Yf-12s As Raf Strategic Bombers

[Lawman]

Noting the successes of the A-12 program, the UK decides that it needs a high performance bomber to replace the existing V-bombers. At the same time as the USAF launch the YF-12 program, the RAF gets interested in the aircraft as a possible nuclear bomber. Since it can carry AIM-47 Falcons, and also the AGM-76 Falcon strike missile (with a range of around 150km), the RAF decides that a modest force could be very useful as both interceptors and nuclear bombers! Since these are horrendously expensive aircraft, the UK can only afford limited numbers, buying a total of 32, to be stationed at two bases, along with large numbers of tankers to support them. They operate with a primary role of nuclear strike and recon (recon in peacetime, nuclear strike in wartime), with a secondary interceptor role, using its powerful radar and missiles to intercept Soviet bombers. Since there are only a limited number, they are mostly used for high priority missions, such as defending SSBN sanctuaries in the GIUK gap.

A standard loadout for strike missions is two AGM-76 nuclear missiles, and four Sparrow missiles. In addition, the aircraft are specially adapted to be used to trigger Bloodhound missiles, allowing the aircraft to direct long range SAMs against Soviet bombers, with a better radar range than ground based radars. As such, even one of these aircraft can help defend a huge slice of airspace.  

[Archibald]

Whoooopy!! I didn't know what to do with my Italeri YF-12    Thank you very much!!    
any idea for a paint sheme ? what kind of roundels on such a thing ? raspberry ripple YF-12 ?          

[Shasper]

You're probably stuck with the 'Midnight blue' overall or something similar due to the temps at Mach 3+.


Shas B)

[famvburg]

You're probably stuck with the 'Midnight blue' overall or something similar due to the temps at Mach 3+.


Shas B)

    Or gloss white.

[Gervasius]

Nice idea, I was thinking along the same lines. However, I would put all nuclear weapons - AIM-47s (or RAF equivalent) and WE.177/B61s. My idea was to build it as a SAC penetrator aircraft, for hitting high-value and time critical targets - AWACS, mobile ICBMs, command posts, etc...

Strategic interceptor is also interesting proposal, with AIM-47s to kill Soviet bomber formations and Sparrows/Skyflash for survivors (if there are any, after AIM-47 barrage).

Another idea is a strategic defence suppression bomber, with AIM.47s and nuclear AGM-78 Standards. They would open holes in Soviet defences for RAF V-bombers to exploit.

Oh yeah, anti-flash white is a must.

Marko

[elmayerle]

AGM-76 was an air-to-ground version of the AIM-47 and could probably be made with a variety of seekers for different roles.  Perhaps these could be supplemented by some dedicated strike versions of the SR-71, each carrying four SRAMs?

[Thorvic]

You're probably stuck with the 'Midnight blue' overall or something similar due to the temps at Mach 3+.


Shas B)

    Or gloss white.

More like Anti-flash white with the pale roundels    

[Gervasius]

Would something like this be feasible for RAF? It would go well with FAA Tomcat FR.1s



More here:

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/Ger...senior%20crown/

Marko

[Thorvic]

AGM-76 was an air-to-ground version of the AIM-47 and could probably be made with a variety of seekers for different roles.  Perhaps these could be supplemented by some dedicated strike versions of the SR-71, each carrying four SRAMs?

Thought there was a proposal and drawings for a bomber variant armed with SRAM instead of Recon pack or A-A missiles. AFterall with its speed & altitude only the nuclear strike option appears viable.

G

[TsrJoe]

im sure i recall a 'Jeff Hawke' comic strip with RAF. YF.12's featured in the opening frames (also featured in a magazine article on aircraft in comics a few years ago!)

the illustration had it in the nat metal and black scheme, loked different in roundels for sure

cheers, Joe

[Lawman]

Just a thought, but perhaps the D-21 mounting might be an option? It weighed in at around 11,000lbs, and this so perhaps a dorsal weapons pack? (If anyone remembers it, it could be a bit like the dorsal weapons pods on the runabouts from Star Trek DS9... Okay, I'm a saddo... ). That size of pod could accomodate four AIM-47, four AIM-76s, and four Sparrows for self defence, perhaps IR guided Sparrows too?

Another option would of course be unmanned V-bombers, based on the D-21, each carrying a small nuke, since they had excellent range, and could fly and high enough to make them difficult to shoot down! A fleet of RAF B-52s could be used to launch them - even heavily modified Victors or Vulcans?

[Iranian F-14A]

What about using the D-21 as a standoff weapon with a nuclear warhead? As far as size of the warhead goes,if you removed the camera pallet,that would free up some space,and I'm thinking the W-80 or maybe W-84 from the BGM-109 or AGM-86 should fit in there.Make a nice replacement for the Vulcan/Blue Steel.

EDIT: Well,just read the post above mine,seems great minds think alike.

[fallenphoenix]

liking the dorsal weapons pack idea, though as to IR guided weapons; at that speed how would the seeker diferentiate between a target and its own nose melting?

craig  B)  

[Lawman]

Okay, just looked it up, the Skybolt and D-21 are the same sort of weight, the D-21 is a little longer, but this wouldn't be a show-stopper. The main problems are the wingspan and height, since the D-21 (unlike the Skybolt) has wings and a tail. If these could be folded - even if only the tail could fold, the wings could be kept as is. Obviously a B-52 is the easiest integration path, since that is what happen, but a D-21 tail-folder and Vulcan/Victor combo would be possible.

Basically, it is not 100% as good as a Skybolt, but would be a possibility, given the Skybolt's cancellation. Also, the Blue Steel had a 4m wingspan, so the 5.8m of the D-21 might still work, even if it necessitates carriage in the bomb bay.


All in all, it should be possible, and would yield a high-speed recon and strike platform. I still feel, despite the range advantage, that new tankers are a good idea though, if nothing else then to allow the aircraft to launch from over the pole (launching toward Moscow, but effectively coming at Moscow from the East, from behind the defences). It is certainly attractive, and probably affordable.

Another possibility would of course be to use a 'cluster nuke' warhead, for city strikes, carrying multiple nuclear warheads, probably based on the nuclear artillery shells. They could then disperse once over the target, all simultaneously airbursting - allowing them all to detonate over a wide area. A single D-21 might carry as many as ten such warheads, each with a yield of up to 10kt. This would have the advantage of allowing an entire military complex to be destroyed with a single missile.  

[Shasper]

There were separation issues between the M-12 and the D-21 which led to the ultimate demise of one M-12, after that the H BUFFs were roped for the D-21 mission. Some museum now has the only M-12 in existance on display along with a D-21 mounted.

The Skybolt on the other had might actualy clear everything w/o fits.


Shas B)