AFVG

The AFVG (standing for Anglo-French Variable Geometry) was a supersonic multi-role combat aircraft with a variable-geometry wing, being jointly developed by British Aircraft Corporation in the United Kingdom and Dassault Aviation of France. The project was cancelled in June 1967, when the French Government withdrew from participation. BAC modified the specification to solely satisfy Royal Air Force needs, reconfiguring the design as the UKVG and sought out new partners to procure the aircraft, which ultimately emerged as the tri-national consortium-funded MRCA Panavia Tornado, a variable-geometry wing fighter aircraft.

Development

Background

The AFVG project followed on from the earlier BAC P.45 design study for a variable-geometry strike/trainer/fighter aircraft for the Royal Air Force; one of a number of proposed designs to meet AST.362.

Anglo-French collaboration

Discussions took place in 1964 between France and Great Britain on collaborative military aviation programs with Handel Davies, the co-chairman of an Anglo-French committee, and his French counterpart, Ingénieur-General Lecamus, negotiating the launch of two new military combat aircraft. The French would take the lead role in a light ground-attack/trainer, while the British assumed the leadership of a swing-wing multirole fighter project.