What issue is that article from? Its wrong... USMC funding was already approved years ago for 27 new and 72 rebuilt AV8B+ upgrades and half the fleet have already been upgraded by Boeing and now do carry the slammers and are now JDAM compatible. That article has a liberal slant to it. THey are only talking about the remainder of AV-8Bs which will most likely not be upgraded to + standard due to the expected F-35B entrance to the Corp. and the fact that the remaining Harriers will be upgraded for passive infared night fighting... So there will be two types of Harriers in the fleet...
From Military Updates Tracker
The AV-8B+ featured other modifications as well, such as the addition of a Sidewinder launch rail on the outrigger landing gear fairing. This idea, as will be explained, was invented by the British for their Harrier IIs, and gave the aircraft nine effective stores pylons. The AV-8B+ also has a distinctive lengthened ram-air intake at the base of its tailfin.
27 Harrier II Plus new-build aircraft have been produced for the USMC, with 72 upgrades from older types to be delivered through 2003. The Marines have been trying to find the money for some additional upgrades for attrition replacements. The upgrades have been somewhat painful to fund, as their cost is a major fraction of that of a new build AV-8B+. Fortunately, the effort has been somewhat simplified by the fact that the F/A-18 Hornet has been receiving an upgrade to the even-better AN/APG-73 radar set, allowing the Harrier upgrades to use refurbished AN/APG-65s.
In 2000, the AV-8B Program Office announces a series of "Open System Core Avionics Requirement (OSCAR)" upgrades to allow carriage of new weapons and systems on the AV-8B+, beginning with the AMRAAM; followed by the "Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)" GPS-guided bomb; and then, down the road, the "AIM-9X" advanced Sidewinder follow-on with "off-boresight" targeting capability; the "AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)" standoff glide bomb; a helmet-mounted sight to cue the AIM-9X and other munitions; a "Link 16" datalink; and potentially other weapons and systems.
From the Boeing site itself..
AV-8B Harrier II Plus
The Harrier II Plus is the latest offspring and most advanced variant in the combat proven Harrier family of short takeoff - vertical landing (STOVL) tactical aircraft. While its four rotating nozzle, direct lift configuration can trace its roots back to the unmatched innovations of the Hawker P.1127, the aircraft of today carries the operationally proven APG-65 radar system, a host of third generation technology and weapons that make it truly multi-mission capable.
The Harrier II Plus has a formidable arsenal of air-to-air weapons as well as the extraordinary capability in air-to-surface missions for which the AV-8B Harrier II is known. In addition to a 25mm rapid-fire Gatling gun and heat-seeking Sidewinder missiles for close in engagements, the aircraft also carries an advanced beyond visual range air-to-air missile, the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM. The air-to-surface capabilities have also expanded to include a digital targeting data link, Global Positioning System, the Litening II Targeting Pod system and the capability to employ the next generation of precision guided munitions including the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). The aircraft is powered by the 23,500-pound thrust Rolls-Royce Pegasus 11-61 (F402-RR-408) engine to give the Harrier II Plus a multi-mission punch.
The Harrier II Plus was developed through a three-nation agreement among the United States, Spain and Italy. The U.S. Marine Corps procured 27 Harrier II Plus aircraft, the Italian navy procured 16 Harrier II Plus aircraft and two TAV-8B aircraft, and the Spanish navy procured eight Harrier II Plus aircraft.
In an effort provide Fleet Marines the most capable Harrier available, the U.S. Marine Corps launched the Harrier II Plus Remanufacture Program in 1994. Seventy-four day-attack Harrier IIs already in the fleet are being converted into the more capable Harrier II Plus aircraft with a renewed service life. The remanufacture will cost the Marine Corps significantly less than purchasing all-new aircraft. In addition, the Spanish Navy has joined the program to remanufacture five of its day-attack Harrier II’s aircraft. Combined with the Harriers already in service, this fleet will serve the USMC, Spanish Navy and Italian Navy well into the 21st Century.
The Boeing Company, BAE Systems and Rolls Royce originally teamed to produce the AV-8B, Harrier II as a major upgrade to the AV-8A, Harrier I. The first production AV-8B aircraft was delivered in November 1983. Deliveries of night-attack Harrier IIs began in September 1989. The U.S. Marine Corps received its first Harrier II Plus aircraft in July 1993, and its first remanufactured Harrier II Plus in January 1996.
The Harrier II Plus is in service today with the United States Marine Corps, the Spanish Navy and the Italian Navy. This V/STOL tactical aircraft delivers the legendary unmatched basing flexibility that other fixed-wing aircraft cannot match. It also provides the user a broad selection of weapons and technology to meet many diverse tactical scenarios. The Harrier II has demonstrated operational effectiveness and flexibility in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Allied Force and Operation Enduring Freedom
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they're usually (always?) carried on the fusalage on pylons that replace the LID strakes on the belly, but they have to give up the gun to have the 2 AMRAAMs there. Geeze, I need to get up to the news group, I bet IF there ARE pics that they have been there already 
(
) the British air componants will all have to rely on Tornado.