The wing mainplanes were positioned near, or just slightly aft, of midships and were low-to-mid-mounted along the sides of the fuselage. Sweepback was given to both the leading and trailing edges while the tips exhibited slight rounding. The tail unit was configured in a traditional fashion with a single vertical fin paired with two low-set horizontal planes. The horizontal pieces were all-moving for excellent, responsive control. All of the tail surfaces incorporated sweepback to keep the design as aerodynamically functional as possible.
The engine featured in the P.1129's design were 2 x Rolls-Royce R.142R "Medway", a low-bypass turbofan engine developed in the 1950s (first un in 1959). The ultimately-cancelled engine was an experimental type and was never applied in any major system - just nine were eventually built. Regardless, these turbofans would have supplied up to 22,500lb of thrust each unit for exceptional acceleration and straightline performance. Alternatively, the Rolls-Royce Olympus 15R series axial-flow turbojet engines would be considered - this engine series also went on to power both the Avro "Vulcan" nuclear-capable bomber and the BAC TSR.2 project bomber.
As completed, P.1129 was to have a running length of 72.8 feet and a wingspan of 48.7 feet. Gross weight was to reach around 80,000lb under full loads. Indicated performance provided a maximum speed of over Mach 2 when flying at over 36,000 feet altitude and the absolute altitude would have reached near 60,000 feet.
Proposed armament encompassed a single "Red Beard" nuclear drop bomb, Britain's first tactical nuclear weapon. The bomb was to sit, semi-recessed under the belly in a ventral "tray" - attempting to keep the aerodynamics of the aircraft complete. Additionally, engineers proposed an internal system housing up to 4 x 1,000lb conventional or nuclear bombs with rotating doors providing access for when dropping. Beyond this, the aircraft could substitute its war load with special-mission reconnaissance equipment for dedicated scouting runs. External support for ground-attack rockets and jettisonable fuel stores was also detailed to an extent as well as special-mission fuel tanks to be used for extremely-long sorties as needed.
Hawker drew up plans for three distinct prototypes to be fabricated, each to resolve one portion of the aircraft's development phase. The first was to cover structural and engine development. The second was to further engine work and the third was to mimic a production-quality form as closely as possible for formal testing and review. These airframes were scheduled to be available between 1960 and 1961. At any rate, none were completed.
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