General Dynamics F-111K

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

F-111K
Artist's impression of F-111K
Role Tactical Strike
Low-Level Interdiction
Reconnaissance
National origin United States
Manufacturer General Dynamics
Status Cancelled
Primary user Royal Air Force (intended)
Number built 0 (2 incomplete)
Developed from General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark

The General Dynamics F-111K was a planned variant of the

tactical strike aircraft by General Dynamics, to meet a Royal Air Force
requirement for such an aircraft.

The project was initiated in 1965 following the cancellation of the BAC TSR-2 strike aircraft. The aircraft was planned as a hybrid of several variants of the F-111 as a way of producing an aircraft for the specific needs of the United Kingdom. A RAF order for 50 aircraft, made in 1967, was cancelled a year later.

Development

Background

The BAC TSR-2 was intended to form the backbone of the RAF's tactical strike force

In the early 1960s, the British Aircraft Corporation was in the process of developing a new strike aircraft for the Royal Air Force to replace the English Electric Canberra. This aircraft, designated as "TSR-2" (Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance), had a large set of requirements listed by the government, and had led to TSR-2 becoming a hugely complex machine; it was intended that it be able to undertake both conventional and nuclear strike missions at high and low level, in all weathers, at supersonic speeds. As a consequence, the costs of the project began to increase, leading to it becoming the most expensive aviation project in British history, at a time when defence spending was being cut. This led to the RAF being asked to look for potential alternatives to TSR-2, in the event of it being cancelled.

At the same time, the Australian government was looking for a replacement for the Canberras operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and was investigating a number of options, including the TSR-2 and the General Dynamics F-111 then being developed for the US TFX Program. The versatility of the F-111 and uncertainty over the TSR-2 led, in 1963, to contracts for the RAAF-specific F-111C.

An incoming

Labour government expressed its support for the TSR-2, although the RAF was asked to also evaluate the F-111 as a cheaper option. In April 1965, the TSR-2 was officially cancelled and the RAF again looked at the possibility of acquiring up to 110 F-111s.[1]

F-111C as its preferred option, a decision seen as being crucial to the cancellation of TSR-2 and the UK purchasing the F-111 instead.[2]

No firm commitment was made to the F-111 until the publication of the

White Paper.[5] Although there was no public announcement as to specific squadrons that would receive the F-111, a document from early 1966 by the AOC-in-C of Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace Kyle, indicated that 12 Squadron (then a Vulcan squadron assigned to the strategic nuclear role), together with the inactive 7 (previously Valiant), 15 (Victor) and 40 (Canberra) Squadrons, would receive the aircraft upon their delivery.[6]

In April 1966, a firm order was placed for 10 F-111s for the RAF, with options for another 40, covering the standard F-111K models and a number of dual-control TF-111K trainers, with the purchase price set around £2.1m ($5.95m) per unit (1965 prices).

AFVG aircraft) would be cheaper than TSR-2 to the tune of approximately £700m.[9]

The first two F-111K airframes were in an advanced state of assembly when the project was cancelled in 1968

Cancellation

The first two aircraft began assembly in July 1967, and were issued with the

plant at Fort Worth, Texas in early 1968 when the Government then issued a new policy that would see the majority of British forces stationed East of Suez withdrawn by 1971. At the same time it also decided to cancel the F-111K procurement. The devaluation of sterling in 1967 had led to the per unit cost rising to approximately £3m.[13] Additionally, the production schedules were slipping; while the RAAF had its first F-111 delivered in 1968, official acceptance of the type into service did not occur until 1973 due to structural and development problems (which led to the RAAF having to lease 24 F-4 Phantoms as an interim measure).[14] All of the components that had been assembled for the production of the main F-111K fleet that shared commonality were diverted to the FB-111A program, while the two aircraft under construction were re-designated as YF-111As with the intention that they be used as test aircraft in the F-111A program.[10] Ultimately however, the two F-111Ks were never operated as test aircraft – in July 1968, almost exactly a year after the first airframe began construction, the US Air Force decided not to take them over, and General Dynamics were ordered to use them for component recovery.[10]

