Blue Streak (missile)

The de Havilland Propellers Blue Streak was a British Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), and later the first stage of the Europa satellite launch vehicle. Blue Streak was cancelled without entering full production.

The project was intended to maintain an independent British nuclear deterrent, replacing the V bomber fleet which would become obsolete by 1965. The operational requirement for the missile was issued in 1955 and the design was complete by 1957. During development, it became clear that the missile system was too expensive and too vulnerable to a surprise attack. The missile project was cancelled in 1960, with US-led Skybolt the preferred replacement.

After Blue Streak's cancellation as a weapon system, the Macmillan government considered using the redundant rocket system for space launch purposes. Studies had examined the feasibility of using Blue Streak as the first stage of a British satellite launch vehicle, usually with a derivative of Black Knight as the second stage, but this option was considered impractical and too expensive. Millard writes that, by offering Blue Streak and associated British infrastructure and expertise for a European launcher programme, Harold Macmillan recovered some of the political ground lost after the missile's cancellation and demonstrated Britain's credentials as a prospective member of the European Common Market. This led to the creation of the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), whose Europa launcher used Blue Streak as its first stage.