BAE Nimrod MR.1 R.1 MR.2 AEW.3 MRA4 Units Using The Nimrod

BAE Nimrod
BAE Nimrod
Description
Role	Maritime patrol aircraft and electronic intelligence aircraft
Crew	11
First Flight
Entered Service
Manufacturer
Dimensions
Length	126 ft 9 in	38.63 m
Wingspan	114 ft 10 in	35.00 m
Height	ft in	m
Wing Area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	lb	kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum Takeoff	lb	kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines	4 x Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans
Thrust	lb	kN
Performance
Maximum Speed	575 mph	925 km/h
Combat Range	miles	km
Ferry Range	miles	km
Service Ceiling	ft	m
Rate of Climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing Loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns
Bombs
Missiles	AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-84 Harpoon
Rockets
Other	Magnetic anomaly detector, Stingray torpedo, depth charges

The BAE SYSTEMS Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft is derived from the De Havilland Comet, the world's first jet airliner. It is unique in being the only dedicated land-based, jet-powered maritime patrol aircraft in service today. (Other jet-powered maritime patrol aircraft such as the S-3 Viking are primarily deployed from aircraft carriers, or simply civil types with added electronics.) The era of turboprop maritime patrol aircraft may be drawing to a close, the US Navy's P-3 Orion fleet will be replaced by the 737 MMA over the next decade.

The Nimrod serves the RAF in two variants, the R.1 variant in a reconnaissance and electronic intelligence gathering capacity (officially, these were once coyly described as "radar calibration aircraft"), and the MR version in the maritime reconnaissance role. The R.1 variant is recognisable by the fact it doesn't have a MAD boom unlike the MR version.

1 MR.1

Nimrod development began in 1964Events January January 1 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. January 3 Senator Barry Goldwater announces that he will seek the Republican nomination for President. January 5 In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Ort as a project to replace the elderly Avro ShackletonThe Avro Shackleton was a military aircraft. A four piston-engine design named after Sir Ernest Shackleton, it served with the Royal Air Force in Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), Airborne Early Warning (AEW), Search and rescue. Like many other successful maritime patrol aircraft, it was based on a civil airliner which had reached the end of its market life, in this case, the Comet 4. The first two RAF aircraft were unfinished Comet 4 airliners. The Comet's turbojet engines were replaced with Rolls-Royce SpeyThe Spey is a low-bypass turbofan engine from Rolls-Royce that has been in widespread service for over 30 years. Originally intended for the civilian jetliner market when it was being designed in the late 1950s, the Spey machinery was also used in various turbofanTurbofan is a type of airplane engine which is evolved from the turbojet essentially by increasing the size of the first-stage compressor to the point where it acts as a ducted propeller (or fan) blowing air past the "core" of the engine. This type of engs (for better fuel efficiencyFuel efficiency sometimes also referred to as fuel economy and commonly gas mileage in the United States, is a numeric measure often used to describe the amount of fuel consumed with regard to the distance travelled in a transportation vehicle, such as an, particularly at the low altitudes required for maritime patrol), and major changes made to the fuselage, including an internal weapons bay, an extended nose for radar, a new tail with ESMElectronic Warfare (EW includes, but is not limited to, the following: Electronic Counter Measures (ECM This is the active use of the electromagnetic spectrum to deny its use by an adversary. Most ECM activity is in the form of jamming. Electronic Protect sensors mounted in a bulky fairing, and a MAD boom. After a first flight in May 1967 the RAF ordered 46 Nimrod MR.1s, and the first example entered service in October 1969. Five squadrons were eventually equipped with the MR version.

2 R.1

Three Nimrod aircraft were adapted to the SIGINT role, replacing the Comet C2s and Canberras of No. 51 Squadron in May 1974. Only since the end of the Cold War has the role of the aircraft been officially acknowledged. The R.1s have not suffered the same rate of fatigue and corrosion of the MR.2s and will continue in service long after the MR.2 is replaced by the MRA4.

3 MR.2

Starting in 1975, 32 aircraft were upgraded to MR.2 standard, involving modernisation of the electronic suite and (as the MR.2P) provision for inflight refueling and additional ESM pods on the wingtips. The inflight refueling capability was introduced during the Falklands war, as well as hardpoints to allow the Nimrod to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Eventually all MR2s gained refueling probes and the "P" designation was dropped.

The Nimrod MR.2 is based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland and flown by 201, 120, 206 and 42(R) Sqns, The Nimrod R1 is based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, England and flown by 51 Sqn .

4 AEW.3

In the mid- 1980s, the Nimrod's duties were expanded to include AEW - again, as a replacement for the Lancaster-derived, piston-engined Shackleton which, astonishingly, was still in service in that role. The Nimrod AEW.3 project was plagued by cost over-runs and electronic difficulties. The aircraft were modified by BAe to house the GEC Marconi radars in a bulbous nose and tail (see picture). Eventually, it was realised that the cost of developing a state-of-the-art all-British AEW system for a mere handful of aircraft was unsustainable, and the RAF received much cheaper and more effective mass-produced Boeing E-3 Sentries ( AWACS) instead. Of the eleven RAF aircraft that were selected for conversion none returned to the maritime reconnaissiance role.

5 MRA4

Towards the end of the 20th century, BAe began planning to build a Nimrod replacement. The RAF considered bids from Lockheed with its P-3 Orion, Loral Corp. with rebuilt ex- US Navy Orions, and Dassault with the Atlantique 3 , but in July 1997 awarded the contract to BAe with the substantially rebuilt Nimrod MRA.4. The MRA.4 is essentially a new aircraft, with current-generation BMW Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines, a new, larger wing, and fully refurbished fuselage. The rebuilt aircraft borrow heavily from Airbus technology, the wings are designed and manufactured by BAE Systems (the UK Airbus partner) and the glass cockpit is derived from that of the Airbus A340.

Development has taken longer than anticipated but the first of 18 MRA.4s are expected to enter service shortly. The contract was initially for the supply of 21 rebuilt Nimrods but due to technical problems the project was brought to a halt. Following public recriminations between the Ministry of Defence and BAE the contract was renegotiated, for the revised number of 18 aircraft. Officially this is due to the fact that increased capability and availability of the MRA.4 will require fewer aircraft, it has been suggested however that this is in effect a compensation to BAE, who had to absorb the cost increases of the project. Announcing plans for the future of the British military on July 21 2004 Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon detailed plans to reduce the upgrade programme to cover only 16 aircraft and suggested that an eventual fleet of 12 may suffice.

For the RAF, the jet-powered Nimrod offers greater speed and range than any turboprop, and enhanced ability to detect a threat without itself being detected because of the reduced noise and lower radar signature of the Nimrods buried engines. New Bombardier Sentinel R1 (ASTOR) aircraft due for delivery from mid 2004 may take on some duties performed by the R.1P variant described above.

BAE SYSTEMS offered a new build version of the Nimrod for the US Navy's Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) competition. The competition was launched in 2000 however BAE withdrew from the competition in October 2002, recognising the political reality that the failure to find a US-based production partner made the bid unrealistic. Boeing's 737 won the competition on June 14, 2004.

The first Flight of a Nimrod MRA4 (the aircraft designated PA1) occurred on Thursday 26 August 2004.

6 Units Using the Nimrod

6.1 Royal Air Force

British patrol aircraft 1960-1969 British ASW aircraft 1960-1969

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