Hubbry Logo
De Havilland FirestreakDe Havilland FirestreakMain
Open search
De Havilland Firestreak
Community hub
De Havilland Firestreak
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
De Havilland Firestreak
De Havilland Firestreak
De Havilland Firestreak
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Key Information

The de Havilland Firestreak is a British first-generation, passive infrared homing (heat seeking) air-to-air missile. It was developed by de Havilland Propellers (later Hawker Siddeley) in the early 1950s, entering service in 1957. It was the first such weapon to enter active service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Fleet Air Arm, equipping the English Electric Lightning, de Havilland Sea Vixen and Gloster Javelin. It was a rear-aspect, fire and forget pursuit weapon, with a field of attack of 20 degrees either side of the target.[1]

Developed under the rainbow code "Blue Jay", Firestreak was the third heat-seeking missile to enter service, after the US AIM-4 Falcon and AIM-9 Sidewinder, both of which entered service the previous year. In comparison to those designs, the Firestreak was larger and almost twice as heavy, carrying a much larger warhead. It had otherwise similar performance in terms of speed and range. It was also a very complex system, with an unusual internal design, requiring the launch aircraft to provide both cooling for its valve-based electronics and heating to prevent various moving parts from freezing prior to launch.

An improved version, "Blue Vesta", was developed as part of the Operational Requirement F.155 project but ended when that project was canceled in 1957. Development restarted as a somewhat simpler version for the Lightning which was given the name "Red Top". This featured transistorized electronics and greatly simplified internal design. Keeping its code name, it entered service on Lightning and Sea Vixen as the Hawker Siddeley Red Top. Red Top could not be carried on early versions of the Lightning, and so Firestreak remained in service until 1988, when the last RAF Lightnings retired.

Development

[edit]

Red Hawk

[edit]

Firestreak was the result of a series of projects begun with the OR.1056 Red Hawk missile, which called for an all-aspect seeker that could attack a target from any launch position. When this proved too ambitious for the state of the art, another specification lacking the all-aspect requirement was released as Blue Sky, which briefly entered service as Fireflash the year before Firestreak.

Blue Jay

[edit]

In 1951 the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), in charge of missile development, felt that infrared seeking had progressed to the point of reconsidering the Red Hawk requirement. This too turned out to be too demanding for the seekers of the era, although a more limited tail-aspect design was clearly possible in the short term. This was given the name "Pink Hawk".[a] This led to an official specification for a lower-performance Red Hawk that was released in 1951 as OR.1117, and given the Ministry of Supply rainbow codename Blue Jay.[1]

Blue Jay developed as a fairly conventional-looking missile with cropped delta wings mounted just aft of the midpoint and small rectangular control surfaces in tandem towards the rear. Internally, things were considerably more complex. The tube-based electronics took up most of the forward quarter of the fuselage, leaving little room for a warhead. This led to the warhead being moved to the rear of the fuselage where it was wrapped around the rocket nozzle. That left no room for the actuators for the rear-mounted control fins, which were instead operated by nose-mounted actuators via long pushrods.[2] The actuators were powered by compressed air from bottles at the extreme rear, fed forward through long pipes. The air bottles also powered a turbo-alternator for electrical power after launch. In the case of a miss, the missile self-destructed when the alternator slowed down after the air ran out.[3]

The Magpie rocket motor took up only a small portion of the missile fuselage, placed between the actuators and the warhead, roughly centred under the mid-mounted wings. It consisted of 61 pounds (28 kg) of cordite that burned for 1.9 seconds, exiting the rear of the missile via a long tailpipe running through the rear section of the missile.[3]

The lead telluride (PbTe) IR seeker was mounted under an eight-faceted conical arsenic trisulphide "pencil" nose and was cooled to −180 °C (−292.0 °F) to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The unusual faceted nose was chosen when a more conventional hemispherical nose proved prone to ice accretion.[4] The seeker was cooled by running filtered air through an ammonia-cooled heat exchanger.[5]

There were two rows of triangular windows in bands around the forward fuselage, behind which sat the optical proximity fuzes for the warhead. The prodigious 19.3 pounds (8.8 kg) warhead had a 40 feet (12 m) lethal radius and was triggered either by the proximity fuzes or four contact fuses set on the front of the wings. The outer casing of the warhead was designed to fragment into 0.25-ounce (7.1 g) pieces fired forward in a 50 degree cone.[3]

