The Lightning was designated originally as the P.1. When the Aircraft Specification F.23/49 was issued, the P.1B was developed. This included Rolls-Royce Avon engines to replace the original Bristol Siddeley Sapphire engines, & the P.1B attained Mach 2 in 1958. Two years later, the Lightning F.Mk 1A entered service. The original F.Mk 1A was an Interceptor, & could not perform any other roles. It had an armament of either Firestreak AAMs or Red Top AAMs, with twin ventral Aden cannon. The later F.3 & F.6 models also had Strike & Reconnaissance capability. As well as the normal Firestreak & Red Top AAMs, the Lightning could also carry Vinten 360 70mm cameras, linescan equipment, 144 rockets or six 1000lb (454kg) bombs.

The Lightning had excellent top speed & rate of climb, making it ideal for its original Interceptor role. The RAF kept the Lightning in service until 1988, when it was finally retired. Around 50 Lighnings were sold to Saudi Arabia & Kuwait, & were retired earlier than the RAF's Lighnings, Kuwait's in 1977 (replaced by Mirage F.1s) & Saudi Arabia's in 1985 (replaced by F-15s). The Lightning's 30 years of service went by relatively smoothly; two squadrons were based in Germany in the Cold War, but never saw much action. The Lightning always had a long maintenance time, & was complicated for its time. W.E.W 'Teddy' Petter, the driving force behind the Folland Gnat was also involved with the Lightning.

Lightning F.Mk6

Type: Supersonic all-weather interceptor, strike & reconnaissance aircraft

Powerplant: two 7,112kg (15,680lb) Rolls-Royce Avon 302 afterburning turbojets

Performance: Max. speed 2,415km/h (1,500mph, Mach 2.3); Range 1,287km (800 miles); Initial rate of climb 15,240m (50,000ft) per minute

Dimensions: Wingspan 10.61m (34ft 10in); Length 16.84m (55ft 3in); Height 5.97m (19ft 7in); Wing area 35.31m² (380.1ft²)

Weights: Empty equipped 12,700kg (28,000lb); Max. take-off weight 22,680kg (50,000lb)