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One of the what-if options that at first sight looks attractive is giving the RAF Buccaneers earlier and sparing the pain and agony of TSR2 et al.
Not sure if this one can actually run, but here goes.
The aftermath of the 1957 Defence White Paper left only the Lightning as the RAF's first supersonic aircraft.
The Canberra light bomber force would need replacing. Front runner became a missile similar to the Pershing being developed in the US to replace the venerable Redstones and Mace in West Germany. NATO was keen on this idea as it gave SACEUR a larger nuclear force.
The RAF argued that UK commitments outside NATO required a supersonic Canberra replacement. The RN countered that its carrier-based Buccaneer force would provide a conventional and nuclear option.
The reorganisation of the Aircraft Industry seemed to see English Electric and Hawkers as the two prime military combat aircraft manufacturers. Vickers and De Havilands would focus on civil airliners with the VC10 and Trident.
The RAF were focussed on getting the V force fully operational. It acknowledged that some Canberra roles could then be taken on by the V force.
The Canberra replacement settled down to be a mixture of carrier based Buccaneers and re-roled V bombers.
That was before the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. NATO realised that the US President needed more options in a crisis than full nuclear retaliation.
The RAF was now asked to look again at its Canberra light bomber force. A modern aircraft capable of delivering conventional and nuclear strikes at low altitude was required to supplement the Pershings. Especially as the UK had cancelled its own Blue Water programme and a NATO Pershing procurement looked unlikely if Italy and Turkey could not base some missiles.
An initial buy of 50 Buccaneer S2 aircraft for the RAF was authorised for delivery from 1964.
Addotional Buccaneers to a new S3 spec were expected to follow.
Not sure if this one can actually run, but here goes.
The aftermath of the 1957 Defence White Paper left only the Lightning as the RAF's first supersonic aircraft.
The Canberra light bomber force would need replacing. Front runner became a missile similar to the Pershing being developed in the US to replace the venerable Redstones and Mace in West Germany. NATO was keen on this idea as it gave SACEUR a larger nuclear force.
The RAF argued that UK commitments outside NATO required a supersonic Canberra replacement. The RN countered that its carrier-based Buccaneer force would provide a conventional and nuclear option.
The reorganisation of the Aircraft Industry seemed to see English Electric and Hawkers as the two prime military combat aircraft manufacturers. Vickers and De Havilands would focus on civil airliners with the VC10 and Trident.
The RAF were focussed on getting the V force fully operational. It acknowledged that some Canberra roles could then be taken on by the V force.
The Canberra replacement settled down to be a mixture of carrier based Buccaneers and re-roled V bombers.
That was before the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. NATO realised that the US President needed more options in a crisis than full nuclear retaliation.
The RAF was now asked to look again at its Canberra light bomber force. A modern aircraft capable of delivering conventional and nuclear strikes at low altitude was required to supplement the Pershings. Especially as the UK had cancelled its own Blue Water programme and a NATO Pershing procurement looked unlikely if Italy and Turkey could not base some missiles.
An initial buy of 50 Buccaneer S2 aircraft for the RAF was authorised for delivery from 1964.
Addotional Buccaneers to a new S3 spec were expected to follow.
