The Rapier project began to emerge shortly after the publication of the report of the committee which sat under Sir Solly Zuckerman to consider the management and control of Research and Development. The “Zuckerman” formula was applied to Rapier and feasibility studies were followed by a project study, a holding contract, and eventually full development.

Meanwhile another committee under Mr. W. G. Downey had been considering the management of large development projects, and some of the techniques advocated by them have already been applied to Rapier.

Rapier, therefore, can be said to span the Zuckerman-Downey period, a period which has seen modern management techniques applied in more and more depth throughout the aerospace industry.