I have read speculation here and elsewhere about the upgraded Nimrod MRA4 being used for overland conventional bomber roles using either satellite guided weapons such as JDAM/Paveway IV or Storm Shadow.
Any thoughts from those of you in the know about how much of a role the RAF envisages for the “Might Hunter” in this capacity?
cheers
By: Jonesy - 12th December 2008 at 16:45
The ability to fly very long distances at short notice and deliver such a precision weapon has not gone unnoticed though.
Even more important is the presence of a very comprehensive comms fitout and enough space/screens for a strike planning cell on the aircraft to allow for a meaningful CASOM deployment capability.
Problem is its too close to interfering with the FOAS requirement for comfort within RAF circles. If they can dual role Nimrod to accomplish long range precision strike then it might be curtains for extra shiny new aircraft to replace GR4 when the time comes for the venerable Tonka to bow out.
Bad form that Ginger – mustn’t allow the ministry to take the kites away!. In otherwords yes the capability has been noticed and it will be kept as quiet as the light blue can possibly manage it!.
By: Super Nimrod - 11th December 2008 at 07:26
There definately was talk of this e.g. cutting out all the fancy electronics and crew in the rear and making the weapons bay much larger internally, but I don’t think it got very far as the cost would have been prohibitive as they would have had to have broken though to the pressurised part of the hull or alternatively built a larger external weapons bay. Its been quoted in numerous places on the net in the last few years that the MRA4 has the theoretical capability to carry every air launched weapon in the armoury but the money won’t be there to integrate them all, hence the limited stuff thats being added.
I think what is far more likely is that against a not too hostile environment eg anti terrorism, then limited overland ops with a few paveways etc may be an option. For anything really hostile then it might be used as a very limited stand-off weapons delivery platform assuming the will to integrate storm shadow is there. I am sure there was an artists impreesion a couple of years ago with one on each wing ? Not sure if the money is available at the moment, but crash programs to integrate weapons can be done in weeks if required. The ability to fly very long distances at short notice and deliver such a precision weapon has not gone unnoticed though.
By: swerve - 9th December 2008 at 20:48
They haven’t spent money on things like this. It’s an unfunded proposal.
By: AE90 - 9th December 2008 at 20:32
… Nimrod isn’t the right platform for this, the money should have gone to keeping the order at 18 rather than 12 andsodding about with things like this
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December 9, 2008 at 6:57 pm