Fleet Readiness Center East Delivers Final AV-8B Harrier to Fleet | Aviation

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) recently marked a significant chapter’s end by completing its last AV-8B Harrier maintenance overhaul.

As the U.S. Marine Corps proceeds with its plan to retire all AV-8B+ Harrier II jets by 2026, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), a Naval Aviation maintenance and repair depot under the Naval Air Systems Command, delivered the final Harrier to Marine Attack Squadron 223 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on Sept. 26, 2024.

Based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, FRCE’s mission is to support the operational readiness of various military aircraft, providing comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation assets.

To honor the long relationship with the Harrier, FRCE held a commemorative gathering in its AV-8 hangar on Sept. 20, where Capt. Randy Berti, FRCE Commanding Officer, alongside leaders from the AV-8B Weapon Systems Program Office, recognized the extraordinary dedication and technical skill of the depot’s Harrier team. Capt. Berti expressed his pride in the facility’s five-decade legacy supporting the Marine Corps and allied Harrier squadrons, attributing the program’s success to the unwavering dedication of multiple generations of FRCE personnel.