McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Plus Harrier II Aircraft “165357, VMA-231 Ace of Spades, Operation Inherent Resolve, USCENTCOM” (2017) United States Marine Corps “Air Power Series” 1/72 Diecast Model by Hobby Master

Product Description

HISTORY ASPECTS:
The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II Plus is an advanced variant of the U.S. Marine Corps’ short takeoff and vertical landing attack aircraft, designed to provide close air support, interdiction, and armed reconnaissance from austere bases and amphibious ships. Equipped with an upgraded radar system, improved avionics, and compatibility with precision-guided munitions, the AV-8B II Plus expanded the Harrier’s capability into all-weather and beyond-visual-range engagements. Its ability to operate from forward expeditionary locations made it a vital asset for Marine Air-Ground Task Forces operating in rapidly changing combat environments.
Aircraft BuNo 165357 served with Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231), known as the “Ace of Spades,” during deployments under U.S. Central Command in 2017. As part of Operation Inherent Resolve, VMA-231 conducted combat sorties in support of coalition operations against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria. Flying from forward bases and amphibious assault ships, AV-8B pilots delivered precision-guided bombs and provided close air support to coalition ground forces engaged in urban and rural combat zones. The Harrier’s responsiveness and ability to loiter over the battlefield proved especially valuable during dynamic targeting missions where rapid coordination with ground controllers was essential.
Operation Inherent Resolve represented one of the AV-8B’s most sustained modern combat deployments, building on the type’s extensive operational history in earlier conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2017, the AV-8B II Plus combined advanced targeting pods, laser-guided munitions, and real-time intelligence support to strike enemy positions while minimizing collateral damage. The aircraft’s expeditionary flexibility embodied the Marine Corps’ doctrine of forward-deployed airpower, ensuring continuous air support in a complex and fluid operational theater.
This 1:72 scale model captures the combat-proven look of a modern Marine Corps attack jet, offering collectors a detailed representation of a short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft that played a decisive role in coalition operations in the Middle East.