Lightning F Mk1 with Firestreak missiles

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The English Electric Lightning F Mk 1 (or F.1) was the first production version of Britain's only indigenous Mach 2-capable interceptor. Developed by English Electric and entering service in July 1960, it was designed specifically for "point defense" to protect V-bomber bases from Soviet nuclear threats. 
 
Design and Performance
The Lightning F.1 is famous for its unique vertically stacked engines, which minimized frontal area and drag, allowing it to achieve incredible speeds and climb rates. 
 
Speed: Capable of Mach 1.7 at altitude. Later variants eventually reached Mach 2.27.
Climb Rate: It featured a phenomenal initial climb rate of 50,000 feet per minute, enabling it to reach 36,000 feet in under three minutes.
Supercruise: It was the first aircraft in the world capable of supercruise—sustained supersonic flight without using afterburners.
Range: Its primary drawback was a severely limited fuel capacity, which restricted its operational radius to roughly 150 miles. 
 
Armament and Avionics
The F.1 was an all-weather interceptor equipped with early integrated weapon systems. 
Cannon: Two 30mm ADEN cannons mounted in the nose.
Missiles: Two de Havilland Firestreak infrared air-to-air missiles carried on fuselage pylons.
Radar: Equipped with the Ferranti AI.23 AIRPASS (Airborne Interception Radar and Pilot Attack Sight System) housed in the nose intake cone. 
 
Variants and Service
Operational History: First delivered to No. 74 Squadron at RAF Coltishall on June 29, 1960. It served until 1988, eventually being replaced by the Panavia Tornado F3.
Export: While the F.1 was primarily used by the RAF, later variants were exported to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.