Gloster Javelin

The Gloster Javelin is a twin-engined all-weather interceptor aircraft designed and produced by the Gloster Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s and was the final aircraft design to bear the Gloster name.

The Javelin was designed in response to specification F.44/46 during the late 1940s and early 1950s as high-performance night fighter capable of all-weather operations. In terms of its basic configuration, it was a T-tailed delta-wing aircraft powered by a pair of Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire turbojet engines. Following a protracted development period, the Javelin was introduced to squadron service during 1956. Throughout its service life, the aircraft received several upgrades, which were typically focused upon its engines, radar and weapons, including support for the De Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile.

The Javelin was succeeded in the interceptor role by the English Electric Lightning, a supersonic aircraft capable of flying at more than double the Javelin's top speed, which was introduced into the RAF only a few years following the former's introduction. Several variants were proposed, including fighter bomber and aerial reconnaissance-oriented models, as well as the supersonic-capable Gloster thin-wing Javelin; however, these were not pursued. The Javelin had a relatively short service life, the last examples were withdrawn from operational service in 1968 following the introduction of successively more capable versions of the Lightning.