.
The strike occurred on Monday, and involved a Harrier from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit operating from the amphibious ship Bataan.
It was the first time that a Marine unit dropped ordnance in the current fight against Islamic State.
marinecorpstimes

Spain to extend AV-8B Harrier service life

The Spanish Navy has been promised EUR70.3 million for extending the lifespan of its Harrier EAV-8B carrier-borne strike aircraft beyond 2025.
The allocation was announced by the cabinet on 23 May, five months after the Chief of Navy Staff, warned that the Armada's fixed-wing capability could be coming to an end.
A government statement said the investment was necessary because funds were not available to buy replacement aircraft to operate from the service's sole flat top, the Juan Carlos I .
The opportunity to extend the programme of our EAV-8B Plus Harrier has opened up because the United States is also going to extend the useful life of its Harrier aircraft, in the face of development delays with the new vertical take-off F-35 JSF.
Spain has a joint programme with the United States for the Harrier, which was set up in 1990 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for development and support that also included Italy.
A 10-year agreement covering post-production and life-cycle support, in which those three countries were joined by the United Kingdom, was signed in 2004 and is due to run out on 9 December.
Speaking at a press briefing in January, spanish chief of Navy Staff said the only possible replacement for the Harrier was the F-35.
But as Spain had not been involved in the project from the start, trying to join at a late stage would make the aircraft "very expensive".
He warned then that the navy's Harriers would need to be retired between 2020 and 2025 and that "we have to start thinking, to see if we can come up with a replacement".
The AV-8B was acquired originally for the Armada's first modern aircraft carrier, Principe de Asturias , which was decommissioned in December 2013, following the commissioning of the much larger Juan Carlos I .
janes

Royal Navy recommissions training squadron

Britain's Royal Navy has quietly recommissioned a fighter squadron to train the next generation of aviators who will eventually fly from the decks of its new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
736 Naval Air Squadron has been back in business for almost a year. It was formed from a civilian-run operation used to help train navy ships how to defend themselves from air attacks and flies Hawk T1 aircraft.
The history of the unit dates froem 1943 when it was established as an air combat training squadron for pilots of the Fleet Air Arm. It has operated classic navy jets including the Sea Vampire, Sea Hawk, Scimitar and Buccaneer.
Naval jet flying in Britain ceased with the 2010 Ministry of Defence decision to retire the Harrier.
dailymail

Ejercicio SIRIO 2014 fase TORMENTA

Con el regreso de los aviones de combate a sus respectivas unidades, concluye la última fase del Ejercicio ‘Sirio 2014’ organizado por el Mando Aéreo de Combate del Ejército del Aire. Las 34 aeronaves de combate que durante esta semana han permanecido en la Base Aérea de Zaragoza para el desarrollo de la fase ‘Tormenta’, regresarán a las bases de Badajoz, Albacete, Sevilla, Torrejón y Canarias, o a Rota, en el caso de los Harrier de la Armada.
El Ejercicio Sirio-Tormenta, el más importante que realiza cada el Ejército del Aire.
En la fase ‘Tormenta’ del ejercicio se han ejecutado misiones ofensivas planeadas y dirigidas bajo la dirección del Mando Aéreo de Combate.
ejercitodelaire

Spanish Navy withdraws 25% of their Harrier by cuts and Only 10% of Army is combat Ready - La Armada da de baja el 25% de sus cazas Harrier por los recortes. Solo el 10% del Ejército está listo para combatir

Budget cuts have not only forced the Navy to terminate the Prince of Asturias, the only aircraft available to it (which will be supplied , in part, by the strategic projection ship Juan Carlos I, suitable for takeoff and decision aircraft ) , but a quarter of its fleet of Harrier aircraft.
Four of the 16 Harrier will be out of service due to the lack of funds for modernization and the high cost of maintenance. These older units , four AV- 8B Harrier that had not been transformed into the AV- 8B Harrier II Plus version includes a radar, among other improvements. The fleet will be thus reduced to 12 units (plus training ) whose operational life is expected to conclude in 2020. Thereafter , Spain should buy a replacement if you want to continue to have embarked aviation , which is not guaranteed , as the only candidate today is the U.S. F-35 with a prohibitive price .
The Air Force also runs the risk of losing one of its main capabilities : strategic refueling . One of two Boeing 707 that fulfilled this function and has been discharged and the other should be in two years. The Air Force has five KC -130 Hercules refueling , but its performance is not comparable to the B- 707. The solution is to buy two Airbus 330 tanker aircraft , but each one costs about 200 million and so far there is no budget . Meanwhile, Spain will not contribute, as the conflict in Libya ( 2011) , strategic refueling aircraft . Ejército del Aire is going to lost this ability.

