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.

Biden Flies in New Marine One as U.S. Completes VH-92A Fleet

The U.S. Marine Corps has officially received the final batch of 23 new VH-92A Patriot helicopters, marking a significant update to the presidential transport fleet. These helicopters are most commonly known as Marine One when carrying the U.S. president. The last VH-92A was delivered during a ceremony held at Sikorsky's Owego, New York facility on August 14, 2024. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, has been working on these airframes as part of a long-term effort to replace the aging VH-3D Sea Kings and VH-60N White Hawks.

This milestone represents a culmination of efforts that began with the Obama administration and stretched through the Trump administration, following a series of delays related to communications systems and issues with the helicopter’s exhaust, which had previously scorched the White House South Lawn. Despite these challenges, the VH-92A has now been deemed operationally capable, marking the end of the long replacement process for the Vietnam-era helicopters.

The new VH-92A helicopters, based on the Sikorsky S-92 platform, are larger and more advanced than their predecessors, offering better performance, increased range, and enhanced communication systems. Two of the 23 helicopters will be designated for testing, while the remaining 21 will join the operational fleet. The VH-92A retains the iconic dark green and white livery of Marine One, continuing a tradition that has been in place for decades.

President Joe Biden took his inaugural flight aboard one of these new helicopters in August 2024, after arriving in Chicago on Air Force One for an event at the Democratic National Convention. This flight marked a crucial transition in the use of the VH-92A for presidential transport, as the aircraft has undergone extensive testing to ensure reliability and safety.

The VH-92A project faced delays due to technical challenges, including secure communications systems necessary for the president to conduct classified discussions and manage military operations during flights. Additionally, modifications were needed to prevent the helicopters from causing damage to grass landing zones. Nonetheless, these issues have reportedly been resolved, and the VH-92A is now ready to fully assume the role of transporting the president and other high-ranking officials. 

As these helicopters settle into service, the older VH-3D and VH-60N airframes will likely continue to operate in a limited capacity while the transition is finalized. The VH-92A marks the next chapter in Marine Helicopter Squadron One's mission, ensuring that the president can travel securely and efficiently for years to come.

US MARINES PATCH HMM-466 CH-53E SUPER STALLION MCAS MIRAMAR ''WOLFPACK''

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USMC F-35B conducts first combat strike in Afghanistan

The Marine Corps F-35B, Lightning II, conducted its first combat strike in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan, Sept. 27.
During this mission, the F-35B conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander.
The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is the first combat-deployed MEU to replace the AV-8B Harrier with the F-35B Lightning II. The F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 are currently embarked on the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) as part of Essex Amphibious Ready Group
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F-35B lands aboard amphib for first Indo-Pacific deployment on Navy ship

The F-35B Lightning II landed aboard the amphibious assault ship Wasp on March 5, the first time the aircraft has deployed aboard a U.S. Navy ship in the Indo-Pacific.
Assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Okinawa, Japan, the F-35B will aid the Expeditionary Strike Group in a routine patrol to strengthen regional alliances and provide rapid-response capabilities.
navytimes

The Marines Corps' CH-53E Super Stallion Fleet Is In Inexcusably Horrible Disrepair

The Marine Corps faces serious challenges with its aging CH-53E Super Stallion fleet. The huge and complex aircraft are decades old and tired from 15 years of war. A replacement is on the way, the CH-53K King Stallion, although it is behind schedule and still years away from becoming operational.
foxtrotalpha

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

U.S. Marine F-35Bs Will Operate From British Queen Elizabeth Carriers

The U.S. Marine Corps will deploy its Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II strike fighters on combat sorties from Britain’s new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, a senior U.K. Royal Navy officer has confirmed.
Responsible for delivering the two 65,000 ton ships, said that using Marine aircraft and pilots to bolster the U.K.’s nascent carrier strike capability would be a natural extension of coalition doctrine.
Each of the 284 m-long carriers, fitted with a ‘ski jump’ bow ramp instead of the catapults and arrester wires once planned, will accommodate up to 40 aircraft: short takeoff/vertical landing F-35B strike fighters, helicopters, or a blend of fixed-wing and rotary tailored to the mission in hand.
Britain took delivery of its first Lightning II aircraft in 2012 and currently has three; the fourth is due to roll off Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth production line in January 2016.
Britain’s F-35Bs are scheduled to arrive at Marham Air Base in eastern England in mid-2018, achieving initial operating capability by the end of that year. A deployable U.K. carrier strike capability should be ready by late 2020.
usni.org

US Marines fuel Spanish Typhoons fighters mid-flight

A Eurofighter Typhoon with the Spanish Air Force receives fuel from a U.S. Marine KC-130J Hercules with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, August 13, in Spain. A total of five Spanish pilots and their aircraft had the opportunity to practice their air-to-air refueling skills with the Marines.
dvidshub

