Originally Posted by
mahogany bob
Perhaps developing a Vulcan / B52 /B747 replacement ( BV will laugh !)with the ability to travel huge distances , with a large payload of missiles - air to air and air to ground ,modern ECM and able to stay on task for hours without AAR - is NOT so stupid after all ??
Such a development of the Vulcan was proposed following a Air Staff requirement in the 1970s for an aircraft with a large air to air weapons load and a powerful radar ....termed the flying battleship.
There were two versions offered - one armed with 12 US Phoenix missiles and the other with 10 air-to-air versions of the Sea Dart missile. There would have been a "chin" radar under the nose.
The project didn't go far due to the proposed missile costs and the remaining fatigue life of the Vulcans.