The electronics, made from vacuum tubes, generated significant heat. For this reason, the Firestreak missile undergoing a ground test was cooled by Arcton, and in-flight by ammonia pumped through the missile from bottles in the rear of the launching "shoe". The bottles contained enough ammonia for 15 minutes, so the missile could only be started up during the approach. An air bottle in the fuselage-mounted weapon pack kept the ammonia bottles pressurized before launch. Hot air from the engine compressor stages connected to the rear of the launch pack and was routed to the missiles. During flight, this kept various moving components warm, warm enough that they would not freeze up during the 13 second flight time.[6]

Service

[edit]
Lightning T4 trainer with a dummy Firestreak missile drill round (1964)

The first airborne launch of Blue Jay took place in 1954 from a de Havilland Venom, the target drone - a Fairey Firefly - being destroyed.[4] Blue Jay Mk.1 entered service in 1957 with the RAF, where it was named Firestreak. Firestreak was deployed by the Royal Navy and the RAF in August 1958;[7] it was the first effective British air-to-air missile.[7]

For launch, the missile seeker was slaved to the launch aircraft's radar (Ferranti AIRPASS in the Lightning and GEC AI.18 in the Sea Vixen) until lock was achieved and the weapon was launched, leaving the interceptor free to acquire another target.[8] A downside was that the missile was highly toxic (due to either the Magpie rocket motor or the ammonia coolant) and RAF armourers had to wear some form of CRBN protection to safely mount the missile onto an aircraft.[citation needed] "Unlike modern [1990s] missiles, ... Firestreak could only be fired outside cloud, and in winter, skies were rarely clear over the UK."[9]

Improvements

[edit]

Two minor Blue Jay variants were studied but not adopted. The Blue Jay Mk.2 included the more powerful Magpie II motor and a PbTe seeker which offered better detection capabilities. Blue Jay Mk.3 had an increased wingspan and reduced performance motor. The derated motor was intended to limit acceleration when launched from supersonic rocket-powered interceptors such as the Saunders-Roe SR.177 and Avro 720, where the additional speed imparted by the Magpie II would have given it a maximum speed so high it would suffer from adverse aerodynamic heating.[10]

Looking for an improved weapon for the Operational Requirement F.155 interceptors, in 1955 the Air Ministry issued OR.1131 for an all-aspect design capability against enemy aircraft traveling at Mach 2. De Havilland responded with Blue Jay Mk.4, which was later given its own rainbow code, Blue Vesta. This adopted the PbTe seeker of Mk.2, further improved by cooling it to improve its sensitivity in what became known as the "Violet Banner" seeker. The motor was further upgraded to the new Magpie III. To handle the aerodynamic heating issues, the fins were made of steel rather than aluminum, and featured cut-away sections to keep the rear portions of the surfaces out of the Mach cones, a feature they referred to as "mach tips".[11][b] Work on Mk.4 was curtailed after 1956 as the RAE decided that the closing speeds of two Mach 2+ aircraft would be so rapid that the missile would have no chance to be launched while still within the range of its seeker.[11]

In August 1956, the Fleet Air Arm took over development of the Blue Jay line with Blue Jay Mk.5, replacing the IR seeker with a semi-active radar homing (SARH) system intended to be used with the De Havilland Sea Vixen's AI.18 radar with a special continual wave illuminator mode. This was otherwise identical to Mk.4, differing only by replacing its seeker section with a longer ogive nose cone holding the radar receiver antenna. Problems fitting the illuminator antenna to the Sea Vixen ended work on this project. In November 1957 it was briefly restarted under the name Blue Dolphin as other radar-guided developments ended, but this was never deployed.[11]

Red Top

[edit]
Main article: Red Top (missile)

After the fallout of the 1957 Defence White Paper led to the cancellation of the F.155 and many other aircraft and missile projects, the English Electric Lightning was allowed to continue largely because development was almost complete. This left it with no modern weapon, so Blue Vesta was reactivated in a slightly modified form.[7] In November 1957, paperwork with the Blue Vesta name on it was considered disclosed and the project was assigned the new name "Red Top".[12]

