finally, FINALLY! a Vulcan replacement!

[Davey B]

Production rights obtained in 2006, following overthrow of Tony's Cronies in bloodless coup.

RAF Backfire B.1, 617 Sqn, RAF Scampton, 2008.  Essentially a Tu-22M3 with stealthier intakes (like on the Tornado 2000 project), no tail gun and new engines.

[Davey B]

...and the Electronic Warfare variant: Backfire E.2!  

Note fin-top housing, masses of blade aerials and satcom dome just for'ard of the fin.

Numbers were: 60 active B.1s (9, 617 squadrons and others when I do me research), 10 for the OCU and 10 E.2's for 360 Sqn.

HUUUUUGE potential internal load of ALARM, of course!  

Dave  B)  

[Swamphen]

   


But no tail gun?!      

[Zen]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We want this!


OOooohhh that was big...
BZZZTT size alteration memory failure

Changed image instead.

[TsrJoe]

hmmm..looks easy enough...ill see what i can do... B)  

[Gary]

I've been searching for a line drawing of the Blackjack that I can modify. Remove the fancy and expensive swing wing and the mid tailplane, compound delta the wing, extend the engine housings so that the noisy end is further back and a few RAF roundels and volia, a new delta bomber. Gotta give it a good name however. How about Janice?

[Davey B]

Nope, no tail gun. I'm thinking Stinger launcher instead!    

[Swamphen]

Nope, no tail gun. I'm thinking Stinger launcher instead!  

A la Flight of the Old Dog?    

All is forgiven!    

[Joe C-P]

I would think that the Su 34 would be a better bet for a 2006 RAF, given that the design is far more modern and has a stealthier shape.

Plus it's got bags of range too.  I've got one somewhere that fully intend to build as an RAF machine to replace Tornado.

Interesting; that makes at least three of us building Su-34s in non-Russian service now. Smells like the kernel of a GROUP BUILD!!  

Though I do like the idea of a Backfire in UK service, it's an old design and not likely to be very long in service, even with updates. Then again, the B-52 is planned to last in service for a century, so there's precedent.

JoeP

[Davey B]

Lee, I was thinking of something similar, but with the nose/cockpit of the Su-34 mated to an S-37 fuselage, maybe with a delta wing (drawing on the way, one day... )

This was for the bomber/cruise missile platform role.

[Hobbes]

I would think that the Su 34 would be a better bet for a 2006 RAF, given that the design is far more modern and has a stealthier shape.

Plus it's got bags of range too.  I've got one somewhere that fully intend to build as an RAF machine to replace Tornado.

Interesting; that makes at least three of us building Su-34s in non-Russian service now. Smells like the kernel of a GROUP BUILD!!  

Though I do like the idea of a Backfire in UK service, it's an old design and not likely to be very long in service, even with updates. Then again, the B-52 is planned to last in service for a century, so there's precedent.

JoeP

According to Strategypage, the Russians are downsizing their air force, and may have a regiment or two of Backfires for sale soon. What if the UK bought them to keep them out of other nations' hands?