Q&A · 3:47:20-3:47:44

Why US Marine and Royal Navy Harrier upgrades differed

Both services upgraded their Harriers, but they optimized them for different primary missions.

AV-8B Harrier II Fleet Air Defence Ground Attack Aircraft Naval Aviation Royal Navy Sea Harrier US Marine Corps

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Question

Why did the US Marine Corps not upgrade its Harriers in the same way as the Royal Navy?

Short answer

It did upgrade them, but for ground attack rather than the Royal Navy's fleet-air-defence mission.

Notes

The premise is corrected first: the US Marine Corps did upgrade its Harriers through successive versions. Its aircraft primarily served ground attack. Royal Navy Harriers had an air-defence role. The upgrades therefore answered different operational requirements.