“… the Lightning had a data link mode, but it was never operationally used.”
The nearest to this were the ground based computerized attack profiles 525/625 IIRC. Not very fuel efficient and based around really helpful info such as time to intercept; – couldn’t see the clock when looking in the B scope!
In addition to leading the world in performance, the radar and missile systems were world class. Considering that the radar depended on valve technology and clockwork computers, the guidance solutions were commendable.
With Red Top, the computer upgrade included kinematic ranging for ‘ECM’ head-on attacks (angle rate bombing in the US, who believed that they invented it); not all versions had that module.
The Firestreak guidance was first rate; stories of the technology being hijacked during a US visit? Also the fuse system was very clever in computing time after passing the jet pipe to abeam the cockpit; 60 lb Mills Bomb warhead. Red Top was similarly clever with fuse options for all-aspect launches; expanding ring warhead which ‘sawed’ the target in two. As one Farnborough boffin explained, you have to ‘kill’ a nuclear bomber within 15 sec.
Perhaps the most significant aspect was that the Lightning Air Defense force had the right people – Pilots, Engineers, Operations, and GCI radar. It was a complete and credible system.