Originally Posted by
Timelord
That is a fake. It’s a mocked up reproduction of the actual photo.
as a representation it is interesting. The Harrier is of course not an AV8B, unless it has had it's nose pinched in a vice, but poetic license...
The shape is not inspiring as a lifting body, but as noted, could be a really poor rendition of an X-43 type hypersonic lifting body. It also is slightly reminiscent of the lower speed X-45 or X-47. Size-wise, it seems like a B2 size aircraft, and that first flew in 1989. If in a turn at the time, it could give a profile that could look like your seriously, horribly hopeless diamond, to hint back to Ben Rich and the 117. I'd be looking at the B-2 testing program for clues. From the side they are an odd device.