External tanks would not transform the Sea Vixen's usefulness

Would designing the Sea Vixen with external fuel tanks from the outset have made it more useful?

It would have gained some range, but probably not enough to change its usefulness in its assigned role.

External fuel tanks would give the Sea Vixen somewhat greater range, but the increase would be too small to transform its service value in the missions it performed. The range gain is measurable without being operationally decisive. Range alone cannot resolve the broader question of an aircraft's assigned role.