Third Nimrod MRA4 Joins The Fleet
31 Aug 2005
The third Nimrod MRA4 development aircraft, PA03, has successfully completed its first flight. It took off from BAE Systems Woodford site, near Manchester at 1645hrs on Monday, 29 August, and landed at the Companys Warton base, near Preston after a 75 minute sortie. PA03, the first development aircraft to test the whole of the mission system, joins the two other flight trials aircraft in a busy schedule that continues into 2007.
Joe Harland, MD of the MRA4 programme for BAE Systems was on hand at Warton to greet PA03s flight crew, led by Nimrod MRA4's Chief Test Pilot Bill Ovel, and he congratulated them and the whole of the Nimrod community on a job well done. Commenting on the successful first flight of this latest addition to the MRA4 fleet Joe commented Just a year ago I was on hand to welcome MRA4s historic inaugural flight when it landed at Warton, and now, one year on, our development fleet is complete. The addition of PA03 to the trials programme ensures that we are able to demonstrate system maturity to our customer. Although PA03s first flight represents an end in terms of getting all three of our development aircraft flying, it is yet another important step on the road to winning the MRA4 production contract.
A comprehensive bid for the production of a 12-aircraft Nimrod MRA4 fleet was submitted to the UK MOD in mid-July, with a decision expected around year end. The bid includes conversion to a production standard of the three MRA4 development aircraft at the conclusion of their flight trials work.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defence 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 defence systems. BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs over 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately 14.8 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.
For further information, please contact:
Keith Lewis, BAE Systems
Tel: + 1 603 885 2818
keith.p.lewis@baesystems.com
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
