The Fairey Fireflash was the first British air-to-air missile. Generally unsuccessful, it served only in small numbers.

Development

Produced in response to a Ministry of Supply requirement for a guided air-to-air missile. The project began in 1949 under the name Blue Sky. It was initially developed under the designation Pine Hawk.

The Fireflash was a beam-riding missile, relying on radar command guidance from the launch aircraft. It had a very unusual configuration: the missile was propelled by a pair of solid rocket boosters on the foreward fuselage, which were jettisoned 1.5 seconds after launch, leaving the missile to coast into its target. This configuration was developed for fear that retaining the rocket motors would interfere with the guidance radar signals, but it inevitably limited both range and flight duration.

About 300 Fireflash missiles were produced by 1955, but the RAF soon decided it was untenable. The missiles were used for testing purposes in 1957 by the Supermarine Swift fighters of No 1 Guided Weapons Development Squadron at RAF Valley. The RAF chose to field the later Fairey Firestreak instead.

Specifications

• Length: 2.83 m (9 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: N/A
• Diameter: N/A
• Weight: 150 kg (330 lb)
• Speed: Mach 2
• Range: 3.1 km (1.9 mi)
• Guidance: beam-riding
• Warhead: N/A