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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 0439.PDF
266 FLIGHT International, 20 February WORLD E W 8 WINGS AND THE WHITE PAPER When the Minister of Defence, Mr Peter Thorneycroft, speaks in the House of Commons defence debate next Wednesday, he expects to announce Government deci- sions on the development and acquisition of successors for the Hunter and Sea Vixen fighters and the Hastings and Beverley transports. Speaking at a press conference on the publication of the 1964 Statement of Defence last Thursday, the Minister said that he hoped, too, to give information on the acquisition of unit light helicopters for the Army. He was "not contemplating" making an announcement about a Shackle- ton replacement for RAF Coastal Com- mand during the debate. It is firmly believed that Mr Thorneycroft will give the go-ahead on the Hawker Siddeley P. 1154 VTOL strike aircraft as the RAF Hunter replacement, and will announce an order for the US McDonnell Phantom II carrier-borne fighter—a 1955 design—to replace the RN's Sea Vixens, attempts to meet conflicting RAF-RN requirements with the one P. 1154 project having been abandoned after a great loss of time. Similarly, a go-ahead is expected for the HS.681 S/VTOL tactical transport to replace the RAF's Hastings and Beverleys. Defence commentators were quick to point out that there will be little money available for the new projects. The esti- mated costs of the year's programme, given in the White Paper, will be £1,998.54m—up from £1,837.7m for 1963-64. By far the largest increase, £55.06m, goes to the Navy and has been called for by the Polaris submarine programme. The Army will receive an extra £34.36m while the RAF's increase will be a mere £600,000—from £5O3.2m to £503.8m. The MoA will receive an extra £44.49m. The Minister of Defence said that Polaris will give Britain an independent nuclear deterrent into the 1980s. Costs of operating the V-bomber force will fall rapidly, now that capital charges are almost over, and it will account for only one farthing in the £ of the nation's gross national product. Between 7 and 8 per cent of the defence expenditure would be spent on the deterrent, V-force and Polaris submarines combined, of which the V-force would demand only 2 per cent. Over 90 per cent of the expen- diture would be devoted to conventional arms. Studies were in hand, Mr Thorneycroft said, to ascertain the minimum number of Polaris submarines the Navy would need to maintain the requisite firepower at sea, allowing for periodic refitting. This was generally interpreted as a hint that the Navy will not get the fifth Polaris submarine for which it is known to be pressing. But the Navy would get its new carrier, to replace Ark Royal and Victorious, although no order was to be placed for it this year. This was because it would be a very, very advanced ship (though having non-nuclear propulsion) explained the First Lord, Earl Jellicoe, and the design and development phase was therefore taking rather longer than it would otherwise. TSR.2 was a conventional weapon for conventional warfare, the Defence Minister said, but it would bring us a "nuclear bonus." Development proceeded and, although the aircraft would be rather more costly than originally conceived, it would not cost as much as some of the "wild" figures which had gained currency. There were no plans for any other bomber yet. A weapon now being developed for the TSR.2 would be applicable to the V-bombers, added the Secretary of State for Air, Mr Hugh Fraser. The White Paper states that the Shackle- ton Mk 3 "is to be equipped with auxiliary jet engines to improve its take-off perfor- mance." The Minister, as mentioned above, indicated that no early announcement about a new maritime patroller can be expected. It is understood from informed sources that a trial installation of jet engines in a Shackle- ton has yet to be made. The engines will be Bristol Siddeley Viper 11s, rated at 2,5001b nominal thrust, one to be installed in each outboard nacelle. Gross weight will not be increased but the turbojets will obviate overboosting of the Griffon piston engines for take-off at maximum load, with a consequent increase in reliability and over- haul life of the Griffons and of aircraft equipment which has been, heretofore, shaken by the overboosting. Of helicopters for the Army, the Minister said that RAF-operated tactical lift heli- copters are arriving in satisfactory numbers and Scout deliveries are beginning. Con- sideration is being given to a helicopter lighter than the Scout, which might replace the reconnaissance scout car and he hoped to give information on this in the debate. This remark is assumed to apply to the Hiller 12E, to be built by Shorts, which has been discussed in the last two issues of this journal. Of missiles, the First Lord said that development of the CF.299, the Seaslug's successor, is proceeding "very successfully." There was no equivalent for the American Subroc anti-submarine rocket envisaged at present. The War Minister, Mr James Ramsden, said that a few Vigilant anti-tank missiles would be in Army service this year. The White Paper reported that service trials of Bloodhound 2, a much improved View from a Bay Window A camera mounted in the bomb bay of an 801 Sqn Buc- caneer S.I has this view, past a well-turned leg, ofHMS "Victorious" as the aircraft mokes its final approach. Notice the pronounced "round-down" at the stern, the three arrester wires, the parked aircraft at the forward end and the lack of space, frightening for any non- naval pilot. HMS "Victorious," together with "Ark Royal," will be replaced by a new carrier in the early 1970s, which is mentioned in the Defence White Paper reported on above
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