cancelled cold war strike reconnaissance aircraft developed royal_air_force raf late 1950s early 1960s designed penetrate defended forward battle area low altitudes high speeds attack high value targets rear nuclear conventional weapons intended combat role provide high altitude high speed stand looking radar photographic imagery signals intelligence reconnaissance advanced aviation technology period incorporated order highest performing aircraft world projected missions airframe flew test flights weight rise design indicated aircraft unable meet original stringent design specifications design specifications reduced results flight testing victim rising costs inter service britain future defence needs led controversial decision scrap programme election new government cancelled rising costs favour purchasing adapted version decision later rescinded costs development times increased replacements included phantom previously considered rejected early process eventually smaller swing wing developed adopted european consortium broadly similar requirements development operational environment introduction practical jet engines late world war period led calls new jet powered versions practically aircraft flying design replacement time world leading light bombers designed express intent aircraft order improve speed possible process led removal defensive armament improving performance point unnecessary high speed approach extremely successful jet powered version difficult intercept winning design defensive armaments producing design speed allowed fly past defenses importantly design long straight wing gave lift needed operate high altitudes placing range jet powered fighters able operate canberra simply fly enemy relative quality naturally suited aerial reconnaissance missions spawning number spin versions aircraft larger wings greater altitude performance improved range high speed high altitude approach effective late 1950s soviet_union began introduce surface air missiles speed altitude performance greater contemporary aircraft canberra high altitude aircraft like bombers extremely vulnerable weapons aircraft fall victim soviet nato sam reconnaissance version canberra shot solution fly lower radar operates line sight detection aircraft flying low altitudes significantly hindered reducing time enemy counter measures practice trees hills valleys reduce range making ground based interception extremely difficult canberra designed high altitude flight suitable continuous terrain flight require completely different aircraft low level strike aircraft grew new class late 1950s generally featured high wing loading reduce effects cross wind form high performance navigational radar allow low flight high speeds large fuel loads offset higher fuel use low altitudes aware changing operational environment started work attempting define new light bomber replace canberra early studies eventually settled aircraft nmi ferry range speed altitude nmi low level range crew required operator advanced navigational attack equipment bombs requirements eventually official november general operational requirement issued aircraft manufacturers march requirement exceptionally ambitious technology day requiring weather aircraft deliver nuclear weapons long range operate high level low level possible performance requirement effect common battle plans 1950s suggested nuclear strikes opening stages war damage meaning aircraft need rough fields disused second world war airfields sufficiently flat open areas land specifically requirement included delivery tactical nuclear weapons low level day night photo reconnaissance medium level day low level day night electronic reconnaissance delivery tactical nuclear weapons day night medium altitudes blind bombing necessary delivery conventional bombs rockets low level stated expected attack speed sea level operational range nmi operating able operate ground speeds range allowed operate strategically addition tactical scenarios political changes specification studied manufacturers political storms dog project head defence minister stated defence white paper era manned combat end missiles weapons future decade philosophy thoroughly time climate cold war mutual missile weapons system appeared sense especially missiles offer significant cost savings manned aircraft viewpoint vigorously debated aviation industry years senior raf officers argued white paper premise stating importance mobility replace canberra potentially entire bomber force addition argument need manned aircraft additional political effect project september informed heads aviation companies acceptable proposals issued teams consisting company large number competing aircraft manufacturing companies orders decreasing government intended foster cooperation certain companies encourage political matter help mutual distrust services time defined royal_navy midst project eventually low altitude attack aircraft designed water opposed overland use savings involved forces common aircraft considerable offered raf version fit requirements chief defence staff sea lord lord loyal proponent later claiming type purchased price raf rebuffed proposal stating unsuitable poor takeoff performance capable desired role raf official interest aircraft political opponent project sir time chief scientific advisor extremely low opinion british technological achievements favour military hardware united_states submissions work continued deadline submissions january proposals entered teamed submitted shorts vertical lift platform capability designs received eventually selected consideration ministry particularly impressed vickers submission included aircraft design total systems concept outlining support facilities logistics needed maintain aircraft field official opinions management found decidedly lacking comparison vickers combination felt useful marriage