Bristol Bloodhound SAM Missile 3D model

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The Bristol Bloodhound, a British surface-to-air missile developed in the 1950s, served as the UK's main air defense weapon until the 1990s. Used by the Royal Air Force and five other nations, it was initially designed to protect RAF V bomber bases from enemy attackers. The Bloodhound Mk. I entered operational service in December 1958, marking the first British guided weapon to do so. In Stage 1 upgrades, Bloodhound's role was to complement Lightning interceptor forces. However, when the Blue Envoy project was cancelled in 1957, some of its design elements were incorporated into the Bloodhound Mk. II, effectively doubling its range. The Mk. I began to be replaced by the Mk. II starting in 1964. The advanced Bloodhound Mk. II boasted a continuous-wave semi-active radar homing system, offering exceptional performance against electronic countermeasures and low-altitude targets. It also featured a digital computer for fire control and readiness checks. Despite its advanced capabilities, the missile was limited to stationary defensive roles due to its size. Despite sharing similarities with the English Electric Thunderbird, Bloodhound continued in service until the Soviet bomber threat ended with the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. The last Mk. II squadron stood down in July 1991, while Swiss examples remained operational until 1999.