In contrast to the Mk.4 there were several important changes. The adoption of transistorized circuits in place of the former thermionic valves eliminated the need for cooling the electronics, as well as making the guidance section significantly smaller. This allowed the warhead to be moved from its former position near the tail to the midsection, which also allowed it to grow in size and weight, replacing the former blast-fragmentation type with an expanding-rod system that was significantly deadlier. The rear section of the missile was now left empty, allowing the fin actuators to be moved there, removing the complex routing. This still left more room that was used up by replacing the Magpie III with the new Linnet, which offered significantly higher performance and boosted the typical top speed of the missile from Mach 2.4 to 3.2 whilst almost doubling effective range to 7.5 miles (12.1 km).

Given the elimination of the ammonia cooling, which was also used by the Violet Banner seeker of the Mk.4, the decision was made to use a simplified seeker that did not require cooling to the same level. This led to a new indium antimonide (InSb) design that was cooled with purified air at 3,000 psi (21 MPa) filtered to 3 μm. This reduced its sensitivity compared to Violet Banner, lacking its true all-aspect ability, but further simplified the design and eliminated ground handling concerns.

Never given its own name by the RAF, the new design entered service in 1964 as Red Top. It was faster and had a longer range than Firestreak,[7] and "was capable of all aspect homing against super-sonic targets."[7] Despite Red Top being intended to replace Firestreak, Firestreak remained in limited service until the final retirement of the Lightning in 1988; carrying Red Top required more vertical tail to stabilize the effects of the missile's larger wings, so Firestreak remained in use on older models of the Lightning.

Operators

[edit]
Map with Firestreak operators in blue
A Firestreak on its trolley. The fuse windows are visible adjacent to the red rubber bands used to protect them.
Firestreak at RAF Museum Cosford

Past operators

[edit]
 Kuwait
 Saudi Arabia
 United Kingdom

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

De Havilland Firestreak

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Firestreak was a British first-generation, passive developed by de Havilland Propellers as the world's third operational heat-seeking weapon and the United Kingdom's inaugural guided system. Initially designated , its development commenced around 1952 amid demands for intercepting Soviet bombers, with full-scale service trials beginning in 1957 aboard the fighter. Measuring 3.19 meters in length and weighing 136 kg, the solid-fuel rocket-powered missile featured a 22.7 kg annular blast-fragmentation and a maximum range of approximately 10 miles (16 km), though it was limited to rear-aspect engagements requiring pursuit of the target. Entering operational service in 1957 with the Royal Air Force's and the Fleet Air Arm's in 1958, the Firestreak was later integrated into the interceptor from 1960, enhancing all-weather day and night capabilities against high-altitude threats. It remained in frontline use for over three decades until 1988, arming RAF and squadrons throughout its service life without ever being fired in combat, while its high development costs—escalating from an initial estimate of £4 million to approximately £33 million, with further expenditures on improvements—highlighted the technological challenges of early guided weaponry. The missile's seeker, which homed on engine exhaust heat, proved effective in trials, including successful shootdowns during Australian tests, but its aspect restriction prompted upgrades leading to the improved Red Top variant with enhanced range and seeker performance.

Development

Origins

In the years following , Britain faced a growing need for advanced air defense systems to counter the rising threat of Soviet strategic bombers, such as the and later Tu-95, which could potentially overwhelm traditional gun-armed interceptors. The and prioritized the development of guided air-to-air missiles to equip emerging jet fighters, marking a shift from postwar propeller-driven aircraft toward supersonic-era weapons capable of all-weather operations. This urgency drove the to issue early operational requirements for passive, heat-seeking interceptors that could enhance interception ranges without relying on active emissions. The foundational project emerged as Operational Requirement OR.1056, codenamed Red Hawk, which envisioned an all-aspect using advanced guidance for head-on or beam attacks. Initiated in 1945 amid broader British guided weapons research, Propellers—leveraging its expertise from developing the de Havilland Vampire jet fighter and its naval Sea Vampire variant—took on the infrared-homing variant in 1948 as the first practical concept for a passive seeker targeting engine exhaust plumes. This built on wartime rocketry experience and addressed the limitations of earlier beam-riding systems like , focusing on simpler, rear-hemisphere engagement to match contemporary technology. By 1951, the ambitious all-aspect goals of Red Hawk proved unfeasible, leading to a revised specification under OR.1117, rainbow-coded , which emphasized rear-aspect for improved reliability against retreating bombers. This evolution included requirements for integration with gyro gunsights on carrier-based and land-based fighters, allowing pilots to designate targets via stabilized aiming reticles before launch. The provided initial funding through a development contract to Propellers, prioritizing a lightweight, rocket-powered design with a cryogenically cooled seeker to detect and track heat signatures passively, without onboard .

