A few years ago they didn't officially exist, but now the RAF is openly discussing an upgrade for the three shadowy Nimrod R. MK 1s of No 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems has teamed with QinetiQ and LogicaCMG for Project Helix, a multi-stage acquisition process for electronic surveillance suite improvements. Following Stage 1 assessment, L-3 is competing against two other consortia for architecture studies down-select in 2005 and system design in 2006. A demonstration and manufacture award, potentially worth £400 million, is expected in 2007.
