How The F-35B Is Quietly Ending The Harrier Era Across Allied Fleets

The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II is a comprehensive generational upgrade over the legacy AV-8B Harrier II jump jets and their related British variants. The Harrier was a marvel of engineering when it first entered service, and it enabled modern fighter jets to operate on smaller aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. The type became iconic in the Falklands War of 1982, when they reclaimed control of the skies over the Argentine land-based fighter jets.