Blue Streak missile

The Blue Streak missile was a British ballistic missile development programme of the mid to late-1950s, the initial design being based on licensed US technology. Black Knight was a vehicle intended to test the design for a re-entry head by firing it to altitudes of several hundreds of kilometers.

Related Topics:
British - Ballistic missile - 1950s - Black Knight

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Postwar Britain's nuclear weapons armament was initially based on free-fall bombs delivered by the V bomber force. It soon became clear that if Britain wanted to have a credible threat a ballistic missile would be essential. There was a political need for an independent deterrent, so Britain could remain one of the major post-war powers. The use of any American missile would have appeared to hand control to the US.

Related Topics:
Nuclear weapon - V bomber - US

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In April 1954 the Americans proposed a joint development programme for ballistic missiles. The United States would develop an ICBM of 5000 nautical mile (9,300 km) range, while the United Kingdom with United States support would develop a MRBM of 2000 nautical mile (3,700 km) range. The proposal was accepted as part of the Wilson-Sandys Agreement of August 1954 - which provided for collaboration, exchange of information and mutual planning of development programs. The decision to develop was influenced by what could be learnt about missile design and development in the US. Initial requirements for the booster were made by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough with input on the rocket engine design from the Rocket Propulsion Establishment at Westcott.

Related Topics:
ICBM - MRBM - Wilson-Sandys Agreement - Royal Aircraft Establishment - Farnborough - Rocket Propulsion Establishment - Westcott

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

De Havilland won the contract to build the missile, and it was to be powered by an uprated liquid-fuelled Rocketdyne S3D engine, developed by Rolls-Royce, called RZ2. Subcontractors included the Sperry Gyroscope Company who produced the guidance system whilst the warhead itself was designed by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston.

Related Topics:
De Havilland - Rocketdyne - Rolls-Royce - RZ2 - Sperry Gyroscope Company - Atomic Weapons Research Establishment - Aldermaston

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However doubts rose as the estimated cost rose, from the first tentative figure of £50m submitted to the Treasury in early 1955 to £300m in late 1959. The programme was crawling along compared with the speed of development in the US and the USSR.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~