Operational Requirement
Encyclopedia
An Operational Requirement or (OR) was a UK
Air Ministry
document setting out the required characteristics for a future (i.e., as-yet unbuilt) military aircraft
or weapon system.
The OR would describe what intended role the aircraft would be used for, e.g., bomber
, fighter
, etc., or what type of weapon was required, e.g., gun armament, bomb type, etc.
In conjunction with any official specification, manufacturers would then choose whether to design an aircraft or weapon for this particular requirement.
Operational Requirements were carried-over with the dissolution of the Air Ministry and the creation of the Ministry of Defence
.
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
document setting out the required characteristics for a future (i.e., as-yet unbuilt) military aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
or weapon system.
The OR would describe what intended role the aircraft would be used for, e.g., bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
, fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
, etc., or what type of weapon was required, e.g., gun armament, bomb type, etc.
In conjunction with any official specification, manufacturers would then choose whether to design an aircraft or weapon for this particular requirement.
Operational Requirements were carried-over with the dissolution of the Air Ministry and the creation of the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
.
Other requirements
An Experimental Requirement (ER) was for an aircraft for research purposes, e.g. ER.100 in support of development of the English Electric LightningEnglish Electric Lightning
The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...
.
See also
- List of Air Ministry Specifications
- Air MinistryAir MinistryThe Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
- Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....