Javelin

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The Gloster Javelin, a twin-engined all-weather interceptor aircraft, played a vital role with Britain's Royal Air Force during the late 1950s and most of the 1960s. Designed for nighttime and all-weather operations, this T-tailed delta-wing aircraft was the last to bear the Gloster name. Introduced in 1956 after a prolonged development period, the Javelin underwent several upgrades to its engines, radar systems, and armaments during production, including support for the De Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile. The Javelin was eventually replaced in the interceptor role by the English Electric Lightning, a supersonic aircraft capable of reaching speeds more than double that of the Javelin. Introduced to the RAF just a few years after the Javelin's introduction, this new aircraft quickly rendered the Javelin obsolete. For much of its service life, the Javelin operated alongside the Lightning; however, the last remaining Javelins were eventually withdrawn from operational duty in 1968, following the induction of successive versions of the Lightning into service.