Red Top was evolved from the earlier
Firestreak AAM, with improved Violet Banner seeker, Green Garland IR fuse and Linnet booster rocket. Originally called Firestreak Mk IV, De Havillands, kept the Ministry of supply code name for marketing. Deployed on Lightning and Sea Vixen, Red Top remained in service until retired along with the Lightning in 1988
In this view of Red Top the improved Violet Banner IR seeker can be seen. This conferred a "not quite" all aspect capability to Red Top.
Proposed variants included Blue Dolphin, which was also called Blue Jay MkV. This was to have an active continuous wave radar seeker and was intended for Sea Vixen and TSR.2. Blue Jay MkV was similar in capability to the US AIM-7 Sparrow.
The example in the photos is exhibited at the Aerospace Museum at RAF Cosford.
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