Developed to meet OR.1117, by de Havilland Propellors, Firestreak was the service version of the experimental Blue Jay missile. An early Infra Red seeking missile, Firestreak also had Infra Red proximity fuses in two rows on the missile body. The original Red Hawk specification to meet OR.1056 had proven too ambitious, so as in
Fireflash, had been "de-specced" to produce Blue Jay.
The IR seaker was tested at Larkhill ranges by flying it in a Homing Test Vehicle (HTV) which was launched towards a large array of radiant electric fires!
Deployed on Lightning, Sea Vixens and Javelins, Firestreak was replaced in service by the
Red Top, which was also developed by de Havilland, with a more powerful motor and better seeker.Powered by a Magpie rocket motor, Firestreak had an effective range of 4 miles (6.4Km), but only for rear hemisphere attack.
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