The decision to retire was controversial as there was no immediate fixed-wing replacement in its role; in the long term the Harrier II is to be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
ການຕັດສິນໃຈລາອອກແມ່ນມີການຖົກຖຽງກັນຍ້ອນວ່າບໍ່ມີການປ່ຽນແທນຜູ້ມີຖານະ ຕໍາ ແຫນ່ງ ໃນທັນທີໃນບົດບາດຂອງມັນ; ໃນໄລຍະຍາວ, Harrier II ແມ່ນຈະຖືກທົດແທນໂດຍ Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.