Replacement

Blackburn Buccaneer
Avro Vulcan
To replace the cancelled F-111, 26 new Buccaneers (left) were purchased for the RAF, while the Vulcan (right) was moved from its strategic role to long range interdiction

The cancellation of the F-111K still left a requirement for a strike aircraft to replace the Canberra, so the government ordered 26 new

nuclear deterrent passing to the Royal Navy in 1969, Vulcans were transferred from the strategic bomber role to the long range air interdiction role that would have been fulfilled by the F-111.[16]

The ending of the F-111 procurement, combined with the cancellation of the AFVG project, led to Britain eventually joining the multi-national working group to develop the "Multi-Role Combat Aircraft" in 1968; this led to the formation of Panavia and the ultimate development of the Tornado, an aircraft that assumed the roles of low-level strike and long range interdiction planned for the F-111.

Design

F-111K cutaway diagram

The F-111K was to be based around the airframe of the original F-111A version built for the U.S. Air Force, but was to feature a number of alterations and adaptations. Structurally, the aircraft would be similar to F-111A with the heavy duty

aerial refuelling probe compatible with the "probe and drogue" system used by the RAF, similar to the one fitted to the F-111B, although mounted differently.[11]

Specifications (F-111K)

An orthographically projected diagram of the F-111
An orthographically projected diagram of the F-111

Data from Wilson and Pittaway[17]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (pilot and weapons system operator)
  • Length: 22.4 m (73 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 5.22 m (17 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan:
    • Spread: 19.2 m (63.0 ft)
    • Swept: 9.75 m (32 ft)
  • Wingarea:
    • Spread: 61.07 m² (657.4 ft2)
    • Swept: 48.77 m² (525 ft2)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 turbofans

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.5

Armament

  • Hardpoints: 9 in total (8 × under-wing, 1 × underfuselage in weapons bay)

Avionics

  • Rockwell AN/APQ-130 attack radar
  • Sperry AN/APQ-128 J-Band terrain following radar
  • Marconi AN/APN-189 Doppler navigation radar

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ Conclusions of a Meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, S.W.1, on Thursday, 1st April, 1965, at 10 p.m., CC(65)21, CAB/128/39. London: Public Record Office, 2010.
  2. ISBN 0-9519824-8-6
    . Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  3. ^ Healey, D. W. The Need for an Option on the F-111A, C(65)58, CAB/129/121. London: Public Record Office, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "F-111K on the eve of the deadline". Flight International. 91 (3029). Royal Aero Club: 480–481. 1967. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  5. ^ Cooper, Sir Frank (1993). "The Direction of Air Force Policy in the 1950s and 1960s". Proceedings of the Royal Air Force Historical Society (11). Royal Air Force Historical Society: 19.
  6. ^ "What if the F 111K had entered RAF service as planned?". 21 May 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  7. ^ a b "RAF Honington Station History". RAF Honington. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  8. ^ "F-111K cost increases". Flight International. 91 (3032). Royal Aero Club: 616. 1967. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Mr Healey's missing £700 million". Flight International. 91 (3037). Royal Aero Club: 831–832. 1967. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  10. ^ a b c Logan 1998, p. 279
  11. ^ a b Logan 1998, p. 278
  12. ^ "UK Military Aircraft Serial Allocations: XV". UK Serials Resource Centre. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  13. ^ Gardner 1981, p. 116.
  14. ^ Logan 1998, p. 261.
  15. ^ "More Buccaneers – and more cuts". Flight International. 94 (3097). Royal Aero Club: 113–114. 1968. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  16. ^ "About the Vulcan". avrovulcan.com. Vulcan Restoration Trust. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  17. ^ Wilson and Pittaway 2010, p. 8.

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to General Dynamics F-111.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=General_Dynamics_F-111K&oldid=1219111856"