Spaniel (missile) (original) (raw)

Spaniel was a series of experimental British missiles of the Second World War. They began as surface-to-air missile designs developed by the Air Ministry from 1941. Based on the 3-inch Unrotated Projectile anti-aircraft rocket, it proved to have too little performance to easily reach typical bomber altitudes, leading to further development as an air-to-air missile carried aloft by heavy fighters. Some progress had been made by 1942 when the program was cancelled as the threat of German air attack dwindled. Further research was directed at a dedicated air-to-air design, Artemis.