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Long-Delayed Nimrod MRA.4 Nearly Ready to Fly
BAE Systems' Nimrod MRA.4 rebuild and upgrade program, started in December 1996, finally progressed to initial ground runs of the prototype's four Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR710 turbofans at BAE's Woodford factory, on April 12. Taxying trials from June 12 then preceded an imminent first flight, expected over a year after the originally planned RAF in-service date of April 2003. This has now become 2009, while BAE's €3.28 billion ($4 billion) Ministry of Defence fixed-price contract has similarly stretched to a currently quoted €5.07 billion ($6.22 billion) capital procurement cost.
In 2002, MoD original requirements were cut from 21 aircraft to 18, while planned use of about 50% of the original Nimrod MR.2 airframes has progressively reduced to only the fuselage keel and fin, and 5% overall commonality.
In February 2003, the MoD renegotiated the MRA.4 program with BAE, which incurred liquidated damages of €68.66 million ($84.2 million). The MoD delayed launching MRA.4 series production until demonstrated performance was achieved with the first three aircraft, but also boosted its funding by €403 million ($494 million) as its share of program restructuring, subject to final negotiations. Following a recent revised MoD risk-reduction contract with BAE, a production decision is planned by late 2005, to achieve a 2009 in-service date, with the sixth MRA.4 delivery.
Announcing these changes in February 2003, Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach said: "Because of production delays, we now have the option of considering increases in MRA.4 capabilities, to meet 21st century defence requirements. We've already introduced improvements to existing RAF Nimrod MR.2s, which use some of the MRA.4's planned technologies, thereby both reducing risks in the new program, and increasing existing capability."
Development of the MRA.4's new digital mission avionics, from an original €517.6 million ($639 million) sub-contract with Boeing from BAE to develop a new Tactical Command System (TCS), has been extended to fulfil wider combat roles and capabilities. With declining anti-submarine requirements, the MRA.4 is now taking shape as a long-range anti-surface warfare, strategic attack, intelligence, and reconnaissance platform, with a formidable array of sensors, datalinks, and weapons integration. It is 30% heavier than the Nimrod MR.2, carries 30% more fuel, has twice the patrol endurance, and 6,000 nmi range. It will be able to deliver a wide range of precision-guided ASW, air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons, ranging from depth charges, homing torpedoes, bombs, and even MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Its 5.4 million lines of computer codes are three times as complex as those in a Northrop Grumman B-2, and 20 times the Tornado GR.4's.
Last year, Raytheon completed systems upgrades of the RAF's three long-serving Nimrod R.1 signals intelligence and electronic surveillance aircraft, from the Project Extract program, for operation through 2012. Their further modernization or replacement is being studied through the MoD's Defense Procurement Agency's new Project Helix program. In April, the DPA selected three teams, led by L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, to compete for an initial €2.98 million ($3.66 million) nine-month problem definition phase. Two teams will then be picked for a 12-month concept definition phase, with down-selection in 2006 of a single contractor for risk-reduction and implementation phases, each costing €298.5 million ($366 million).
—John Fricker
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