Wing
Because the main flight regime of the Harrier has always been the low-level, high speed one, and because the provision of vectored thrust for take-off and landing has reduced the importance of wing lift at these important points, the wing has always remained relatively small. This has again allowed a saving in weight and drag over the design of a larger wing aimed at providing high altitude manoeuvrability, or one equipped with leading edge devices for low-speed flight. Even when a larger wing was adopted for the Harrier II the size increase was a modest 15%, while the larger weight of stores and fuel carried by the Harrier II meant that wing loading remained high.

The wing has always featured a considerable degree of anhedral. This originated as a means of reducing the problems of Dutch roll encountered at high angles of attack on high-set swept wings such as that on the Harrier. It also helped in reducing the length of the outriggers on the wingtips. The modest aspect ratio of the wing was a result of aiming to optimise the wing for low-level cruise, where aspect ratio is much less relevant compared to high altitude - the increase on the Harrier II partly reflected the medium level missions flown by the US Marines.

Structurally the wing has always been a single piece unit. It is used as one of the main fuel tanks for the aircraft as well as providing the main location for stores pylons. By removing the wing the engine can be lifted out of the aircraft - the wing being fixed to the fuselage by a number of bolts allowing it to be quickly remo