BAE SYSTEMS Nimrod MRA4 Continues To Impress
15 Jul 2005
The BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 continues to progress well in its flight trials programme, turning in some impressive results from a confident airborne performance, less than one year after its inaugural flight last autumn.
The lead development aircraft (PA01) was joined in mid-December 2004 by a second aircraft (PA02), which is responsible for testing the mission system. A third and final development aircraft (PA03) will join the MRA4 development fleet later this year. The aircraft is currently undergoing engine ground runs in readiness for this.
An intensive flight trials programme, involving all three aircraft, will continue through to 2007, flying from BAE Systems airfields at Warton and Woodford in North West England.
The RAF is working in close partnership with BAE Systems in all flight trials and a number of RAF personnel have been seconded to the test and development programme for several years. As early as the fifth flight, RAF personnel had already flown in every crew position in the aircraft.
In early August, PA02, now painted in RAF livery and currently testing the aircraft’s mission system, will leave the UK for the first time, flying to Sicily for preliminary hot weather trials
To date PA01 and PA02 have accumulated a total of 70 hours of flying time over 40 separate missions. The longest flight to date has been 4 hours and 35 minutes, with the aircraft achieving a top speed of 250 knots. Initial stall trials have successfully been completed and the aircraft has already flown at its maximum operating altitude of 35,000ft.
A weapon systems integration rig at BAE Systems Warton site continues to prove the capabilities of Nimrod MRA4’s integrated mission system - which, when fully operational will enable the crew to gather, process and display up to 20 times more technical and strategic data than the current RAF Nimrod fleet.
All preliminary manufacturing for the Nimrod MRA4 programme is now concentrated at BAE Systems Woodford site. A wide range of activity is underway, including making preparations for the first flight of PA03 later this year and managing scheduled 'pauses' of PA01 and PA02 for the installation of design modifications. Important strip and survey work is also being carried out at Woodford on four additional RAF Nimrod MR2 fuselages, in anticipation of their extensive re-manufacture as Nimrod MRA4 aircraft. A series of jigs has already been installed at Woodford for the assembly of MRA4 wings and other major components.
In parallel, the BAE Systems Nimrod team continues to prepare a comprehensive bid for the production of a 12 aircraft fleet, including the three current MRA4 development airframes, which would be converted to full MRA4 production standard at the conclusion of their flight test programme. This bid will be submitted to the MOD this month, with a decision expected later this year.
An additional bid, this time for through-life support of the Nimrod MRA4 fleet, is also in preparation by the joint MoD/BAE Systems team. As part of this activity the MRA4 support team will be working with the current MR2 team to ensure that when the next generation Nimrod goes into service at RAF Kinloss, there will be a seamless transition of operations.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The Company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years and is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defense systems. BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The Company employs nearly 100,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately $25 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.
For further information, please contact:
Malcolm Adams, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 161 957 4521 Fax: +44 (0) 161 955 3382
malcolm.adams@baesystems.com
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