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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 1637.PDF
FLIGHT, 2 Stfitmber I960 357 Above and left, Firestreaks with 25 Sqn RAF OE HAVILLAND PROPELLERS LTD Hatfield, Herts. Telephone: Hatfield 2300 Blue Streak Until its cancellation as a military weapon in April of this year de HaviHand Propellers had been the prime contractor to the Ministry of Aviation for this long-range ballistic missile. In the course of some 3| years about £65m had been spent on its development, financing not only the complete missile and launcher but also extensive static-test installations at Hatfield and Spadeadam and a launch emplacement and other installations at the Weapons Research Establish- ment in South Australia. Major subcontractors included D.H. Aircraft, Rolls-Royce and Sperry. The design teams associated with the programme have not yet dispersed, and many studies have been done both within and outside the company to obtain accurate costings of space vehicles based on the same first stage. Flrestreak This infra-red homing missile is now in full service with the Sea Vixens of the Royal Navy and Javelins and Lightnings of the RAF. In our full description of the missile in our issue of March 11 last it was shown that the warhead is mounted behind the wings and surrounds the tube linking the internal motor to the propulsive nozzle behind the rear control surfaces. The warhead is detonated by a very sensitive proximity-fuze system. Red Top Although this code-name has not been officially divulged, an American report gives it as that of the "more advanced air-to-air missile" on which the company are known to be working. ENGLISH ELECTRIC AVIATION LTD (6W Division) Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Hens. Telephone: Stevenage 940 Blue Water Having learned about artillery missiles for the British Army by acting as foster-parent to the American Corporal since 1957, English Electric Aviation have been chosen to develop a new bombardment missile to replace the American weapon. No details have been divulged, but the code name given above was quoted by the Minister of Defence when he spoke of the desirability of its development being condiictrd in partnership with NATO nations—especially Germany—with a view to its becoming a standard European weapon. It would be logical to suppose that it will be a solid-propelled, menially guided ballistic device, much smaller than Corporal and capable of being carried by and launched from a cross-country vehicle. ThuitderMrd This weapon has been brought to a high degree of perfection as a fully mobile surface-to-air missile system for Army use in battle conditions. Many hundreds of rounds have been fired and Nos 36 and 37 AA (GW) Regts, Royal Artillery, are now equipped with these weapons. Thunderbird Mk 1 has a solid internal motor and is guided -by semi-active homing radar, as was outlined in our issue of September 25 last year. Thunderbird Mk 2 is claimed to offer substantial advantages in range and in lethality against targets at extremes of altitude. It is believed to have continuous-wave radar. Btlow, impact of Thunderbird Thunderbird Mk 1 with 36 AA (GW) Regt, Royal Artillery
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