Testing and Entry into Service

Ground tests of the missile, later redesignated Firestreak, began in 1952 to evaluate its guidance and systems. These early trials focused on static firings and component validation at facilities in the . Research and development firings were also conducted in to further evaluate performance. Air launch trials commenced in 1954 using a as the carrier aircraft, marking a significant step in verifying the missile's performance under dynamic conditions. A key milestone occurred during one such test when a Firestreak successfully intercepted and destroyed a , demonstrating the system's ability to track and engage heat sources in flight. Development faced notable challenges, particularly in maintaining seeker sensitivity and electronic reliability. The seeker required cryogenic cooling, achieved on the ground with Arcton (a substitute) and in flight via circulated from the parent aircraft to counter the heat from vacuum tube-based electronics, which also suffered from sensitivity and failure rates during extended tests. Production scaled up starting in 1956 under de Havilland Propellers, which integrated into Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, with initial program costs estimated at £4 million; by 1960, cumulative expenditures reached £33 million plus an additional £20 million for the Mark IV variant due to iterative improvements and expanded . The received its official designation as Firestreak in 1956. Initial operational capability was attained with the Royal Air Force in 1957, followed by full service entry in August 1958. Integration testing with the interceptor proceeded concurrently, confirming compatibility for carrying up to four Firestreak missiles alongside radar and cannon armament, enabling effective all-weather operations against bomber threats.

Design

Guidance System

The de Havilland Firestreak employed a passive , relying on the detection of heat emissions from a target's jet exhaust to guide the autonomously after launch. The seeker head featured lead telluride (PbTe) detectors housed within an eight-faceted conical dome made of glass, providing transparency to wavelengths while protecting the optics. These detectors were cooled to approximately -180°C using an ammonia-based system during flight, with gaseous (known as Arcton in British nomenclature) employed for ground testing to maintain sensitivity by reducing thermal noise and enhancing detection of the target's in the 3-5 micrometer . The system was strictly rear-aspect only, requiring the launching to be in pursuit of the target for effective engagement, with a narrow of 20 degrees either side of the boresight. Launches were typically directed by the parent 's , such as the AI.17 in the , which slaved the seeker's gimbal to the lock, allowing the pilot to position the for acquisition before firing; once locked, the Firestreak operated as a weapon without further input. Guidance followed principles, where the missile's line-of-sight rate to the target determined acceleration commands to maintain collision course, prioritizing yaw and pitch adjustments over roll for stability during high-speed flight. Control authority was provided by cruciform control surfaces at the rear, hydraulically actuated based on signals from the seeker's error detectors, which compared the target's position to the missile's centerline. The electronic suite, including the and , relied on vacuum-tube technology, which was robust but generated significant heat and was susceptible to early countermeasures like flares that mimicked jet exhaust signatures. This vacuum-tube design contributed to the system's reliability in the but limited updates until transistorization in later variants. Maintenance posed hazards due to the toxicity of the freon coolant and the solid-fuel rocket's components, requiring specialized protective equipment for handlers to avoid inhalation or skin contact risks.

