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After unilaterally canceling Skybolt the US offers to provide the Royal Navy with F8 Crusaders to British specifications via the Military Assistance program as compensation. They also offer to refit HMS Centaur to as close to the same Standard as Hermes as can be done without major reconstruction. Needing to save money the British Government accepts, for once ignoring the Admirals complaints that they really want Phantoms, despite the fact that Phantoms are too large for Britain's carriers.

When deliveries begin in 1965 the British Crusader is a 2 seat aircraft based on the French Crusader, it has a Rolls Royce Spey engine and the same weapons capability as the canceled Crusader III. It is also capable of All Weather interception.

The purchase of Phantoms goes ahead but now they all go to the RAF.

The Crusader is smaller and much lighter than the Buccaneer so a carrier that can operate the Bucc should be able to handle the Crusader without undue difficulty.

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