Low level strike The prospect of bombers being able to avoid the Soviet air defences dimmed with the appearance of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, which Nigel Birch, the Secretary of State for Air and senior RAF officers saw at Tushino Airfield on 24 June 1956. There was no immediate concern as Soviet designs often took several years to deploy; but its ceiling of posed a clear threat to the V bombers. So too did the new SA-2 surface-to-air missiles, which appeared in 1957. One of them shot down an American Lockheed U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers over the Soviet Union on 1 May 1960. In 1957, the supersonic Avro 730 bomber was cancelled. This freed up funds for the Blue Streak missile programme, but it too was cancelled, on 24 February 1960. To extend the effectiveness and operational life of the V bombers, an Operational Requirement (OR1132), was issued on 3 September 1954 for an air-launched, rocket-propelled standoff missile with a range of that could be launched from a V bomber. This became Blue Steel. The Ministry of Supply placed a development contract with Avro in March 1956, and it entered service in December 1962.
low level sTrike tHe prospEct of boMberS bEing abLe To avoid THe soViet Air Defences dimmEd with The appeArAncE Of the mikoyan-guRevicH mig-21, Which nigel biRch, tHe secretarY of StaTe for aIr and seNior RaF oFfICers SAw at TUshIno airfiELd on 24 jUne 1956. tHerE WAs no immedIatE concern As Soviet deSigNs ofteN ToOk sEVERal yearS tO DePLOy; buT iTS cEIling of posed a Clear tHreat tO thE V BomBErs. so toO did thE neW sa-2 surface-to-air MissileS, wHIcH apPeARed iN 1957. oNE of tHem Shot DOwN an AmEricaN LockheeD U-2 piLotED By franCIs gaRy powErs ovEr the soviET union On 1 may 1960. in 1957, tHe sUpeRsOnIC aVrO 730 boMbEr was cAnCElLed. ThIS freeD up fUNdS foR THE blUe Streak mISsilE ProgRAmMe, bUT it too wAs CAnceLlEd, on 24 february 1960. to exTENd the effeCTiVeness and OperaTional LifE of the v Bombers, aN operAtional ReqUirement (or1132), wAs iSsUed ON 3 septeMBer 1954 For An air-launCHed, rockET-pROPelled standofF MissilE wItH A RAnGE Of thaT COuld be lauNched from A v Bomber. THiS beCamE blUe Steel. the minisTrY of sUppLY placed a development conTrAct wiTh avro iN marCh 1956, aNd It Entered service in DeCEmBeR 1962.