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List of missiles of the RAF

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following list of missiles of the Royal Air Force contains both current and former missiles used by the British air force:

Missiles

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Current

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Former

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Air-to-air

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Air-to-surface

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Surface-to-air

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  • Bloodhound - Land-based surface-to-air missile. In RAF service 1958 to 1991.
  • Rapier - Land-based surface-to-air missile operated by the RAF Regiment.
  • Tigercat - Short range surface-to-air missile system. Operated by the RAF Regiment from 1967 to 1978. Replaced by the Rapier surface to air missile.

Unguided air-to-surface rockets

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  • 2-inch RP air-to-air, air-to-surface rockets. Retired
  • RP-3 air-to-surface rockets. Retired
  • SNEB 68-mm air-to-surface rocket pods
  • CRV7 air-to-surface rocket pods
  • 11-kg (25-lb) 76.2-mm (3-inch) air-to-surface rockets. Retired
  • 28-kg (60-lb) air-to-surface rockets

Laser-guided bombs

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Homing torpedoes

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List of Royal Air Force munitions

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List of nuclear weapons of the RAF

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Type Origin Notes Variants
B28 nuclear bomb United States Air dropped thermonuclear weapon. In service from 1960 to 1964, carried by the English Electric Canberra, McDonnell Douglas Phantom and Vickers Valiant V Bombers.
B43 nuclear bomb United States Air dropped thermonuclear weapon. In service from 1964 to 1976, carried by the English Electric Canberra, McDonnell Douglas Phantom and Vickers Valiant.
B57 nuclear bomb United States Air dropped tactical nuclear weapon. In service from 1970 to 1991, carried by English Electric Canberra, Hawker Siddeley Nimrod and McDonnell Douglas Phantom.
Mark 5 nuclear bomb United States Air dropped nuclear bomb. In service from 1958 to 1965, carried by the Avro Vulcan. See Project E
Mark 7 nuclear bomb United States Air dropped tactical nuclear bomb. In service from 1958 to 1965, carried by the English Electric Canberra
Blue Danube United Kingdom Air dropped nuclear weapon. In service from 1953 to 1962, carried by the Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor and Vickers Valiant.
Red Beard United Kingdom Free-fall tactical nuclear weapon. In service from 1961 to 1971, carried by the English Electric Canberra, Handley Page Victor, Hawker Siddeley Nimrod and Avro Vulcan. Red Beard Mk 1, Red Beard Mk 2
Red Snow United Kingdom Thermonuclear warhead
Violet Club United Kingdom Air dropped nuclear weapon. In service from 1958 to 1960, carried by the Avro Vulcan.
W.65, Mk Lulu United States Air dropped nuclear depth charge. In service from 1965 to 1971. Carried by the Avro Shackleton and Hawker Siddeley Nimrod.
WE.177 United Kingdom Free-fall gravity nuclear bomb. In service from 1969 to 1998, carried by the Avro Shackleton, Avro Vulcan, Blackburn Buccaneer, English Electric Canberra, Handley Page Victor, SEPECAT Jaguar, Panavia Tornado. WE.177A, WE.177B, WE.177C
Yellow Sun nuclear bomb United Kingdom Air dropped strategic nuclear weapon. In service from 1958 to 1972, carried Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant. Yellow Sun Mk 1, Yellow Sun Mk 2
Avro Blue Steel United Kingdom Air-launched, rocket-propelled stand-off missile. In service from 1963 to 1970, carried by the Avro Vulcan and Handley Page Victor.
Douglas Thor United States Land-based Intermediate-range ballistic missile. In service from 1958 to 1963. See Project Emily PGM-17A Thor