Furthermore only 10% of the Spanish Armed Forces are ready to fight .
The Spanish Armed Forces in 2014 facing its most difficult year due to the continuing budget cuts in recent years . Restrictions continue in the medium term and the current structure is unsustainable.
The Spanish Armed Forces have launched a plan to ensure the operability of the core of the Armed Forces, called Joint Task Force , which will prevail in the allocation of scarce resources.
Since 2008 the defense budget was reduced by 32 %, from 8.494 million to 5.745 in 2014. The military got two outstanding loans that only served to settle debts with military industries. The money was not intended to pay maneuvers , fuel or ammunition to ensure operability.
Until now, the lack of resources has been supplied with funds for missions abroad , financed outside the regular budget starting with expandable in 2013 has touched 800 million . These missions have served to units participating in the same receive intense training , complete their templates and cover their deficiencies in equipment and supplies. The RG -31 armored mine or Lynx have bought with that extra money.
The Defense Ministry plan goes through concentrating resources on a force of "high quality" to give a " quick and effective" response when the government demands. Joint Action Force must be prepared to intervene in a maximum of one month from receiving the activation command Although some of their units , the rapid reaction , have a period of less deployment . in five , 15 or 20 days.
Joint Force will be part fighter and transport, frigates or armored units and special operations , but will not always be the same , when a ship is in dry dock for maintenance or fault will replace another of the same characteristics.
The joint force will total about 10,000 soldiers. Ie about 8 % of the 123,000 diponibles .

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Los recortes presupuestarios no solo han obligado a la Armada a dar de baja prematuramente al Príncipe de Asturias, el único portaviones de que disponía (que será suplido, en parte, por el buque de proyección estratégica Juan Carlos I, apto para el despegue y toma de aeronaves), sino la cuarta parte de su flota de aviones Harrier.
Cuatro de los 16 Harrier quedarán fuera de servicio, ante la falta de fondos para modernizarlos y el alto coste de su mantenimiento. Se trata de los aparatos más antiguos, los cuatro Harrier AV-8B que no habían sido transformados a la versión AV-8B Harrier II Plus que incorpora un radar, entre otras mejoras. La flota quedará así reducida a 12 unidades (más una de entrenamiento) cuya vida operativa está previsto que concluya en 2020. A partir de entonces, España debería comprar un sustituto si quiere seguir contando con aviación embarcada, lo que no está garantizado, pues el único candidato hoy por hoy es el F-35 estadounidense, con un precio prohibitivo.
También el Ejército del Aire corre el riesgo de perder una de sus principales capacidades: el reabastecimiento estratégico en vuelo. Uno de los dos Boeing 707 que cumplía esta función ya ha sido dado de baja y el otro debería serlo en dos años. La Fuerza Aérea dispone de cinco Hércules KC-130 para reabastecimiento, pero sus prestaciones no son comparables a las del B-707. La solución es comprar dos aviones cisterna Airbus 330, pero cada uno cuesta unos 200 millones y hasta ahora no hay presupuesto. Mientras, España no podrá aportar, como en el conflicto de Libia (2011), un avión de reabastecimiento estratégico. Está a punto de perder esta capacidad.

Por otra parte solo el 10% del Ejército está listo para combatir.
Las Fuerzas Armadas españolas se enfrentan en 2014 a su año más difícil debido a los persistentes recortes presupuestarios de los últimos años. Las restricciones seguirán a medio plazo y la estructura actual es insostenible.
Las Fuerzas Armadas Españolas han puesto en marcha un plan destinado a garantizar la operatividad del núcleo de las Fuerzas Armadas, la llamada Fuerza Conjunta, a la que se primará en la asignación de recursos escasos.
Desde 2008 el presupuesto de Defensa se ha reducido un 32%, pasando de 8.494 millones a 5.745 en 2014. Las Fuerzas Armadas consiguieron dos créditos extraordinarios que solo sirvieron para saldar deudas con las industrias militares. El dinero no fue destinado a pagar maniobras, combustible o munición para garantizar la operatividad.
Hasta ahora, la falta de recursos se ha suplido con los fondos destinados a las misiones en el exterior, que se financian al margen del presupuesto ordinario con una partida ampliable que en 2013 ha rozado los 800 millones. Estas misiones han servido para que las unidades que participaban en las mismas recibieran un intenso entrenamiento, completasen sus plantillas y cubrieran sus carencias en equipos y pertrechos. Los blindados antiminas RG-31 o Lince se han comprado con ese dinero extra.
El plan del Ministerio de Defensa pasa por concentrar los recursos en una fuerza de “alta calidad" para dar una respuesta “rápida y efectiva” cuando el Gobierno lo demande. La Fuerza de Acción Conjunta deberá estar preparada para intervenir en un máximo de un mes desde que reciba la orden de activación. Aunque algunas de sus unidades, las de reacción rápida, dispondrán de un plazo de despliegue inferior: en cinco, 15 o 20 días.
De la Fuerza Conjunta formarán parte aviones de caza y transporte, fragatas o unidades blindadas y de operaciones especiales, pero no serán siempre las mismas; cuando un buque esté en dique seco por avería o mantenimiento lo sustituirá otro de las mismas características.
La Fuerza Conjunta contará en total con unos 10.000 militares. Es decir, en torno al 8% de los 123.000 disponibles.

