As it had turned out Sunny today I decided to jump on the Motorbike and pop down to Eastbourne Aero 2006. When I got there quite late in the day I had missed most of the flight display so I went for a walk around the static.
I ended up sweating in my leathers having a chat to a Flight Sergent and Sergent with the Nimrod force where I learned some very interesting things. Apparently the Nimrod force want to integrate Paveway 4 onto the MR2 now but it looks like it will be put off until the MRA4 hits service. I then said I would like to the see the Stormshadow integrated onto the Nimrod, I was expecting a negative but the NCO’s nodded to each other and told me that is what they are working on at the moment. Apparently its a high priority and a dead cert for the MRA4 and possibly for the MR2 in the interim. Other interesting snippits I found out was that the Searchwater 2000 for the MRA4 is having a ground mode added to it and that they regard the Lockheed Martin pod being fitted on the MRA4 as such a piece of junk (the Wescam which was fitted for Afghanistan as a priority fit is more modern then the one specked for the MRA4) that when it hits squadron service they are going to swap it out for the Wescam MX-15 off the MR2 and if the money is spare they are looking at going for the MX-20 which has a laser designator.
After this the conversation drifted onto the Nimrod R1 intelligence platform and the next thing they told me bowled me over. Apparently the RAF is seriously considering purchasing some surplus Boeing 707 airframes and then refurbishing them to a similar standard to the E3D airframes (i.e. same engines and avionics) so they can use the same service contract as the E3D fleet and then use them for the Nimrod R1’s role. Apparently they would like the extra space and see the use of the same airframe as the E3D as a cheap option. Of course there is a precident with the Americans doing the same for the JSTARS project so it seems credible to me.
All in all it was a fascinating insight and some info worth chewing over, I couldn’t wait to get home and post it on the website. It never fails to amaze me what things personel will tell you if you know your subject, I think being knowledgable about the Nimrod certainly got my foot through the door.
P.S. I have added a video of my ride to Eastbourne 😀
Sign In
August 17, 2006 at 9:28 pm