accordingly development contract awarded vickers sub contractor existence revealed public december statement house_of_commons pressure recommendations examined ways project proposals combined january minister supply announced built working initials coming tactical strike reconnaissance strike designation specifically referring raf terminology nuclear weapons role january project given official ahead february came new designation operational requirement specific built work submissions specifically stating low level operations attained altitude mission envisioned standard mission carry weapon internally combat radius nautical miles mission nautical miles flown higher altitudes nmi target area flown low speed remainder mission flown entire mission flown low altitude mission radius reduced nmi heavier weapons loads carried reductions range plans increasing range included fitting external tanks imperial tank wing imperial tank carried centrally fuselage internal weapons carried imperial gallons carried tank weapons bay later variants fitted variable geometry wings equipped reconnaissance pack weapons bay included optical unit built emi cameras sideways looking radar order carry majority reconnaissance tasks unlike modern units use infrared imaging use daylight imaging artificial light source ground night reconnaissance tactical nuclear weapons carriage existing tactical nuclear bomb specified beginning project quickly realised external carriage speeds safety handling limitations yield considered inadequate targets assigned instead successor improved specification known operational requirement specified tactical strike role expected attack targets forward edge battlefield assigned raf nato day night targets comprised missile sites hardened soft aircraft airfields airfield buildings airfield fuel installations bomb stores tank concentrations ammunition supply railways railway tunnels bridges specified yields assuming circular error probable damage probability delivery capability burst heights targets sea level requirements weight length diameter ministerial ruling july decreed future tactical nuclear weapons limited yield raf issued new version specification accepting lower yield making provision design capable adaptation later higher yield event political restriction lifted raf explored ways lower yield including specifications bomb provision releasing smaller weapons dropping sticks revised later named yards intervals prevent weapon destroying succeeding ones turn detonate led requirement able carry internally external stores width bomb bay originally designed accommodate single red beard weapon necessitating reduction diameter bomb width fin span constrained need fit bombs aircraft bomb bay requirement stick bombing nuclear weapons soon dropped larger yield bombs came favour carrying external limitation aerodynamic heating bomb limited maximum carriage time minutes low level bomb temperature rise permitted maximum impose severe operational restriction aircraft designed cruise height nuclear stand missiles proposed early development proceeded included air launched development missile carried semi bomb bay air launched missile referred derived intended missile range nautical miles conventional missiles instead design originally use moving favour french settling new missile cancellation raf eventually filled tactical strike requirement dual key nuclear weapons continued attempts limit lifted development delayed years inundated work developments workload eased completion missile work able resume deliveries raf beginning late deployment year deliveries royal_navy approval high yield tactical weapons eventually gained raf weapon similar planned design vickers worked combining best designs order forward joint design view having aircraft flying working merging companies umbrella forward delta winged design vickers swept wing long fuselage wing born greater experience judged superior vickers vickers fuselage preferred effect aircraft built vickers half rear powered advanced variants vulcan developed power design featured small shoulder mounted delta wing turned tips moving swept large moving fin blown flaps fitted entire trailing edge wing achieve short takeoff landing requirement later designs achieve technically complex swing wing approach fitted control roll instead implemented differential movement slab wing loading high time enabling aircraft fly high speed low level great stability constantly upset ground related weather phenomena chief test pilot wing commander favourably compared flying characteristics canberra flight characteristics stating canberra troublesome according flight envelope capable sustained cruise altitudes dash speed limiting leading edge temperature degrees theoretical maximum speed level flight aircraft featured extremely sophisticated navigation mission delivery prove reasons costs project features forward looking radar looking radar navigational fixing commonplace military aircraft years later features allowed innovative system turn enabled long distance terrain following sorties crew workload pilot input greatly reduced considerable problems realising design contributing manufacturers employed directly ministry leading communication difficulties cost equipment area autonomy supplied ministry associate contractors equipment designed provided subject ministry approval overall funds largest aircraft project britain date unlike previous projects prototypes development batch procedure pioneered americans lightning instead development batch built production choice proceeding production turned source delay aircraft having adhere strict production standards deal bureaucracy attaining concessions allow exhibit differences later years project effectively prototypes exhibiting succession specification differences intended pre production production operational history testing