"Battle to win £2bn deal to replace Britain's Nimrod ..." Topic

…spy planes.

"Defence groups call for a fair fight in race to land expected contract to replace Nimrod jets that were controversially scrapped

Defence companies are lining up to offer a replacement for the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft, with the Government expected to announce a deal for a new fleet of jets by the end of the year.

Military insiders say it is a case of "when, not if" the scheme worth up to £2.00 GBPbn will be revealed, though it is likely to come when the current Strategic Defence and Security Review Security (SDSR) reports in the winter…"
Full article here
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Amicalement
Armand

About bleedin' time. I'd prefer home made, but I don't care if they buy elsewhere, as long as they are in sufficient quantity and they work properly.

Are there any aircraft makers still wholly UK-owned?

I honestly expect the UK to end up with modified P8 Poseidons, since that would result in subhunters sharing their airframe and engines with ELINT birds.

The Canadians are also looking at replacing their fleet of Auroras. Oz has signed up for a P-8/Triton mix to replace existing P-3's.

Have a great day, Foxtrot

I thought they'd already decided this a few years back…

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Yea, P-8s are my bet.

P-8s would be no surprise at all given that there are a significant number of RAF aircrew flying them already as part of the "Seedcorn" Initiative

And P-8s were what the RAF wanted in the first place…

But 'spy plane'? Nimrod MR2 & MRA4 were manifestly NOT 'spy planes'. The Nimrod R1, which could indeed be described in those terms, has already been replaced by the RC-135.