Red Beard

Red Beard was the first British tactical nuclear weapon. Developed to meet Operational Requirement OR.1127, the weapon was introduced in 1961 and entered service in 1962. It was withdrawn from service in 1971 and replaced by the WE.177.

The weapon was an unboosted fission bomb utilizing a composite core of weapons-grade plutonium and uranium-235. This core configuration minimized the risk of pre-detonation and optimized the use of fissile material. The design was tested during the Operation Buffalo nuclear trials at Maralinga, Australia, in September and October 1956. Red Beard was produced in two versions: the Mk.1 and the Mk.2. The Mk.2 was produced in the No.1 variant for high-altitude delivery and the No.2 variant configured for low-level toss bombing using the Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS).

To stabilize the bomb after release, Red Beard utilized pneumatically activated flip-out tail fins triggered by an aircraft-attached lanyard. The electrical system for the firing mechanism and radar altimeter fuzes relied on twin ram-air turbines in the nose, drawing power from the aircraft prior to release. Fuzing consisted of twin radar fuzes activated by a barometric gate to counter radar jamming, with backup contact and graze fuzes. Fissile core insertion occurred prior to takeoff, as the weapon did not support in-flight arming. The Mk.2 version incorporated additional safety features compared to the Mk.1.

The weapon was operated by the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy. The RAF deployed Red Beard on English Electric Canberra medium bombers and the V bomber force. RAF stocks were stationed in the United Kingdom, Cyprus to support Central Treaty Organization commitments, and Singapore at RAF Tengah for Southeast Asia Treaty Organization commitments.

The Royal Navy deployed the weapon on fixed-wing aircraft carriers for use by Supermarine Scimitars, de Havilland Sea Vixens, and Blackburn Buccaneers. HMS Victorious was the first carrier equipped with specialized bomb rooms to carry the weapon. On the Scimitar, the weapon was carried on an under-wing pylon balanced by an opposite-wing drop tank. Due to deck-clearance concerns during landing, Scimitars carrying the weapon were required to divert to land bases, whereas Blackburn Buccaneers carried the weapon internally in a rotating bomb bay, allowing carrier landings.