despite increasing costs inevitable given low original estimates development batch aircraft completed engine development problems led delays flight meant missed opportunity displayed public year days leading testing opposition defence spokesman criticised aircraft saying time introduced face new anti aircraft missiles shoot making expensive million aircraft basis ordered test pilot finally flight armament experimental establishment wiltshire september initial flight tests performed engine power strictly controlled limits minute flight shortly takeoff second flight vibration fuel pump frequency human caused pilot throttle engine avoid loss vision 10th test flight landing gear successfully retracted problems preventing previous occasions vibration problems landing persisted flight testing programme test flight flight achieved transfer flight aircraft achieved dry power following lit single unit problems engine fuel pump result aircraft accelerated away chase lightning flown wing commander catch engines flying described prototype handling like big lightning period months total test flights conducted complex electronics fitted aircraft flights concerned basic flying qualities aircraft according test pilots involved outstanding speeds sustained low level flights achieved vibration problems continued final flights fitted additional tie complex landing gear significant reduction test flight took place march test flying programme completed undergoing typical design systems modifications reflective sophisticated configuration doubt airframe capable tasks set represented major advance type costs continued rise led concerns company government upper management levels aircraft falling short requirements laid takeoff distance combat radius cost saving measure reduced specification agreed notably reductions combat radius nmi speed takeoff run increased yards project cancellation 1960s united_states military developing swing wing project follow fast low level fighter bomber designed 1950s internal bay nuclear weapon interest australia royal_australian_air_force raaf raaf chose buy instead having offered better price delivery schedule american manufacturer nonetheless raaf wait years ready enter service time anticipated programme cost raf asked consider alternative cost saving measure response suggestions cancellation employees held protest march new labour government come power issued strong cabinet meetings held april decided cancel grounds projected cost instead obtain option agreement acquire aircraft immediate commitment buy decision announced budget speech april maiden flight second development batch aircraft day announcement following accident conveying airframe coupled announcement project cancellation happened ultimately prototype took air week later chancellor defended decision debate house_of_commons saying prove cheaper engineer sir designer said modern aircraft dimensions span length height politics simply got right replacements replace initially placed option modified enhancements considered choices conversion enhanced new attack system reconnaissance capability referred double star proposal pursued replacement final decision reserved defence review defence minister memo cabinet minutes final cancellation indicate preferred following defence white paper decided aircraft longer term replacement joint anglo french project variable geometry strike aircraft debate followed claimed cost million years including running costs compared million combination ordered april additional order april programme suffered enormous cost coupled pound far exceeding projection technical problems unresolved successful operational deployment faced poorer projected performance estimates order raf eventually cancelled january provide suitable alternative raf settled combination phantom transferred royal_navy aircraft raf derided order ahead proved capable remained service raf versions phantom given designation respectively entered service phantom fighter ground attack fighter ground attack reconnaissance remaining service air air role raf replaced strike reconnaissance role mid-1970s 1980s jaguar eventually replaced role variable geometry smaller design experience design development particularly terrain following capabilities later tornado programme late 1970s tornado nearing production aviation businessman initiated highly speculative feasibility study project despite persistent lobbying government time proposal taken seriously came survivors completed aircraft scrapped months cancellation eventually survived complete complete airframe fly completed completed taken targets test vulnerability modern airframe systems gunfire additional completed incomplete airframe scrapped son airframe allocated aircraft allegedly built construction aircraft allocated started partly built scrapped serial batch listed cancelled batch projected aircraft coincidence projected batch trainer variant allocated raf cancelled incomplete apparent project scrapped source argument bitterness nonetheless remains lingering british aviation comparable cancellation destruction bombers canada arrow scrapped canada surviving display display cockpit section display engines display specifications data britain characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant dry thrust thrust performance maximum speed sea level range nmi combat radius nmi ferry range nmi service ceiling final specification rate climb min min thrust weight armament total weapons load internal external internal weapons bay long initially red beard nuclear weapon intended nuclear weapons bombs final designed normal load nuclear role nuclear weapons tandem weapons bay external stores inch rocket pods nuclear weaponry inner modified terrain following radar navigation attack systems emi looking airborne radar general radio
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