Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:37:16-2:38:23

Why the Fleet Air Arm chose the F-4 Phantom

The Phantom's practical advantage was its availability within Britain's spending limits, while a domestic rival depended on a much larger development commitment.

British Aerospace IndustryDefence BudgetF-4 Phantom IIFleet Air ArmLive Q&ANaval Aviation
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Question

Was the F-4 Phantom simply the best available choice compared with what British industry could offer the Fleet Air Arm?

Short answer

Yes at the budget Britain was willing to spend; a domestic rival was technically possible only with far more money and development time.

Notes

The Phantom is judged the best available Fleet Air Arm option at the budget Britain was prepared to spend. A domestic aircraft could have been better if the government had funded a much more ambitious programme. Other panelists question how readily the contracted British aerospace industry could have delivered a rival, particularly after the Phantom was re-engined for British use. Their exchange makes the qualification explicit: technical possibility would have required much more money and development time.