 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2020) |
| Nimrod AEW3 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Nimrod AEW3 | |
| Role | Airborne early warning and control |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | British Aerospace |
| First flight | 16 July 1980[1] |
| Introduction | 1984 |
| Retired | 1986 |
| Status | Development cancelled |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 11 |
| Number built | 3 prototype 8 production (all converted from MR1) |
| Developed from | Hawker Siddeley Nimrod |
The British Aerospace Nimrod AEW3 was a proposed airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft which was to provide airborne radar cover for the air defence of the United Kingdom by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The project was designed to use the existing Nimrod airframe, in use with the RAF as a maritime patrol aircraft, combined with a new radar system and avionics package developed by Marconi Avionics.
The Nimrod AEW project proved to be hugely complex and expensive as a result of the difficulties of producing new radar and computer systems and integrating them successfully into the Nimrod airframe. The project was eventually cancelled, with the RAF instead purchasing new build Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft to fulfil the AEW requirement.[2]
- ^ "BAe Nimrod AEW3". The Spyflight Website. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- ^ Aboulafia, Richard (May 2001). "Airborne Early Warning: An affordable necessity?". Aerospace America. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.