Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:35:58-2:36:24

Why the Sea Vixen was a poor target-drone candidate

The proposed Sea Vixen D.3 would have turned an expensive and unreliable aircraft into an unusually costly target drone.

Aircraft MaintenanceDe Havilland Sea VixenFleet Air ArmTarget DronesUncrewed Aircraft
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Question

Why did Britain not continue the Sea Vixen as a D.3 target drone?

Short answer

It would have been an exceptionally expensive target aircraft built from one of the Fleet Air Arm's less reliable types.

Notes

Continuing the Sea Vixen as a D.3 target drone would have been exceptionally expensive. Its poor reliability would compound the difficulty of using it in that role. Cost and reliability are the reasons given for rejecting further use, without a detailed comparison of alternative target aircraft.