BAE, Vertex announce deal to maintain Harrier II fleet By (0) BAE Systems and Vertex Aerospace have landed a contract to maintain the Marine Corps' fleet of AV-8B Harrier IIs, one of which is pictured in 2016 at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show. File Photo by Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell/UPI | License Photo Jan. 12 (UPI) -- BAE Systems and Vertex Aerospace announced Tuesday that they have signed a nine-year agreement to enhance availability of the U.S. Marine Corps' AV-8B Harrier II fleet. Vertex, which received a $123 million task order for maintenance of the fleet in July, chose BAE as its subcontractor for the logistics support contract.