Fox 3
I have attended RHAG Engagements above 180 Knots where the cable has not broken. The age and amount of engagements on the cable could be a factor. For example, last year we had a tape and cable snap at 145 Knots but the tape (which snapped first) was 6 weeks away from being reversed which is done at the 2 year point of it's 4 year life and had 32 engagement units out of a maximum of 64. Incidentally the tape connector with about 10 feet of cable (approx 30kg) were found 580 feet away!
The stretched hook at Alconbury was possibly caused by a 1 1/4 inch cable, we use (1 1/8 inch cables for Tornado / Typhoon / F15) and it is probable that the BAK 12 was set for worst case scenario within the aircraft fleet which would have been a fully tooled F111 high speed take off abort.