List of missiles of the RAF

The following list of missiles of the Royal Air Force contains both current and former missiles used by the British air force:

Missiles

Current


Former

Air-to-air

Air-to-surface

Surface-to-air

  • Bloodhound - Land-based surface-to-air missile. In RAF service 1958 to 1991.
  • Rapier - Land-based surface-to-air missile operated by the RAF Regiment.
  • Tigercat - Short range surface-to-air missile system. Operated by the RAF Regiment from 1967 to 1978. Replaced by the Rapier surface to air missile.

Unguided air-to-surface rockets

  • 2-inch RP air-to-air, air-to-surface rockets. Retired
  • RP-3 air-to-surface rockets. Retired
  • SNEB 68-mm air-to-surface rocket pods
  • CRV7 air-to-surface rocket pods
  • 11-kg (25-lb) 76.2-mm (3-inch) air-to-surface rockets. Retired
  • 28-kg (60-lb) air-to-surface rockets

Laser-guided bombs

Homing torpedoes

List of Royal Air Force munitions

List of nuclear weapons of the RAF

TypeOriginNotesVariants
B28 nuclear bombUnited StatesAir dropped thermonuclear weapon. In service from 1960 to 1964, carried by the English Electric Canberra, McDonnell Douglas Phantom and Vickers Valiant V Bombers.
B43 nuclear bombUnited StatesAir dropped thermonuclear weapon. In service from 1964 to 1976, carried by the English Electric Canberra, McDonnell Douglas Phantom and Vickers Valiant.
B57 nuclear bombUnited StatesAir dropped tactical nuclear weapon. In service from 1970 to 1991, carried by English Electric Canberra, Hawker Siddeley Nimrod and McDonnell Douglas Phantom.
Mark 5 nuclear bombUnited StatesAir dropped nuclear bomb. In service from 1958 to 1965, carried by the Avro Vulcan. See Project E
Mark 7 nuclear bombUnited StatesAir dropped tactical nuclear bomb. In service from 1958 to 1965, carried by the English Electric Canberra
Blue DanubeUnited KingdomAir dropped nuclear weapon. In service from 1953 to 1962, carried by the Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor and Vickers Valiant.
Red BeardUnited KingdomFree-fall tactical nuclear weapon. In service from 1961 to 1971, carried by the English Electric Canberra, Handley Page Victor, Hawker Siddeley Nimrod and Avro Vulcan.Red Beard Mk 1, Red Beard Mk 2
Red SnowUnited KingdomThermonuclear warhead
Violet ClubUnited KingdomAir dropped nuclear weapon. In service from 1958 to 1960, carried by the Avro Vulcan.
W.65, Mk LuluUnited StatesAir dropped nuclear depth charge. In service from 1965 to 1971. Carried by the Avro Shackleton and Hawker Siddeley Nimrod.
WE.177United KingdomFree-fall gravity nuclear bomb. In service from 1969 to 1998, carried by the Avro Shackleton, Avro Vulcan, Blackburn Buccaneer, English Electric Canberra, Handley Page Victor, SEPECAT Jaguar, Panavia Tornado.WE.177A, WE.177B, WE.177C
Yellow Sun nuclear bombUnited KingdomAir dropped strategic nuclear weapon. In service from 1958 to 1972, carried Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant.Yellow Sun Mk 1, Yellow Sun Mk 2
Avro Blue SteelUnited KingdomAir-launched, rocket-propelled stand-off missile. In service from 1963 to 1970, carried by the Avro Vulcan and Handley Page Victor.
Douglas ThorUnited StatesLand-based Intermediate-range ballistic missile. In service from 1958 to 1963. See Project EmilyPGM-17A Thor