Fireflash evolutions and beyond

[zen]

Assuming for the purposes of AH that Fairey was selected to develop Fireflash further.
Either as a mkII beam rider.
Or a development for SARH.

Essentially a vague parallel to Sparrow.

Arguably a development I've hypothesised is Flopsy.
This being a SAM development as an alternative to Popsy.

Fairey strikes me as having a good appreciation of the issues of missiles. Partly from Fireflash and the Anti-ship Missile effort.

Link to Potentially a development and with relevent information
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/fairey-semi-active-guided-weapon.23724/#post-241225
Link to other information
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/ekco-and-the-fairey-fireflash.36055/

 

[pathology_doc]

Fireflash is likely a dead end for two reasons. The first is the beam-riding guidance, which didn't survive past the first generation of AAMs. The other is the fact that the missile itself is unpowered, with all the thrust being provided by disposable boosters. Granted, this means it doesn't have to carry the dead weight of the motor around after burnout, but it makes for a much more draggy and complicated installation on the launch aircraft.