El País-Spanish Navy withdraws 25% of their Harrier by cuts
El País-Only 10% of the Army is ready to fight

Spanish fighter jets fire up Gibraltar strife

Four Spanish air force Matador jets entered Gibraltar's airspace from the northwest on Wednesday while apparently on their way to an aircraft carrier that was about 12 nautical miles southeast of the territory, the government of Gibraltar said in a statement.
"At no time did the aircraft make contact with Gibraltar's air-traffic control and the Spanish air traffic authorities in Seville gave no warning of the aircrafts' approach," it said.
Air traffic controllers in Seville delayed the departure from Gibraltar of a British Airways flight to London for 12 minutes until it was safe for it to take off, the statement added.
The government of Gibraltar has called on Britain "to take up the matter of this military incursion into the airspace of Gibraltar at the highest diplomatic and military levels."
Last week British Prime Minister David Cameron protested to his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy at a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels over allegations that Spanish police fired shots at a jet ski in the contested waters around Gibraltar.
Madrid has flatly denied accusations that Spanish military-linked Guardia Civil police fired shots while chasing a jet ski on June 23 in waters off Gibraltar and it has criticized Britain for giving credence to rumours.
A Spanish foreign office spokesman said an incident involving a jet ski did take place but that no shots were fired.
In November, Spain and Britain summoned each other's ambassadors in a spat over a series of naval incidents around the small but strategically situated territory.
thelocal

US Marine Corps studying Harrier enhancements

The US Marine Corps is studying potential enhancements for the Boeing AV-8B Harrier II jump-jet to keep the aircraft relevant to its planned 2030 retirement date.
Boeing and the USMC are contemplating adding upgrades such as a Link 16 enhancement and variable message format datalinks to the aircraft.
Later additions might include expanded weapons capability, such as adding the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile to the jet's arsenal and a helmet-mounted cueing system. Other possible upgrades include updated sensors, with particular emphasis on the aircraft's Raytheon APG-65 radar, Praiss says.
The USMC originally planned to keep the Harrier in service only until 2015, but in the past few years decided to keep the aircraft in use for far longer. The majority of the Harrier fleet will now remain in operation until 2027.
The decision was partly driven by delays in the Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter programme, but also the realisation that the venerable aircraft has far more life left on the 134-airframe fleet than the service's increasingly fatigued legacy Boeing F/A-18A/B/C/D inventory.
flightglobal

Despedida del Portaaviones ‘Príncipe de Asturias’ tras 25 años de servicio

Su Alteza Real el Príncipe de Asturias, acompañado por el ministro de Defensa, el jefe del Estado Mayor de la Armada y otras autoridades militares ha presidido hoy en la base naval de Rota la ceremonia oficial de despedida del portaaviones ‘Príncipe de Asturias’, tras 25 años de servicio.
A su llegada, después de ser recibido por las autoridades, S.A.R. Don Felipe de Borbón asistió a una conferencia sobre la historia del portaaviones.
Desde el Puente de Mando, el Príncipe de Asturias ha presenciado una demostración aeronaval, en la que cuatro aviones ‘Harrier AV8’ pertenecientes a la 9ª Escuadrilla de la Flotilla de Aeronaves de la Armada realizaron una pasada sobre el buque, finalizando con la toma y despegue en cubierta.
La parada naval finalizó con un desfile aéreo compuesto de tres helicópteros ‘AB 212’ de la 3ª Escuadrilla, tres helicópteros ‘Seaking SH3D’ de la 5ª Escuadrilla, tres helicópteros ‘HUGES 500’ de la 6ª Escuadrilla y tres aviones ‘Harrier’.
Una vez finalizada la demostración aeronaval, Don Felipe cerró con su firma el Libro de Honor del buque.
Su Alteza Real desembarcó pilotando un helicóptero SH-60 de la 10ª Escuadrilla de Aeronaves, en la que ha sido la última operación de vuelo del portaaviones.
El portaaviones ‘Príncipe de Asturias’ continúa su periplo hasta Ferrol, donde concluirá su vida operativa.

