The engine of choice became the de Havilland Gyron turbojet series. The initial P.1121 prototype form would carry the PS.26-6 version outputting 17,400lb of dry thrust and up to 23,800lb of thrust with reheat (afterburner) engaged. By the time the aircraft would reach its finalized stage, it was to be powered by the uprated PS.26-3 engine of 20,000lb dry and 27,000lb with reheat. The Rolls-Royce "Conway" engine was also under consideration at this point.
Other design studies of this same aircraft resulted in the addition of rocket boosters for greater performance potential.
As drawn up, the aircraft's overall length was to reach 69 feet while its wingspan measured 37 feet. Gross weight was up to 42,000lb. Beyond the proposed armament of 2 x "Red Top" air-to-air missiles, the aircraft was to also have received provision for supporting up to 50 x 2" RP aerial rockets and carry 2 x 30mm ADEN automatic cannons (internally). Another addition were underwing fuel drop tanks for extended ranges while a nuclear bomb was semi-recessed ventrally.
Hawker engineers estimated their aircraft to have a top speed nearing Mach 2.5, combining the best qualities of a high-performance airframe/propulsion scheme with excellent inherent range and broad support of available British and American aerial weaponry. Rather optimistically, the product was to have been readied by 1960 should all have gone to plan.
However, this did not prove the case for the 1957 defense review doomed projects like the P.1121 despite its rather advanced nature. The review ended the now-redefined OR.339 requirement and, in turn, the P.1121 followed though the project continued under life support into the 1960s. The Hawker concern eventually turned its attention to more advanced aviation projects of which one yielded the famous "Harrier" Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) attack aircraft - this endeavor born from the work on "P.1127".
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