Phantoms And Drakens For The Raf!

[Lawman]

In the late '50s, the UK realises that it is having real trouble keeping up with aircraft developments, and decides to adopt a license-and-improve policy instead. This policy means that the UK agrees a license deal with Sweden, to produce a new version of the Saab J-35 Draken, with a slightly roomier cockpit, and a new Spey engine! The result is a much better fighter, improving on the excellent Draken's capabilities.

In addition, the UK improves the Hunter, with a new radar, cockpit, and a Spey engine. The result is an even better Hunter, with better performance, giving it a new lease on life - and in particular, integrating all the improvements the Swiss did to their aircraft.

In order to provide a new high end fighter, the RAF joins with the Royal Navy in buying Phantoms. These are bought instead of the abortive P1154 project, and without any of the infighting. As a result, the RN gets to keep all its 150 or so Phantoms, and the RAF gets a similar number for themselves. The result is that the RN is able to push for a medium sized carrier to be ordered in 1960, with a second and third carrier all ordered before 1964. They enter service in the late '60s, replacing the existing fleet carriers, Ark Royal, Eagle and Victorious. The RAF grudgingly agrees to buy Buccaneers to fill the low level strike role, after looking hard at the American A-5 Vigilante. They get a good size batch of Buccaneers, with the promise of a replacement to come later - a bird in the service now is worth a vague promise of something better in the future!


The result is that the RAF combat force becomes centered around a core force of around 300 Super Hunters, 300 Drakens, and 150 Phantoms, with another 150 Buccaneers. The RN gets a combat force of 150 Phantoms, and 75 new Buccaneers. In addition, the RAF re-roles some of its Vulcan force as a naval strike bomber, with a powerful new radar and anti-shipping missiles, initially the Martel, and ultimately a version of the Sea Dart missile. The Vulcan can carry no fewer than eight Martel internally, or four Sea Darts, or a combination of them. They are intended to be used primarily to counter the increasing Russian surface fleet. The Vulcans are built to a new B.3 standard, using a new enlarged Spey derivative, but with higher performance, offering greater fuel economy, and commonality with the Spey engined Hunters, Drakens, Phantoms and Buccaneers!

As an aside, the growth version of the Spey, optimised for supersonic flight, replaces the Olympus engine in the Concorde, giving it much improved range. As a result, the Concorde sells well in Asia, with the ability to service Japan to Los Angeles, via Hawaii (a very brief hot-refuelling), or Sydney to Los Angeles, also via Hawaii. It also sells in the Middle East, servicing various nations there, overflying the Saudi desert, and over the Mediteranean, and up to Paris and London. As a result of all this, the Concorde is still not a roaring success, but it sells over 150 aircraft, operating a great number of routes, and being a major bragging point! The RAF's Royal Squadron operates a mix on VC-10s and Concordes, on head of state and general high priority routes.