Hawker Siddeley Red Top

The Hawker Siddeley (later British Aerospace) Red Top was the second indigenous British air-to-air missile.

Development

The Red Top, originally named Firestreak Mk. IV, was developed as a rationalized, upgraded version of the earlier Fairey Firestreak air-to-air missile. It arranged its components in more logical fashion than the curiously backward Firestreak (which had its warhead in the tail), with an improved 'Violet Banner' seeker, 'Green Garland' IR fuse, and a more powerful Linnet booster rocket. It also had a larger warhead, 31 kg (68.3 lb) versus 22.7 kg (50 lb).

The Red Top had greater range and maneuverability than the Firestreak, and its more sensitive infrared seeker enabled a wider range of engagement angles (although it was not a true all-aspect missile like the later AIM-9L/AIM-M Sidewinder).

Firestreak entered service in 1958, arming English Electric Lightning and De Havilland Sea Vixen. It remained in limited service until the final retirement of the Lightning in 1988.

A variant called Blue Dolphin or Blue Jay Mk. V, was proposed, using semi-active radar homing for capability similar to the AIM-7 Sparrow, but it was not adopted.

Specifications

• Length: 3.32 m (130.6 in)
• Wingspan: 0.91 m (35.75 in)
• Diameter: 223 mm (8.75 in)
• Weight: 154 kg (340 lb)
• Speed: Mach 3.2
• Range: 12 km (7.5 mi)
• Guidance: rear-aspect infrared
• Warhead: 31 kg (68.3 lb) annular blast fragmentation