The Aircraft of British Aerospace and BAE SYSTEMS 1977 - 2017 73Nimrod from success to caNcellatioN
XV230 and rumours that the new version
was also vulnerable to the same
problem, but if that were the case why
had the MoD accepted it? Ten of the
eleven aircraft were scrapped at
Woodford in January – February 2011
and ZJ514 at Warton in mid-February.
The Woodford factory with its very long
and great history of producing aircraft
then closed for ever.
The cost to the British tax payer for 18
years’ work resulting in nothing at all was
circa £4bn. The Nimrod MRA4 fared no
better than the AEW3 in its eventual
outcome and in July 2016 the
Government has now purchased nine
Boeing P-8 Poseidons with the first
deliveries in 2019.Data Nimrod MRA4
Length 126ft 9in
Wingspan 127ft
Height 31ft
MTOW 232,315lbs
Cruising speed 570mph
Range 6910mls
Crew 10
Powerplant 4 x Rolls-Royce BR710 15,500lbs thrust
Armament Missiles: Sidewinder, Martel, Harpoon, Maverick,
Storm Shadow
Torpedoes: Stingray
Depth charges, Mines, SonobuoysConclusions
The Nimrod MR1, R1 and MR2 were
delivered by HSA/BAe to the RAF on budget
and on schedule, but the later marks of the
Nimrod failed to enter service. The AEW3
was apparently let down by the Marconi
radar systems. The MRA4 was the victim of a
Government determined to make major
cuts in defence expenditure. The MRA4
could have been a superb multi-role aircraft.
It had maritime and overland Combat-ISTAR
(intelligence, surveillance target acquisition
and reconnaissance) capability and
possessed a large offensive capability
married to a huge range. There were many
mistakes in its implementation but it was
cancelled when most of the money had
already been spent. ■The huge bomb bay of Nimrod ZJ518 open during
Stingray torpedo dropping trials. Ahead of the bomb
bay the Electrical-optical scanner turret can be seen
in its retracted position. Behind the bomb bay the
six chutes for dropping Sono-buoys can be seen.
(BAE SYSTEMS North West Heritage)