Hawker P.1121 (OR.329 / OR.339)

History

In the late 1950s, the Royal Air Force (RAF) sought a new high-speed, high-altitude interceptor aircraft equipped with missiles and radar guidance. One of the promising projects in consideration was the "P. 1121." Unfortunately, the project was shelved in 1957 due to the British government's "Defense White Paper," which recommended prioritizing missile technology over costly manned aircraft. As a result, the P. 1121 remained in the conceptual stage, with design plans, models, and incomplete prototypes.

The P. 1121 had its roots in the earlier "P. 1103" project, initiated in 1954. This aircraft went through several design iterations, featuring different air intake placements, wing configurations, and armament options. It initially carried rockets, a cannon, and "Gyron" turbojets, with its primary armament being two "Red Dean" air-to-air missiles. Later modifications included the incorporation of an Airborne Intercept 18 (AI.18) radar system.

Despite being abandoned by British officials in 1956, the P. 1121 concept continued to evolve. It eventually transformed into an "air superiority attack aircraft" with a nose-mounted radar and a rear cockpit. The design featured a single-engine configuration with an air intake positioned beneath the aircraft, resembling the General Dynamics F-16. The aircraft's fuselage was tubular, equipped with missile hardpoints, and had a conventional tail arrangement, along with tricycle landing gear and an air brake on the rear fuselage.

Specification

Basics

Year of Service: 1956

Origins: UK

Crew: 1

Manufacturer: Hawker Aircraft UK

Operators: UK (removed)

Roles

Air-to-air combat, fighter

The general ability to actively attack other aircraft of similar form and function, usually using guns, missiles and/or airborne missiles.

Intercept

The ability to intercept incoming airborne threats with high performance, usually speed and rate of climb.

Ground attack (bombing, strafing)

The ability to conduct air strikes against ground targets using (but not limited to) artillery, bombs, rockets, rockets, etc.

Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), reconnaissance

Monitor ground targets/target areas to assess surrounding threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

X-Plane (development, prototyping, tech demos)

Aircraft designed for prototyping, technology demonstration, or research/data collection.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 69.1 ft (21.05m)

Width/span: 37. 0 feet (11.28m)

MTOW: 41,998 lbs (19,050 kg)

Performance

Installed: 1 x de Havilland-Gyron PS. 26-6 or PS. The 26-3 afterburner turbojet produces 17,400 lbs to 20,000 lbs (each) of thrust (dry) and 23,800 lbs to 27,000 lbs (each) of reheated thrust.

Maximum speed: 1,920 km/h(3,090 km/h | 1,668 knots)

Maximum: 58,071 feet(17,700 m | 11 km)

Area: 1,553 km (2,500 km | 4,630 nautical miles)

Rate of climb: 40,000 ft/min (12,192 m/min)

Weapons

2 x 30mm ADEN automatic cannons, mounted internally.

2 x "Red Top" Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM) at the underwing hardpoints (one missile per wing).

Also supports 50 x 2" RP air missiles, nuclear-tipped bombs, and underwing fuel tanks.