Nimrod
IOC: 1969
Total Production: 46
Nimrod MRA4
IOC: 2009
Unitary Cost: USD$170 million
Also Known As
Nimrod 2000
Origin
United Kingdom
Contractor/s
BAE Systems
Family Members
Nimrod R1
Sensors & Communications:
EOSDS
Protection Systems:
DASS-2000
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Description:
The Nimrod evolved from Comet airliner as a maritime surveillance aircraft. The Nimrod MR1 entered service in 1969 with 46 aircraft ordered by the Royal Air Force (RAF). In 1975 the RAF started the MR2 modernization program which upgraded 32 existing MR1 aircraft to the MR2 standard.
The Nimrod MR2 aircraft were capable of performing anti-submarine, anti-ship and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. It was fitted with radar, Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) and acoustic detection equipment to match the three mission profiles goals.
In July 2004, the Ministry of Defense awarded BAe Systems a £2 billion contract for Nimrod 2000 modernization program intended to extend Nimrod MR2 fleet service life well into the 21st century. As a result of Nimrod 2000, the MRA4 (Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance and Attack Mark 4) emerged as a new standard to be applied to 21 existing Nimrod MR2 aircraft. According to BAE systems, Nimrod MRA4 will be over 80% a brand new aircraft.
The Nimrod MRA4 features 4 new BR710 engines, glass-cockpit, multi-mode pulse Doppler radar, Airbus A340 technology, Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Defensive Aids Subsystem, Acoustic systems, electro-optical surveillance and detection systems, Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD), and communications management system.
The MRA4 weapon system includes mines, bombs, torpedoes and missiles such as ASRAAM or AGM-84 Harpoon. The inaugural flight took place on August 26, 2004, at BAE Systems' Woodford site, near Manchester. The first MRA4 was dubbed PA01 and performed as expected during the flight. PA02 and PA03 aircraft are expected to fly in late 2004 and summer 2005.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MoD) current fleet requirement is for around 12 MRA4 aircraft rather than 21 or 18 as previously planned with an initial operational capability projected by 2009. On March 11, 2005, the UK Minister for the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram, announced that the Nimrod MRA4 will be based at RAF Kinloss until at least 2013.
On 18 July 2006, the UK Ministry of Defense awarded BAE Systems a £1.1 billion contract for the production of 12 Nimrod MRA4 aircraft to be delivered to the Royal Air Force from 2009. These airplanes will replace current Nimrod MR2s.
Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 10
Dimensions: Height 9.1 m, Length 38.7 m, Wingspan 38.7 m
Weights: Max Weight 107 t, Min Weight 46,500 kg (102,513 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 59,600 lb (27,035 kg)
Performance: Ceiling 12,800 m (41,995 ft), Endurance 15 hours, Max Range 10,900 km (5,886 nm), Service Life 30 yr, Top Speed 256 mps (Mach 0.77)
Other: Number of Engines 4
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United Kingdom / 12 