EC-121 Proliferation?

[Kiltonge]

In the mid-1950s the RAF was in the midst of the huge ROTOR ground-based radar & C2 upgrade, so funds for researching AEW / AWACS were undoubtedly lacking or de-prioritised. The focus was detection and interception of 'quiet', non-jamming bombers and evolved WW2 radars were adequate.

However by the early 1960s the limitations of ROTOR and the rise of EW were so evident that LINESMAN was underway leading to consolidation on a few huge Type 84 / 85 radars. AWACS would have been a perfect complement to those as one of the main requirements was overcoming ECM. Airborne radar could have worked around the main EW spikes interfering with the few ground-based radars; poor overland performance wouldn't have been a concern.

As it was, the AEW Shackleton that eventually arrived was so limited in performance that it mainly performed patrols *within* the existing radar coverage,

 

[Rule of cool]

In the mid-1950s the RAF was in the midst of the huge ROTOR ground-based radar & C2 upgrade, so funds for researching AEW / AWACS were undoubtedly lacking or de-prioritised. The focus was detection and interception of 'quiet', non-jamming bombers and evolved WW2 radars were adequate.

However by the early 1960s the limitations of ROTOR and the rise of EW were so evident that LINESMAN was underway leading to consolidation on a few huge Type 84 / 85 radars. AWACS would have been a perfect complement to those as one of the main requirements was overcoming ECM. Airborne radar could have worked around the main EW spikes interfering with the few ground-based radars; poor overland performance wouldn't have been a concern.

As it was, the AEW Shackleton that eventually arrived was so limited in performance that it mainly performed patrols *within* the existing radar coverage,

I looked up Linesman and ended up down a rabbit called Tank Hell, mid-late 60s exercises showing helicopters were effective against tanks. This led to the conclusion that a NATO-WP war might stay conventional for a prolonged period. This in turn led to the conclusion that the UK could suffer prolonged conventional air attack, especially as the Soviet Union looked like getting aircraft that could undertake such attacks.

By 1972 it had been concluded that AEW was the only solution to the UKs air defence needs.