U.S. Marines Complete F-35B Readiness Inspection

The U.S. Marine Corps has completed an operational readiness inspection (ORI) of its first F-35B squadron, the last major hurdle before the service can assess whether VMFA-121 in Yuma, Arizona, is suitable to declare initial operational capability (IOC).
aviationweek.com

Lockheed's F-35 Live-Bomb Drops Hit Targets

The first live-bomb drops for F-35 JSF in a nontest environment were successful as the Marine Corps gets ready to declare the jet combat ready.
Fourteen pilots dropped 30 weapons last week over a restricted area in southeastern California, and all of the high-explosive weapons went off.
"The weapons employment went extremely well and validated the simulated procedures pilots have been training to and gave us confidence in the jet's ability to perform with real weaponry as advertised. These were the first ordnance expenditures by a fleet squadron in a nontest environment," said Major Brendan Walsh, a pilot and operations officer, in an emailed statement to IBD.
news.investors

F-35B begins 'ski-jump' trials for carrier operations

The F-35 has begun ground-based trials of the 'ski-jump' technique for launching the aircraft from the decks of aircraft carriers, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 23 June.
In the test, an F-35 of the STOVL variant, took off from NAS Patuxent River in Maryland using a ramp that shares the same dimensions as those fitted to the Royal Navy’s now-decommissioned Invincible-class carriers.
Wilson said the test on 19 June re-proved the concept developed by the UK to launch its Sea Harrier jets from the decks of its through-deck cruiser carriers in the late For the F-35B, the 'ski-jump' will be used to launch jets from the decks of the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales carriers being built for the UK Royal Navy, and may be adopted by other customers such as Italy.
janes

US Marines deploy Four MV-22 Osprey from Spain To Gabon

Four MV-22 Ospreys, two KC-130J Hercules tankers, more than 150,000 pounds of gear and almost 200 U.S. Marines and sailors have effectively relocated half of a continent away from their base in Moròn, Spain, effectively enabling the force to reach an estimated 400 additional miles inland, June 10-15.
The Marines worked with the government of Gabon to test the full-scale employment of the force on the continent. Their forward-staged compound, known as a Cooperative Security Location, is complete with dining, living, hygiene, and command and control facilities. The location also provides the Marines with easy access to their MV-22 Osprey and KC-130J aircraft, which are critical in providing a crisis-response capability over a geographically dispersed area.
marines

US, Spain Sign Deal On Permanent Base For Africa Force

Washington and Madrid signed a deal Wednesday setting up a permanent force of 2,200 US Marines based in southern Spain who can be swiftly deployed to crises in Africa.
The US already has a rapid reaction force of about 800 troops at Morón de la Frontera, near Seville, who were deployed temporarily in the wake of the 2012 attack on a US mission in Benghazi, eastern Libya.
Wednesday's accord amends a 1988 defense partnership between the two countries.
The main mission of the Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response unit will be to protect US embassies in Africa, evacuate civilians in difficulty, or intervene in conflicts or humanitarian crises.
It will come under the US military command for Africa (AFRICOM) which is based in Stuttgart, Germany.
defensenews

F-35s To Take Part in Major Military Exercise For The First Time

F-35 fighter jet will drop weapons and take part in a major U.S. military exercise this week for the first time.
The exercise, called "Green Flag West," tests the U.S. military's ability to engage in air-to-surface conflicts and helps get ground troops who pinpoint potential air strikes ready for combat.
Several F-35 A-model jets, along with a host of other warplanes and other weapons, will participate in the exercises.
The Air Force has used aircraft equipped with F-35 sensors in past exercises, but this will be the first time that more operationally representative aircraft take part.
The Marine Corps is expected to declare an initial squadron of 10 F-35B jets ready for initial combat use in July, with the Air Force to follow suit in August 2016.
reuters

Marine Corps F-35Bs depart USS Wasp after carrier tests

Six US Marine Corps F-35B have departed the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp following a one-and-a-half-week trial that included 108 test sorties and an F135 engine delivery from a V-22 Osprey as the first combat fighter squadron stationed in Yuma, Arizona, prepares to declare initial operational capability this July.
Each of the 10 F-35 pilots involved are now qualified for daytime carrier operations and another three have received their night-time flying qualifications.
The six aircraft have accumulated 85.5 hours of flight time collectively since arriving on the USS Wasp May 18.
The squadrons will now continue their land-based preparations with the aim of passing a final operational readiness assessment due to take place over a two-week period in July if all goes according to plan.
The first squadron will become operational with 10 short-takeoff-vertical-landing (STOVL) F-35Bs, including some that are still being modified to correct deficiencies identified during testing.
flightglobal

Pentagon eyes three-year block buy of F-35s from fiscal 2018

The Pentagon said Friday it would talk to U.S. lawmakers about approving a three-year block buy of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets beginning in fiscal 2018 that would include U.S. purchases and international buyers.
Such a deal would not constitute a formal "multi-year buy," but would still require congressional approval.
A block buy of more than 400 jets would allow for "double-digit" cost savings from larger economies of scale when orders reach around 150 planes a year.
The Pentagon's chief arms buyer, said the $391 billion F-35 program was meeting or exceeding performance and cost milestones set during a 2011 restructuring of the program.
It remained on track for a key milestone this summer when the U.S. Marine Corps expects to declare an initial squadron of jets ready for combat use, followed by the Air Force in 2016.

