Blue Steel Nuclear Weapon

1950s 1960s

The initial British nuclear deterrent was airborne and consisted of three aircraft types, The Vickers Valiant, the Handley Page Victor and of course the Avro Vulcan. Another ingredient to the deterrent is the weapon and in 1954 the UK issued a requirement for a nuclear weapon that could be air launched and guided to the target.

Although having very limited experience in guided weapons, Avro proposed the Blue Steel missile which was designed to reach a speed 3 times faster than the speed of sound with a range close to 600 miles. It was selected by the Government and the Weapons Research Division at Woodford became the principle contractor. Propulsion was initially provided by the de Havilland Double Spectre rocket engine and subsequently replaced by the Armstrong Siddeley Stentor engine.

Whilst clouded in secrecy, structural parts manufacture took place at Chadderton and final assembly and test at Woodford. Hawker Siddeley centralised all missile work and created the Dynamics division in 1963.

The Avro Weapons Research workers moved from Woodford to nearby Stanley Green in 1965.

(Colour Photograph Left) - Blue Steel Assembly at Woodford - Copyright Avro Heritage Museum

In all 53 missiles were delivered to the RAF from the Dynamics Division at Woodford. Blue Steel entered RAF service in 1963 remaining in service until 1970 when the Navy submarines equipped with Polaris missiles took over the deterrent role.

(Monochrome Photograph Right) - Blue Steel Mounted on Vulcan XA903 for Test - Copyright Avro Heritage Museum