Early laser-guided bombs force a new Fleet Air Arm aircraft

What if Britain developed Pave Spike and laser-guided bombs in 1961?

The weapons arrive before suitable carrier aircraft; exploiting them requires a heavily redesigned Buccaneer or an entirely new airframe.

Introducing Pave Spike and laser-guided bombs on 1 January 1961 would strengthen the case for the Buccaneer as a strike aircraft. The objection is whether the early aircraft could supply enough power for the equipment. Re-engining or a substantial midlife redesign is proposed, while another possibility is an airframe with the capability built in from the start. The comparison with the later land-based Buccaneer S.2B raises a further objection that a carrier version would face additional engine compromises. Similar concerns apply to the Phantom. The result would be a difficult aircraft-development programme before the Royal Navy could exploit the weapons.