Well, in the US, Harriers are designated AV-8 - so attack, not fighter.
In the UK, they are Harrier GR.x (x being the mark number), for ground
attack and recce - so, still not fighters. The Sea harrier is designated
FA.2, since it's got a realistic air combat role.

I think that if the USAF had adopted the harrier, it would have an F
designation, or at the very least F/A. The USAF simply doesn't like to
recognize the concept of an attack aircraft.

all the best -- Dan Ford
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