Pentagon firming F-35 Block 4 configuration

As the Pentagon decides what new combat capabilities to “bake” into the Block 4 configuration of the F-35, there is concern about planned upgrades sliding beyond Block 3F, and about the overall price tag as those modifications are rolled out in the early 2020s.
The air force expects its first squadron of 12 to 14 A-model F-35s in the baseline Block 3i configuration to be ready for combat in a limited capacity by August 2016. But each aircraft will need to be modified to achieve “full warfighting capability” with the full suite of armaments and improvements provided in the subsequent Block 3F and Block 4 upgrades.
The F-35 joint programme office is currently defining exactly what will be included in Block 4 ahead of a Pentagon requirements review later this year. Once approved, the configuration will be the baseline for future Block 4 increments as they are rolled out every two years or so.
The general’s two main concerns are “sliding things from 3F into Block 4” and affordability.
The Marine Corps is in the final stages of F-35B operational testing aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp as it works to achieve initial operational capability in the Block 2B configuration in July. Those aircraft along with the early air force Block 3i jets will be capable of conducting limited air-interdiction and close-air-support operations with basic guided bombs and air-to-air missiles.
Block 3F adds all of the weapons qualified during the system development and demonstration phase including the Boeing Small Diameter Bomb I, Raytheon AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, AIM-9X Sidewinder and General Dynamics 25mm gun. Other weapons being considered for Block 4 include Raytheon’s Small Diameter Bomb II and Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile, among others. Block 4 might also include integration with the B61-12 guided nuclear bomb being developed by the US Air Force, National Nuclear Security Administration and Boeing.

The first air force squadron will stand up at Hill Air Force Base in Utah starting with the first aircraft delivery this September. That base is followed by Eielson AFB, Alaska, in July 2019 and then Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vermont, in July 2020.
If all goes according to plan, Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom will receive its first US F-35s in 2021.
Production of the F-35 is expected to scale up significantly over the next five years, growing from 123 aircraft now to more than 650 operated by the US and six other international programme partners by 2020.
flightglobal

The F-35 Won’t Be Going To War Against ISIS Just Yet

The U.S. Marine Corps will declare its vertical-flight Joint Strike Fighter ready for war in July, but a top general says it’s unlikely the jets will head to Iraq any time soon.
The Marines plan to declare 10 of their F-35B jets battle-ready in July. But the Corps is still racing to train instructor pilots on the short-takeoff-vertical-landing aircraft, and sending any of them off to war would disrupt the carefully planned training pipeline.
Meanwhile, there are a few hurdles left to clear before the F-35s can receive their certification. All 10 aircraft need to have the same mission software configuration.
Over the next two weeks, six Marine F-35Bs will conduct operational testing from the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship.
Even after the F-35Bs are declared battle-ready, they will not immediately be able to conduct all of their planned mission types. Early on, the jets will only be able to fly escort, armed reconnaissance, close air support and interdiction missions. The planes will also only be able to carry bombs internally in a weapons bay and not on wing pylons.
The aircraft will not have a gun pod and will not be able to use the full complement of air-launched weapons; among the initially missing armaments will be the Small Diameter Bomb II.
defenseone

Six F-35B jets land on USS Wasp for Marine Corps testing

Six U.S. F-35B on the USS Wasp amphibious warship on Monday for two weeks of operational testing required before the Marine Corps can declare a first squadron of 10 F-35s ready for combat use in July.
The testing, taking place off the coast of Virginia, will involve the six F-35 B-model jets, the highest number of F-35s ever used on a Navy warship to date, as well as Marine Corps pilots, maintenance personnel, and logistics experts, said the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The tests will check the ability of the stealthy jets to integrate into flight and deck operations on board the ship. They will include operations and weapons loading at day and night, the jets' ability to coordinate digitally with an on-board logistics system, and how well the crew can deal with scheduled and unexpected repairs at sea.
The Marine Corps must also complete certain modifications of the 10 jets that will make up the initial squadron.
The Pentagon's F-35 office said work on one of the jets had been completed, and two more would be finished this week. The seven remaining jets would be modified by the end of June.
reuters