The UK is to delay an anticipated production decision on the Royal Air Force’s Nimrod MRA4 maritime reconnaissance and attack aircraft project until next year, pushing the type’s in-service date back to late 2010.
Prime contractor BAE Systems had hoped to secure Main Gate approval for the delayed programme last month after a successful year of flight tests involving three prototypes, but the Ministry of Defence says a decision is now considered “unlikely” before year-end. However, discussions with BAE are “ongoing and progressing well”, it adds.
The MRA4 project is believed to have slipped from a scheduled appraisal by the MoD’s Investment Approvals Board last month, and is now expected to be discussed during December. But even with a positive recommendation, ministerial approval to advance the estimated £3.6 billion ($6.3 billion) programme to full-rate production will take until early next year to obtain, says an industry source.
This could leave BAE facing a gap between its current company-funded strip and survey work to the programme’s next four airframes and production activities, although the company is optimistic that the MoD will agree to provide long-lead funding to bridge any possible gap.
Selected in mid-1996, the MRA4 – an extensive modification to the RAF’s current Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol – is likely to be declared in service with the formation of an initial squadron of six aircraft in late 2010. The service is expected to eventually acquire 12 MRA4s.
CRAIG HOYLE/LONDON
Source: Flight International
