U.S. Marine Corps Negotiates Buying Decommissioned British Harriers. t is not clear yet if the Marine Corps will actually fly the ex. British Harriers or ‘harvest’ their spare parts for the next ten years.

The Marine Corps currently fly the AV-8B, a U.S. variant of the British V/STOL design built by McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace. Britain retired its entire Harrier GR-9, 9A and Sea Harrier fleet in 2010 under the controversial Strategic Defense & Security Review (SDSR), that mandated deep cuts through all three services. The retired Harriers are stored at Royal Air Force Base Cottesmore, England where they have been maintained in airworthy status. The U.S. will get the entire Harrier’s spares stocks for $50 million. The cost of the aircraft is still being negotiated.