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An AV-8B Harrier II, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced) rests on the flight deck elevator of amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), Oct. 25, 2019. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 11th Marine Expeditionary
Unit were deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to support regional stability, reassure partners and allies, and maintain a presence to respond to any crisis, ranging from humanitarian assistance to contingency operations. (U.S. Navy photo illustration by Fred Flerlage; imagery by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dale M. Hopkins)

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John F. Kennedy Completes Builder’s Sea Trials, First Underway

Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and her crew departed HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) and steamed to sea for the first time for Builder’s Sea Trials Jan. 28. After eight days of at-sea systems, equipment and operational testing by sailors working alongside industry and government partners, the ship returned to NNS Feb. 4, marking a major milestone in the carrier’s path to delivery.

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After 55 Years, Harrier Flies into the Sunset

Final Jet Squadron Celebrates End of Marine Aviation Era

Concluding nearly 55 years of operational history with the AV-8B Harrier II, Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 hosted a public sundowning ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point June 3, signaling the end of an era for Marine Corps aviation as the service transitions to an all fifth-generation tactical aircraft fleet.

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The Tech Behind Faster F-35 Turnarounds

Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251 recently advanced F-35 Lightning II and other fixed-wing aircraft ground operations by integrating improved communication and digital interoperability capabilities. They demonstrated these advancements during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-26 at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, April 13.

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StormBreaker Arrives: Navy Declares Initial Operational Capability

The Navy has declared initial operational capability for the Small Diameter Bomb II on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, marking a significant advancement in the fleet’s precision-strike technology.

The weapon, also known as StormBreaker, saw its first operational use on the Super Hornet during a limited early operational capability in 2025, providing real-world validation of the bomb’s performance on the platform.

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Shipboard Weapons Integration Team Prevents Costly Mistakes

The Shipboard Weapons Integration Team (SWIT) provides independent assessments that ensure Navy ships can safely store, move and handle weapons at sea, turning new shipboard firepower into operational capability.

That work happens far from the flight deck and long before a system ever deploys. SWIT evaluates weapons facilities on new construction ships and ship modifications to confirm crews can safely handle ordnance under realistic operating conditions.

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Engineers Behind the Next Generation of Engineers

Teaching FIRST Teams to Debug Under Pressure

Brendan Stevens is a software engineer at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu, California. On a Sunday in March, he stood in the pit area at FATHOMWERX, the workshop floor where teams repair and adjust robots between matches, helping students troubleshoot their own. His team had a problem.

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2025 Year in Review Now Available!

Welcome to the third annual year in review edition of Naval Aviation News. As we close out another remarkable year, let us take a moment to reflect, not just on the milestones and success stories, but also on the spirit of innovation, resilience and service that defines our Naval Aviation community. This year’s stories span decades of achievement and highlight the people, platforms and partnerships that continue to keep Naval Aviation at the forefront.

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