Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Normal
I think there is a major difference between NATO strike aircraft before and after the early 60s.In the era when the F104G was developed its strike role was simply to carry a single US supplied freefall bomb on a fuselage pylon. It was only after NATO adopted "flexible response" that convention munitions were developed and multi-role fighter bombers like F4 came into their own.The UK was completely in step with this process. Canberras in RAFG would be replaced by TSR2 and P1154 in the nuclear role.Unlike W Germany the UK had out of NATO area responsibilities. It was this conventional role which used retread fighters. P1154 was a perfectly reasonable Hunter replacement if its development had not been slowed by trying to get the RN to use it. It was a STOVL not VTOL like the German jets or the P1127.Lightning did not need to be developed as a fighter bomber because P1154 then Jaguar were much more suitable.If the Germans had been less fixated on VTOL then P1154 could have met their pre and post flexible response needs.Buccaneer might have been a better aircraft for the German Maritime role but they wanted (and got) a single type in the fighter, strike, recce and maritime roles. They tried to do the same with MRCA Tornado but the F4 was better in the fighter role. The single seater MRCA100 was the German preference.
I think there is a major difference between NATO strike aircraft before and after the early 60s.
In the era when the F104G was developed its strike role was simply to carry a single US supplied freefall bomb on a fuselage pylon. It was only after NATO adopted "flexible response" that convention munitions were developed and multi-role fighter bombers like F4 came into their own.
The UK was completely in step with this process. Canberras in RAFG would be replaced by TSR2 and P1154 in the nuclear role.
Unlike W Germany the UK had out of NATO area responsibilities. It was this conventional role which used retread fighters. P1154 was a perfectly reasonable Hunter replacement if its development had not been slowed by trying to get the RN to use it. It was a STOVL not VTOL like the German jets or the P1127.
Lightning did not need to be developed as a fighter bomber because P1154 then Jaguar were much more suitable.
If the Germans had been less fixated on VTOL then P1154 could have met their pre and post flexible response needs.
Buccaneer might have been a better aircraft for the German Maritime role but they wanted (and got) a single type in the fighter, strike, recce and maritime roles. They tried to do the same with MRCA Tornado but the F4 was better in the fighter role. The single seater MRCA100 was the German preference.
