Project M.I.N.T.

[McColm]

The British Air Ministry and the Admiralty came up with a joint operation known as M.I..N.T.
Maritime Intelligence Northern Territories during the Cold War.
The public got to see the Avro Shackleton carrying out their missions but behind the scenes the Royal Air Force was flying a variety of aircraft to patrol the Artic Circle. One of the largest was based on the Convair B-36 Peacemaker, surplus examples were being replaced by the new Boeing B-52s. The Air Ministry would acquire 11 airframes of the various RB-36s. Seven would be in flying order but underwent a rigorous conversion. The first noticeable change was the use of four Rolls-Royce Tyne turboprops engines in a similar fashion to the B-36G but having a
V-tail for better handling. The four bomb bays would house the cables and pipework for the avionics for the radar operators. The connecting tunnels removed and fore & aft galley with flushing toilets. The rear guns removed, replaced with ECM equipment. Along the fuselage a pair of cargo doors were fitted for the ease of maintenance to the interior or extra supplies. Later versions would get two pairs of Rolls-Royce Conway engines 'four for turning, four four burning ' as the missions could last upto 30 hours . Camera packs were fitted along the underside of the fuselage, whilst in the nose and rear two AN/APS-20 radars gave 360° coverage and the third radar provided the weather. Up front: pilot, copilot, two flight engineers,  navigator below with the communications officer and ECM officer, three observers,  fifteen radar operators and three team leaders (each team leader had five radar operators which could cover; air threats,  surface threats and subsurface threats) with the Skipper in overall command. A no smoking policy was in place but a rum ration on the return leg on the discretion of the Skipper was allowed
These were know as the Convair Peacehavens ER.1s and ER.1As respectfully. Such was the power generated from the avionics that enemy radars could be fried either in the air or on the ground. With a few unconfirmed reports of shipping being effected as well.
Rumours of an all jet powered version of the Peacehaven using the wings from a B-52G surfaced in the mid 1980s with the ability to refuel and be used as a flying command centre. The RAF gave a statement that one of the Peacehavens was undergoing trials with the FASS but wasn't fully operational as to the status of the others they were for experimental purposes only.
With the threats of nuclear weapons from the Soviet Union, the Air Ministry set up Space Command, the SJM Nebulous missile/rocket interceptor capable of hypersonic speeds would shoot down ICBMs before entering UK Airspace. Both Norway and Canada asked for this service be extended to them in return for funding and air bases to operate from.
The Nebulous was the fastest manned aircraft until the Space Shuttle entered service.
A government spokesperson during the 1990s could only confirm that the Nebulous is part of the MODUK Black Projects.
 With satellite and radar technology becoming more sophisticated the argument for manned aircraft to patrol M.I. N.T. is still being debated. SJMcColm Engineering Ltd provides operational experimental aircraft for such duties under the command of the RAF and Royal Navy.