Nimrod

Description
The Nimrod is perhaps the most capable maritime reconnaissance platform in the world, and it served with great distinction in the Falkland Islands War with Argentina. The airframe is based on that of the de Havilland Comet airliner but with new engines and an enlarged lower fuselage containing a weapons bay. The most recent model is the MRA.4 equipped with much more capable radar, faster computers, and other avionics. Data below for Nimrod MR.2P

Last modified 24 May 2001

Development
MR2

Starting in 1975, 32 aircraft were upgraded to MR2 standard, including modernisation of the electronic suite and (as the MR2P) provision for in-flight refuelling and additional ESM pods on the wingtips. The in-flight refuelling capability was introduced during the Falklands War, as well as hardpoints to allow the Nimrod to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile (giving rise to the aircraft being called "the largest fighter in the world") for use against Argentine Air Force's Boeing 707 which were configured for maritime patrol/surveillance duties shadowing the British naval task force. Eventually all MR2s gained refuelling probes and the "P" designation was dropped. The Nimrod MR2 carries out three main roles - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Unit Warfare (ASUW) and Search and Rescue (SAR). Its extended range enables the crew to monitor maritime areas far to the north of Iceland and up to 4,000 km out into the Western Atlantic. With Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR), range and endurance is greatly extended. The MR2 is a submarine killer carrying up to date sensors and data processing equipment linked to the weapon systems. In addition to weapons and sonobuoys, a searchlight is mounted in the starboard wing pod for Search and rescue (SAR) operations. The crew consists of two pilots and one flight engineer, two navigators (one tactical navigator and a routine navigator), one Air Electronics Officer (AEO), the sonobuoy sensor team of two Weapon System Operators (WSOp ACO) and four Weapon System Operators (WSOp EW) to manage passive and active electronic warfare systems. Two of the WSOps will be used as observers positioned at the port and starboard beam lookout windows when flying in dense air traffic. The MR2 has the longest bomb bay of any NATO aircraft. The Nimrod MR2 is based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland and flown by 201, 120 and 42(R) Squadrons. First maintenance of the MR2 was carried out by the Nimrod Line Sqn. Software Support for the MR2 is carried out by the Nimrod Software Team also based at RAF Kinloss. The Nimrod MR2 aircraft was withdrawn on 31 March 2010, a year earlier than planned, for financial reasons.

Armament

 * XAGM: AGM-65D Maverick
 * Smoke bombs: Unknown
 * Torpedoes: Mark 46
 * Missile: 2x AIM-9L Sidewinder
 * LASM: AGM-84 Harpoon