BAe / Hawker Siddeley Nimrod

The Story of BAe / Hawker Siddeley Nimrod

For much of the Cold War (1947-1991) the Royal Air Force (RAF) relied on the BAe/Hawker Siddeley "Nimrod" for maritime patrols. The aircraft was developed around the existing frame of the de Havilland "Comet" airliner, with appropriate water patrol equipment.

The original program was edited by Hawker Siddeley and completed by BAe Systems. A total of 49 airframes and two prototypes are part of the RAF Nimrod programme.

The Nimrod started out as a replacement for the aging, piston-driven, WWII-era Avro Shackleton (detailed elsewhere on this page). The aircraft was tasked with conducting maritime patrols and general reconnaissance missions in coastal waters, a formidable force in the Soviet High Seas Fleet after World War IIespecially submarine forcesessential to the West.

As such, the Nimrod was developed with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in mind and became a major upgrade over the wartime Shackleton they replaced.

This specification was published on June 4, 1964, and the Comet 4 airframe was selected for a modification of the Nimrod standard. One prototype made its maiden flight on May 23, 1967, and two prototypes were eventually completed for this phase of the program.

Other competing airframes include the French Breguet Atlantic, the American Lockheed P-3 Orion and the British Vickers VC10. After the required testing and evaluation period, the series was launched on October 2, 1969, beginning a decades-long career of excellence in service.

One of the most important changes to the Comet was the installation of a Rolls-Royce turbofan engine, replacing the original underpowered, thirsty turbojet. The nose assembly has been modified to accept the expected radar modifications and an internal weapons bay for ordnance has been added. The tail is fitted with an electronic warfare (EW) system, and the boom is fitted with a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) used to locate naval threats. As planned, Nimrod can carry up to 13 crew members and can accommodate up to 24 crew members. Overall length is 126.8 feet, with a wingspan of 114.9 feet and a height of 31 feet.

The kerb weight is 86,000 pounds and the MTOW is 192,000 pounds.

Power comes from 4 Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines, each producing 12,160 lbs of thrust. Embedded in the main-wing aircraft itself, these engines provide good aerodynamic efficiency (while also reducing the aircraft's radar cross-section), draw air from elliptical air intakes on the leading edge of the wing, and pump air at the trailing edge of the wing. Air is exhausted.

The aircraft's capabilities include a top speed of 575 mph, a cruising speed of 490 mph, a range of up to 5,750 miles, and a service ceiling of 44,000 feet.

Not using conventional weapons for self-defense. However, underwing stations and interior bays provide offensive capabilities when attacking ships and submarines. Can carry up to 20,000 pounds of ammunition, which may be a mix of anti-air, anti-ship and anti-submarine munitions. Depth charges (including nuclear types) as well as mines and torpedoes (Mk 46) can also be added to the mix.

Nimrod is also capable of releasing sonic devices when needed while acoustically searching for enemy submarines.

The successful development of this aircraft from the Comet camouflage resulted in the RAF committing 46 initial Nimrod MRs. Mk 1 model. First commissioned in October 1969. Equipped with a range of anti-ship and reconnaissance equipment, the Nimrod also carries bombs and torpedoes as required by specific mission sets.

Later versions gained additional hardpoints (external) to deploy more powerful air-to-air/air-to-surface missiles and mine-launched munitions.

R. Mk 1 is a SIGnals INtelligence (SIGINT) model built from three Nimrod frameworks. Four crew members and around 25 specialists were promoted to work on equally specialized equipment on board. The R. Mk 1 model lacks the MAD craze popular in MR. Mk 1 model.

Mr. The Mk 2 went live in 1975 and was built from existing MRs. The Mk 1 fleet passed 35 examples. The electronics on these planes have been significantly improved from the original models, and newer, more powerful radars have been installed. These became operational in August 1979. gentlemen.

The Mk 2P is an offshoot that includes aerial refueling capability (debuted during the Falklands War with Argentina). The rocket-oriented form became MR. The Mk 2P (GM) was used in the 1991 Gulf War.

AEW. As a potential Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platform, the Mk 3 counts 11 planned conversions of the existing Nimrod. A proper radar would fit the role, but the program proved too expensive and was abandoned by the Americans in favor of Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft.

The last major model worth noting is the proposed MRA. Mk 4, which should improve almost every aspect of MR. Mk 2 fleet. Again, the cost came into play, and the project was dropped in the 2010 defense review. MRA. The base crew of the Mk 4 is 2, with 7 specialists in specific roles.

For longer flights, a crew of up to 13 is on board, enabling Nimrod to perform missions of more than 15 hours, expanding the eyes and ears of coastal defense as needed.

The Nimrod series became direct combat operations in the Falklands War (1982), the Gulf War (1991), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2014) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2011). Additionally, the line has been an excellent search and rescue (SAR) platform throughout its life cycle.

Six combat squadrons are equipped with Nimrod, as well as a training and experimental unit. Only a few exist today as museum exhibits.

The UK retired from active duty on 28 June 2011 and moved on without viable maritime patrols until the RAF engagement with the Boeing P-8 Poseidon in July 2016. Delivery of the machine is expected sometime before the end of the century.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes