Summary
- The UK built a series of three early jet bomber aircraft called the V-bombers, which were designed to carry and release nuclear weapons.
- The Vickers Valiant, Handley Page Victor, and Avro Vulcan were the three different V-bombers that fulfilled this role.
- The Valiant was the first V-bomber to enter service but was ultimately retired earlier due to its limitations compared to the other two bombers. The Vulcan was the most numerous and versatile, while the Victor had the longest range and was later converted into a tanker.
There have been many military aircraft built in the UK over the past decades. This includes a series of three early jet bomber aircraft - known as the V-bombers. These were built by three different British manufacturers and designed to carry and release nuclear weapons. The Vickers Valiant, the Handley Page Victor, and the Avro Vulcan all fulfilled this role, but with quite different designs, performance, and use after their nuclear role ended.
Nuclear deterrent in the 1950s and 1960s
The United Kingdom's atomic weapon program picked up after the end of the Second World War. As well as designing weapons, the government tasked the Royal Air Force to design new aircraft capable of carrying them. These were to be jet aircraft (of course, a new development at this time and a big shift from the heavy four-engine bombers of the Second World War) and medium-range bombers (capable of reaching the Soviet Union from UK bases).
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Three manufacturers for V-bombers
Many UK aircraft manufacturers submitted proposals for aircraft. In 1947, Avro and Handley Page were given orders to proceed with their developments. Using two manufacturers added redundancy and safety in case one design did not work out as planned. Avro opted for a delta wing design, whereas Handley Page proposed a crescent wing.
Photo: Shutterstock /WillemanPhoto
A third contract was awarded in 1948 to Vickers Armstrong, with the motivation to add another option as insurance against problems, with a simpler more traditional design.
Ultimately, all three designs were successful, and all three manufacturers went on to produce bombers – the Vickers Valiant, the Handley Page Victor, and the Avro Vulcan. This choice of three manufacturers not only gave redundancy, but also resulted in three quite different aircraft with different sets of capabilities.
The Vickers Valiant
Vickers was the first manufacturer to get a V-bomber into service. The Vickers Valiant first entered service in 1955 (having first flown as early as 1951). The image below shows the first prototype Valiant flying at the Farnborough Airshow in 1951.
Photo: Public domain via Wikimedia
The Valiant was a four-engine jet bomber. It was a more straightforward and less aerodynamically advanced design than the other two aircraft (hence their later addition), but still met its targets for payload and high speed. It suffered in performance compared to the other V-bombers after operations changed, however.
The V-bombers were initially intended to operate at high altitudes, but these moved to lower altitude flying (to better avoid surface-to-air missile systems) for which the other aircraft were better designed. This led to it being the first of the V-bombers to be retired in 1965 without an updated version being developed. In total, 108 aircraft were built.
The Avro Vulcan
The Vulcan from Avro entered military service next, in 1956. It was a delta-wing design and the highest speed of any of the bombers. The Vulcan was improved in the late 1950s with an updated B2 version, adding inflight refueling capability, higher thrust engines, and additional electronic countermeasure defenses.
The Vulcan was the most numerous of the V-bombers, with 136 aircraft delivered, and it stayed in service until 1984. Later service saw it take on other roles (as the nuclear deterrent role has shifted to submarines). Some aircraft were converted for reconnaissance use, and six for aerial refueling roles. Other aircraft continued as conventional bomber aircraft – famously seeing active service in the Falkland Islands in the early 1980s before retirement.
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Handley Page Victor
The Handley Page Victor was the last V-bomber to enter service - in 1957. Like the Vulcan, it took on an advanced design (seen initially as risky by the government) with a crescent wing design. It also performed well (at both high and low altitudes) and offered the longest range of the three types. Like the Vulcan, the Victor also saw an improved B2 variant.
Photo: Mike Freer via Wikimedia
After ending their nuclear deterrent role, many of the Victor aircraft went on to be converted into tankers (the refueling conversion is pictured below). The Vulcan offered better low-level performance with its delta wing, so it was chosen in preference to the Victor for continued bombing operations.
Photo: RuthAS via Wikimedia
Refueling capability in the late 1960s was limited, and this conversion was a good option. The Victor continued in its tanker role until 1993 (including supporting the Vulcans in the Falklands).
The three V-bombers are important aircraft in UK military history. Although none remain flying, they can all be seen in museums. Feel free to discuss more about the aircraft’s design or service in the comments section.
