BAC TSR-2

TSR-2
The only TSR-2 to fly, XR219 in anti-flash white finish, at BAC's Warton factory in 1966
General information
TypeStrike/reconnaissance
National originUnited Kingdom
ManufacturerBritish Aircraft Corporation
StatusCancelled
Number built3
History
First flight27 September 1964

The British Aircraft Corporation TSR-2 is a cancelled Cold War strike and reconnaissance aircraft developed by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The TSR-2 was designed around both conventional and nuclear weapons delivery: it was to penetrate well-defended frontline areas at low altitudes and very high speeds, and then attack high-value targets in rear areas. Another intended combat role was to provide high-altitude, high-speed stand-off, side-looking radar and photographic imagery and signals intelligence, aerial reconnaissance. Only one airframe flew and test flights and weight-rise during design indicated that the aircraft would be unable[1] to meet its original stringent[2] design specifications.[3][4][5][N 1] The design specifications were reduced as the result of flight testing.[6]

The TSR-2 was the victim of ever-rising costs[7] and inter-service squabbling[8] over Britain's future defence needs, which together led to the controversial decision in 1965 to scrap the programme. It was decided to order an adapted version of the General Dynamics F-111 instead, but that decision was later rescinded as costs and development times increased.[9] The replacements included the Blackburn Buccaneer and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, both of which had previously been considered and rejected early in the TSR-2 procurement process. Eventually, the smaller swing-wing Panavia Tornado was developed and adopted by a European consortium to fulfil broadly similar requirements to the TSR-2.

  1. ^ Burke 2010, p. 108.
  2. ^ Buttler 1995, p. 21.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Winchester p. 25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wood p. 179 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Thornborough 2005, pp. 3, 34.
  6. ^ Burke 2010, p. 109.
  7. ^ Burke 2010, p. 274.
  8. ^ Burke 2010, pp. 263–274.
  9. ^ Dorell, David, ed. "Short Cut to Suicide." Air Pictorial, Volume 27, no. 2, February 1965, pp. Cover, 35–36.


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