Airframe, Propulsion, and Warhead

The de Havilland Firestreak utilized a slender, cylindrical constructed primarily from aluminum alloy, ensuring structural integrity under high-speed flight conditions, with components for reinforcement and a glass nose cone to provide transparency for the seeker assembly. This design incorporated wings with a span of 0.75 meters for stability, resulting in overall dimensions of 3.19 meters in and 0.223 meters in . The total launch weight stood at 136 kg, balancing aerodynamic efficiency with the need to house and elements. Propulsion was supplied by the Bristol Aerojet single-stage solid-fuel rocket motor, a compact unit that delivered high to achieve supersonic performance. This motor accelerated the to a maximum speed of Mach 3, with an effective range of 6.4 km, supported by a burn duration of about 1.9 seconds that transitioned from boost to coast phases. The design emphasized reliability in aerial launch environments, contributing to the 's operational envelope up to 15 g lateral . The consisted of a 22.7 kg high-explosive fragmentation charge equipped with an impact fuse, positioned in the forward section to maximize destructive effect on the target while minimizing risk to the rear-mounted seeker. This annular blast configuration dispersed fragments effectively against structures, enhancing lethality within the missile's engagement parameters. The overall system supported a storage life suitable for squadron-level readiness, with environmental tolerances for temperatures typical of carrier and land-based operations.

Operational History

Deployment

The de Havilland Firestreak entered operational service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1957, initially equipping the FAW.5 as its primary for all-weather interception duties. This integration allowed the Javelin to carry up to four Firestreak missiles on underwing pylons, enhancing its capability for air defense patrols over the and overseas bases. In 1959, the (FAA) adopted the Firestreak for carrier-based operations, with the first squadron, No. 892, integrating it into the FAW.1, which could accommodate four missiles alongside rocket packs for fleet defense. The missile's deployment expanded to RAF F.1A and F.3 variants starting in 1960, featuring underwing pylons and compatibility with the aircraft's Ferranti AI-23 radar fire-control system for intercept missions. By the early 1960s, Firestreak-equipped aircraft formed the backbone of air defenses, with routine (QRA) patrols conducted during the by squadrons such as RAF No. 25 Squadron at RAF Waterbeach, which operated Javelins armed with the missile from 1960 onward. FAA units like No. 893 Squadron also incorporated Firestreak training into their curricula at RNAS Yeovilton, emphasizing missile handling and tactical employment. Production reached approximately 4,000 units by the late , supporting a peak RAF and FAA inventory exceeding 2,000 missiles to equip frontline squadrons across multiple bases. Logistics involved standardized maintenance protocols, including periodic seeker-head cooling checks and solid-fuel motor inspections at armories like RAF , ensuring reliability during extended service through the .

Limitations and Operational Use

The de Havilland Firestreak was restricted to rear-aspect engagements, requiring the launching aircraft to pursue the target from behind to acquire a lock on its engine exhaust heat signature, rendering it ineffective against approaching or broadside threats. Its passive guidance system was also vulnerable to environmental factors, such as cloud cover, which could obscure the target's thermal emissions and prevent reliable targeting. In operational exercises and trials, the Firestreak achieved a launch success rate of 94% but an overall success rate of approximately 30%, with guidance and fuzing issues reducing , particularly at lower altitudes below 10,000 feet. The Firestreak saw no during its from 1957 to 1988, as the Royal Air Force and encountered no major air-to-air conflicts requiring its use against enemy bombers or fighters. In potential situations, pilots often preferred the aircraft's armament for closer-range or non-ideal aspect engagements due to the missile's constraints. The missile underwent gradual phase-out as the more capable Red Top entered service on platforms like the and , providing improved all-aspect capability; Firestreak remained in limited use alongside its successor until the Lightning's final retirement in April 1988. Handling the Firestreak presented operational challenges due to its toxic propellants in the Magpie rocket motor and ammonia cooling system, necessitating that RAF armourers wear chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protective equipment during loading and maintenance to avoid exposure risks; while no major accidental launches were recorded, these hazards contributed to stringent safety protocols in the 1960s.

