Aircraft design studies: S68 multi-role strike aircraft

The 868 aircraft design study was for a multi-role strike aircraft with a variable sweepback wing. The study was undertaken as the result of experience gained in a previous investigation of a naval strike aircraft, the 864 (Ref.1). The more recent design was for a land based aircraft intended to be capable of fulfilling strike, interception and search roles. The design take off weight was 50,000 lbs and the normal maximum speed condition was Mach 2 at altitude although a short dash to M 2.5 was catered for. An internal bay was provided for the carriage of various combinations of stores. Side by side seating was adopted for the two crew members and some difficulty was experienced with the structural layout of the fuselage and the design of the main undercarriage because of this.