Thin wing Javelin fitted with RB106 to replace the Avons and Sapphires in later models.
Starts as NATO's main all weather fighter, later morphing into a Formidable strike fighter, the Javelin's versatile air brake enabling it to hit targets with surprising accuracy, while having surprisingly good STOL performance due to the big air brakes and an excess of power from the RB106 engines. Later Strike versions are carrying more ordinance than the F-4 in US service for ground attack/Interdictor missions.
"Later versions of the Javelin FGR.12 fitted with 4 Hindenberger fuel tanks per aircraft were famous for making the flight from Ascension island to the Falklands to reinforce the British forces in Port Stanley with sterling support from the V-1000 tankers and the STOL performance allowing them to just land and take off from the Port Stanley airport.
The surprise appearance of a flight of 4 BAE Javelin FGR.12 against the Argentinean invasion fleet delivered heavy losses to the initial wave of troopships, Helicopters and escorting A4 Skyhawks, enabling the small marine detachment to hold much longer than thought possible, the two Javelins that made it back to Ascension before the Falklands were over run are now on display at RAF Cosford and RAF Hendon."
While this is a little far fetched the Thin wing Javelin has a lot of room for growth, the RB106 engines will initially double the power while fitting into the same space as an Avon or a Sapphire, it has a big wing, lots of space in the fuselage to allow improvements to the avionics.
With the Javelins supersonic performance and it's adaptability it takes a lot of sales success from the Starfighter and later Phantom 2 lasting in service with the German air force and Naval air arm, RAF and RAAF until the turn of the Millennium.