Variants and Successors

Firestreak Improvements

During its service life, the de Havilland Firestreak underwent several proposed enhancements to address limitations in , seeker performance, and launch conditions, though many remained experimental or limited in scope. The Mk.2 variant incorporated a more powerful Magpie II motor for increased and an improved lead telluride (PbTe) seeker head for better sensitivity, with testing conducted around 1955; however, it saw only limited adoption due to the rapid progression toward more advanced designs. Similarly, the Mk.3 featured larger wings to enhance stability during high-altitude launches and a derated motor to extend , entering limited production in 1958 primarily for integration with supersonic platforms, though its deployment was constrained by ongoing shifts in interceptor requirements. Further development efforts included ambitious but ultimately canceled projects aimed at expanding the missile's engagement envelope. The Mk.4, redesignated Blue Vesta, sought all-aspect capability using an advanced PbTe seeker with a 60-degree look angle and reinforced steel fins for high-speed operations up to Mach 2.0 at 60,000 feet, but it was abandoned in 1957 following the Sandys Defence White Paper, which prioritized cost reductions and canceled associated interceptor programs like OR.329. Likewise, the Mk.5, renamed Blue Dolphin, proposed to enable beyond-visual-range engagements akin to the , initiated in August 1956 by the for low-altitude naval applications with further redesignation considerations in 1957, but it was not pursued due to resource reallocation and the same 1957 cancellations. In the , later production batches of the base Firestreak received minor retrofits focused on upgrades, replacing valve-based systems with more compact transistorized components to boost reliability and reduce cooling requirements. These changes, while not addressing inherent vulnerabilities like poor countermeasures inherent to early seekers, helped maintain operational readiness amid evolving threats. These incremental upgrades collectively extended the Firestreak's viability into the mid-1960s by improving launch flexibility and system dependability, bridging the gap until the introduction of more capable successors without necessitating full redesigns.

Red Top

The Red Top missile emerged as a significant evolution of the Firestreak, with development initiated in 1956 by Propellers (later ) as an upgraded variant codenamed Blue Jay Mark 4. This project aimed to address limitations in the Firestreak's rear-aspect-only guidance by incorporating a more advanced seeker for broader engagement angles, alongside a redesigned and system. The missile was officially renamed Red Top to reflect its substantial improvements, and production transitioned to following the company's formation in 1963. Key enhancements in the Red Top included an improved "Violet Banner" infrared seeker that enabled targeting capability, allowing engagements against aircraft from various angles rather than solely tail-on approaches, though rear-aspect shots remained preferred for optimal performance. The was enlarged to 31 kg from the Firestreak's 22.7 kg, utilizing a continuous-rod for greater lethality. was upgraded with the Linnet IIA solid-fuel motor, which provided a top speed of Mach 3 and extended the effective range to approximately 12 km, compared to the Firestreak's shorter reach. Additionally, the Red Top eliminated the ammonia-based cooling of the Firestreak, replacing it with an Arcton cooling system—and featured enhanced electronics housed in compact "canned" modules, improving reliability and resistance to countermeasures like flares through better heat signature discrimination. The Red Top entered operational service in 1964, arming fighters and aircraft, with the Lightning's tail section modified to accommodate the larger missile. It was also exported to and . Production continued under until the late 1970s, supporting widespread deployment during the era. Operationally, it offered superior maneuverability and speed over the Firestreak, serving as the primary short-range air-to-air weapon for intercepting high-speed Soviet bombers, though it still required clear weather conditions for effective . Retirement of the Red Top began in the mid-1980s and concluded in 1988 alongside the phase-out of the and remaining Firestreak stocks, marking the end of indigenous British infrared missile production for that generation. Its advanced all-aspect seeker and robust design influenced subsequent developments in infrared-guided missiles, including enhancements to the American series.

Operators

United Kingdom

The de Havilland Firestreak entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1957, primarily arming all-weather interceptors such as the and later the . Squadrons including No. 25, No. 11, and No. 23 operated these aircraft equipped with Firestreak missiles, with No. 25 Squadron based at RAF Waterbeach deploying Javelins armed with up to four Firestreaks each during the early 1960s. No. 23 Squadron, stationed at and later , integrated Firestreaks on Javelin FAW.9s for night and all-weather defense roles. No. 11 Squadron transitioned to F.3s at RAF Binbrook in the mid-1960s, carrying two Firestreaks alongside cannons for high-altitude . In total, the RAF operated Firestreaks across 19 Javelin squadrons and several Lightning units, with a significant portion based in —such as Nos. 19 and 92 Squadrons at —for air defense commitments from the late 1950s until the mid-1960s. The (FAA) integrated Firestreak missiles on the starting in 1959, adapting the weapon for carrier-based operations with reinforced launch rails to withstand catapult launches and arrested landings. Units such as No. 899 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton served as the primary evaluation and training unit, while No. 892 Squadron deployed Sea Vixens armed with four Firestreaks on HMS Victorious during exercises in the early 1960s. These naval adaptations emphasized all-weather interception from aircraft carriers, with Firestreaks providing the FAA's first infrared-guided air-to-air capability at sea. Firestreak remained in RAF and FAA service from 1957 until 1988, when the last Lightning F.6s were retired; a transition to the improved Red Top missile began in the early 1960s, but many units retained Firestreaks as a secondary armament through the 1970s and 1980s. Training for Firestreak operations occurred at specialized facilities, including RAF Valley on Anglesey for live-fire missile practice camps, where squadrons conducted guided firings against drone targets from the late 1950s onward. Boscombe Down served as a key testing and evaluation site, hosting early trials and upgrades for both RAF and FAA airframes. Following retirement, surplus Firestreaks were disposed of through demilitarization or storage, with inert examples preserved for historical purposes; notable survivals include missiles displayed at the RAF Museum in and Cosford, showcasing the weapon's role in air defense.

