BRITISH AEROSPACE is offering to restart production of the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for export and has linked with McDonnell Douglas (MDC) to try to boost the market potential of its Nimrod 2000.
The agreement comes less than a month before the UK Ministry of Defence is expected to announce the results of a contest also involving Lockheed Martin and GEC with the Orion 2000 and Lockheed Tactical Systems UK (formally Loral) with its upgrade of P-3s to provide the Royal Air Force with up to 25 replacement MPAs.
The BAe move is being interpreted as an answer to MoD concerns that the Nimrod 2000 has no export potential while the Orion 2000, with its GEC mission systems, could gain large overseas sales.
MDC's involvement in the project will cover "airframe and overall weapon system design", says BAe, but it could lead to production-line work, should there be a demand for new-build aircraft in markets close to the USA. BAe has already offered new-build aircraft to the RAF, if required (Flight International, 27 March - 2 April, P16).
The Nimrod 2000 is based on the 40-year-old de Havilland Comet 4 airframe, but has a new centre-wing box to accommodate a new engine. Boeing Defense is responsible for the Nimrod's mission-control avionics.
Source: Flight International
