The Avro Blue Steel Missile

Blue Steel development

The development of Blue Steel was initiated in 1954 after British military planners realised that the British "V" Bomber force would become vulnerable to Soviet air defences. To quote from a British Ministry of Supply memorandum dated 5th November 1954:

"Present estimates are that medium range Guided Weapon defences will make it excessively dangerous for the V bombers to fly over, or within about 50 miles of the target in 1960"

The requirement for the Blue Steel missile (officially termed a "Stand-Off Bomb") was that it should have a range of at least 50 miles while carrying a Nuclear Warhead at supersonic speeds. This would allow the V bombers to release the weapon without having to breach the Soviet guided weapon defences.

Development of the Blue Steel was undertaken by Avro, who had also developed one of the V bombers - the Avro Vulcan . The electronic guidance system was developed by Elliot Brothers (London) Ltd, an early British computer company, together with the RAE.

The development of the Blue Steel was a protracted affair, not helped by the fact that weight of the warhead was unknown when the design started. Avro had significant problems with the airframe, which was designed in Stainless Steel because of the up-to Mach 3 speed of the missile.

The electronics too caused problems. Back in the mid 1950’s before the development of Transistors and Integrated Circuits ("Silicon Chips") the design of the guidance computer was quite a challenge. The valves used generated considerable heat, and had high power requirements.

Blue Steel began to enter service in 1963, going on to equip 32 V bombers, and remaining in service until 1970, but it was never entirely satisfactory, despite a series of modifications in service. It's relatively short range always left the V force vulnerable, and even before it entered service the British Government was looking for alternatives, seeking to aquire the American Skybolt missile that was in development. Eventually, the British air launched Nuclear deterrent was replaced by submarine launched "Polaris" missiles.

Blue Steel specifications

Robert Kent