The Harrier Is Gone. Marines Told Us Why It Mattered

The Marine Corps has officially retired the AV-8B Harrier II, ending more than four decades of service for one of the most recognizable military aircraft ever built. The Harrier jump jet gave Marines something they badly wanted: a fixed-wing attack aircraft that could operate from amphibious assault ships, short runways, and forward bases close to the fight. That made it a key close-air-support and strike aircraft from Desert Storm to Iraq and Afghanistan. We spoke with Marine aviators who flew both the AV-8B Harrier II and its replacement, the F-35B Lightning II, about what made the Harrier so loved, why it was so demanding to fly, what it gave the Marine Corps, and what the jump jet’s retirement means for the future of Marine aviation. 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Harrier origins 05:56 - The Harrier in the Gulf War and GWOT 11:04 - The Harrier’s issues 16:06 - An Ode to the Harrier 20:55 - Channel Updates / Talking Harrier Sundown Recorded on: June 5, 2026 Written by: David Roza Edited by: Savvy Task & Purpose is a military news and culture-oriented channel. We want to foster discussion about the defense industry. Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/73eTfddFMy Merchandise: store.taskandpurpose.com Like this video? You'll love https://taskandpurpose.com/ Sign up for the T&P newsletter: https://taskandpurpose.com/email-signup/ And you can follow us on social, too: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taskandpurpose/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/taskandpurpose TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taskandpurpose