Vickers Valiant Bomber 1951, 107 built. The Valiant was a British high altitude jet bomber designed to carry nuclear weapons, and in the 1950s and 1960s, was part of the Royal Air Force's "V bomber" strategic deterrent force. The Valiant was the first of the V bombers to become operational, and was followed by the Handley Page Victor and the Avro Vulcan. The Valiant was the only V bomber to have dropped live nuclear weapons (for test purposes).