Export Operators

The acquired de Havilland Firestreak missiles in the late as part of its procurement of F.53K fighters, integrating them into its air defense capabilities. Firestreak missiles were supplied to equip the Kuwaiti fleet, with service continuing through the 1970s until the Lightnings were retired in 1977 and replaced by F1s armed with more advanced U.S. Sidewinder missiles. technical support, including pilot training and maintenance assistance, was provided to ensure compatibility and operational readiness of the missiles on local platforms. The Royal Saudi Air Force received its first Firestreak deliveries starting in 1967, arming the newly acquired Lightning F.53 interceptors as a key component of its aerial interception force. These missiles were integrated alongside UK-supplied training programs to support Saudi personnel in their deployment, with the Firestreaks serving until the mid-1980s when the Lightnings were phased out in favor of advanced U.S. systems like on upgraded platforms such as the F-15 Eagle. Beyond these primary recipients, the Firestreak underwent evaluations in other nations, such as , where it was test-fired from a locally built over the Woomera range in 1957, though it was ultimately not adopted for service due to preferences for alternative systems. Exports remained limited, reflecting the weapon's niche role in Cold War-era international sales.

References

  1. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co202116/red-top-and-firestreak-air-to-air-guided-missiles-and-trolly
  2. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/firestreak.htm
  3. https://www.key.aero/article/developing-lightnings-red-top-missile
  4. https://www.key.aero/article/de-havilland-air-air-missiles
  5. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Fireflash
  6. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD0610765.pdf
  7. http://www.astronautix.com/f/firestreak.html
  8. https://www.armedconflicts.com/GBR-Firestreak-Mk-1-t63029
  9. https://www.bamhurn.org/exhibits/aircraft-armaments/
  10. https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/firestreak-missile-performance.32916/
  11. https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/javelin/history.php
  12. https://www.airvectors.net/avjavlin.html
  13. https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/r/7333
  14. https://heritage.baesystems.com/page/english-electric-lightning
  15. https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/no-25-squadron-returning-to-fly-the-hawk-t2/
  16. https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/postwar-british-missile-procurement.32301/
  17. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/red-top.htm
  18. https://www.businessinsider.com/this-firestreak-air-to-air-missile-on-ebay-2013-1
  19. https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/red-top-missile-performance-all-aspect-capability.32917/page-2
  20. https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/hawker-siddeley-red-top-air-to-air-missile/
  21. https://www.airvectors.net/aveeltg.html
  22. https://www.valleyaviationsociety.co.uk/missiles-galore
  23. https://collections.rafmuseum.org.uk/collection/object/object-43831/
  24. https://www.scribd.com/document/771267262/Osprey-Aircam-Aviation-37-English-Electric-Lightning-in-RAF-and-Foreign-Service
  25. https://www.key.aero/article/kuwait-air-force-lightnings-secret-history
  26. http://www.pilotspost.co.za/PsPpyarn3310
  27. https://www.alamy.com/de-havilland-firestreak-infra-red-air-to-air-guided-missile-is-launched-at-over-40000ft-from-an-australian-built-north-american-f-86-sabre-over-the-woomera-rocket-range-in-australia-the-missile-went-on-to-hit-the-jindivik-target-1957-image504791515.html
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.