During the plunging temperature of the early Cold War years the RAF
found itself increasingly in need of a truly all-weather high
performance fighter. There were two leading designs available as
prototypes in 1951; the DH110 from de Havilland and from Gloster, the
GA5. These were to become respectively, the Sea Vixen and the Javelin.
Neither was a classic or a Beauty, but both operational during the
1950s. The Sea Vixen, hence the title, entered service with the Royal
Navy and the Javelin, on the promise of being made ready earlier, with
the Royal Air Force. However, so unready were the first production
Javelins, with pressure to get them in service when expected, there were
no fewer than nine versions entering service with operational RAF
squadrons between 1956 and 1959. Although the 'Flat Iron' met the
requirements of range, weapons and all-weather capability, it was much
under powered and cumbersome for a fighter. Nevertheless, the Gloster
Javelin was also just as much underrated. Entering service at the wrong
time as the Sandys Defence White Paper unwittingly claimed the end of
the manned fighter and following on the Javelin's heels came the English
Electric Lightning with its truly supersonic performance. These factors
combined to produce a situation which shortened the service years of the
Javelin and halted further development.
