The RAF V Bomber Force was the UK’s primary strategic nuclear deterrent throughout the Cold War. This iconic trio included the Vickers Valiant, the first to drop a British nuclear weapon; the delta-winged Avro Vulcan, famous for its Falklands War service; and the crescent-winged Handley Page Victor. The Victor found a vital second life as the Victor K.2 aerial refuelling tanker, extending the reach of subsequent RAF operations. The V Force symbolised Britain’s independent nuclear capability.
