A Boeing AV-8B Harrier II+ attack aircraft is cleared for take-off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp. According to custom, this Harrier of VMA-542 was temporarily assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 for the duration of the deployment.

Момент истины - Сайман Харгрейвс поднимает X-35B в первый свободный полет, 23 июня 2001 года. До этого самолет проходил испытания или на привязи, или с весовыми ограничителями.
Lockheed Martin's STOVL F-35B is a major part of the Marine Corps future as it is intended to replace the Harrier and Hornet. The Lightning II is expected to reach operational capability in 2012, though it will not fully replace the two aforementioned aircraft until 2024.

Pioneer UAVs provide real-time electro-optical surveillance for Marine Corps ground units. They are to be replaced by the AAI Corporation’s Shadow UAV under a joint procurement programme with the US Army.

A Northrop Grumman EA-6B of VMAQ-4 taxies at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. Prowlers are being employed in Iraq for non-traditional roles such as countering improvised explosive devices.

Two versions of the Cessna Citation business jet, the UC-35C Citation Ultra and the UC-35D Citation Encore (pictured), provide operational support airlift for the Marine Corps, having replaced the Rockwell CT-39 Sabreliner and some Beech UC-12B Hurons in that role.

MCAS Yuma is home to the Marine Corps' only adversary unit, VMFT-401. The squadron flies the F-5E, F-5N and two-seat F-5F.

Dramatic photograph of a VMFA-115 Boeing F/A-18C Hornet launching from the deck of the USS Harry S Truman.

Two-seat F/A-18Ds are assigned to six squadrons and tend to operate from land bases as they have a more limited weapon bring-back capability to an aircraft carrier. The aircraft in the foreground belongs to VMFA(AW)-121 Green Knights, and the other Hornet to the training unit VMFAT-101.

Marine Corps Hercules undertake a number of roles, one of the most important being in-flight refuelling. This KC-130T belongs to VMGR-452 Yankees, based in New York state. The unit's aircraft are appropriately coded 'NY' and this Hercules is pictured flying past one of the 'Big Apple's' most famous landmarks, the Statue of Liberty.