armada

FRC East delivers first Italian AV-8

Col. Mitchell A. Bauman, Fleet Readiness Center East Commanding Officer, stands with the first Italian Navy AV-8 to undergo planned maintenance and modification work at the facility. FRC East recently completed the extensive aircraft upgrades in 201 days—19 days earlier than projected and more than $275,000 under estimated costs. RADM Paolo Treu, Commander of Italian Naval Aviation, expressed his thanks to FRC East, writing, “Please convey my deepest admiration and appreciation to your ‘artisans’…they did a fantastic job.” The next Italian Harrier to be modified should arrive at FRC East by early January 2013.
navair.navy

Taliban attacks Camp Bastion, two USMC Harriers damaged or destroyed

The Taliban attacked the air base where Prince Harry is deployed and managed to breach the airport security perimeter.

They managed to set an aircraft hangar on fire and damaged or destroyed two of the eight USMC Harrier jets parked there.

(learn more)

Completadas pruebas de vuelo de AV 8B de la Armada Española/CASSIDIAN completes prototype test flights in Harrier modernisation programme

El primer Harrier modernizado por Cassidian para la Armada Española ha completado su vuelo de pruebas.
+info
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The prototype aircraft in the Harrier Upgrade programme for the Spanish Navy has completed its test flight programme and is now at the Rota Naval Base facilities.
+info
Q

La RAF retira los Harrier hoy/ UK Harriers to make final operational flights today

Las operaciones de los Harrier Harrier GR9/9A con la RAF han finalizado hoy, Una formación de 16 aviones ha realizado pasadas desde Cottesmore hacia los aeródromos de Wyton, Cranwell, Waddington, Scampton, Coningsby, Stamford, Lincoln y Oakham, antes de volver a Cottesmore.
Las operaciones hubieran continuado hasta 2018, fecha prevista de la llegada del F-35, pero el gobierno decidió la retirada inmmediata.
(leer más)
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Operations with the UK’s BAE Systems Harrier GR9/9A ground-attack aircraft will come to an end today, with the nation’s Joint Force Harrier organisation to perform a final series of sorties from the Royal Air Force’s Cottesmore base in Rutland.
The farewell is to involve a 16-aircraft formation which will perform flypasts at the RAF’s facilities at Wyton, Cranwell, Waddington, Scampton and Coningsby and also over Stamford, Lincoln and Oakham before returning to land at Cottesmore. The aircraft should take off from around 13:15 local time and land around 90min later, the Ministry of Defence says.
Operations with the UK’s Harriers were due to have continued until at least 2018, when it was to have transitioned to Lockheed Martin’s short take-off and vertical landing F-35B. However, the nation’s coalition government in late October announced a decision to retire the current type by 31 March 2011.
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Harrier con esquema de pintura "Retro"/ ‘Retro’ Harrier breaks cover

Un Harrier GR9 basado en RAF Cottesmore ha sido pintado en un tono de camuflaje ‘retro’ para commemorar la inminente retirada del modelo de la RAF.
El esquema de pintura es similar al que portaban los primeros Harrier en entrar en servicio en 1969..
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A Harrier GR9 based at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland has been painted in a gloss camouflage ‘retro’ scheme to mark the imminent retirement of the aircraft from Royal Air Force service.
The scheme echoes that applied to the Harrier GR1 when it entered service at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire in 1969. The aircraft is set to be the centrepiece of a final salute to the Harrier at Cottesmore on Wednesday and is planned to lead a 16-aircraft formation that will fly over seven military airfields, the town centres of Stamford and Oakham and Lincoln Cathedral before landing back at RAF Cottesmore for the last time.
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Los Harrier británicos van abandonando sus bases/ Harriers make final flights from RAF Wittering

Los Harrier GR9 del IV Squadron de la RAF ha realizado sus últimos vuelos desde su base de Wittering y pronto volarán a su destino final en RAF Cottesmore.
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The RAF Harrier GR9s from IV Squadron have made their last official flights from RAF Wittering and will depart for good to RAF Cottesmore.
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