systems systems maritime patrol attack aircraft intended replace rebuilt aircraft extended operating life fleet decades significantly improved aircraft installing efficient jet engines double flight range conversion flight deck digital glass cockpit simplified control operations reduced crew requirements new detection systems installed additional weapons anti submarine warfare project subject significant delays cost runs contract negotiations partly difficulties combining refurbished built common standard newly built wings numbers aircraft fell course years costs continued climb ultimately cancelled result point million budget years late direct replacement development roles intended filled existing assets type frigate helicopter ultimately november announced intention order aircraft effectively replacing development background origins royal_air_force started replacement maritime programme replace aircraft meet requirement proposed rebuilding new engines electronics called raf considered bids lockheed rebuilt navy december billion contract awarded designation continued development essentially new aircraft significant changes included installation current generation rolls engines larger efficient wing fully refurbished fuselage larger air required requirements engine significantly higher original original borrowed heavily technology glass cockpit derived according systems enable crews gather process display times technical strategic data radar stated capable land water ability swept area size seconds aircraft synthetic training aids provided electronic training suite allow training crew members transfer active aircraft ground based training systems change increase availability aircraft operational missions allow intensive training exercises delays development problems original scheduled date entry service april development proved far protracted anticipated independent company flight ltd contracted undertake conversions standard discovered supplied raf built common standard considerably complicated refurbishment process task converting existing transferred house team found new wing flawed resulted project hold wing design developed issued shock profit warning december cost class submarine projects february took charge million contract company previously taken million loss charge expected cover costs completion current contract contract second time aircraft requirement reduced announcing plans future british military july defence secretary detailed plans reduce upgrade programme cover aircraft suggested eventual fleet second development achieved flight december test elements mission system air vehicle received contract worth billion july development aircraft converted production standard successfully released torpedo time july disputes cost meant number delivered reduced spring production aircraft took maiden flight september time flight cost million announced december introduction delayed defence spending cuts delivered march raf acceptance testing initial operational capability expected reached october operate main base scotland aircraft delivered cancellation strategic defence security review government announced cancellation october consequently intended base fleet closed november sub contract workers previously working laid stripped electronic equipment remaining scrapped beginning january process conducted screens intended hide process media bbc flew helicopter broadcast footage scrapping process late budget decision cancel controversial remaining near completion reported following retirement march russian submarines able travel past international waters tracked lack suitable aircraft november early december maritime patrol aircraft operated france canada united_states based attempt locate russian submarine spotted british territorial waters west scotland aircraft civilian search rescue role role respect stated depend maritime assets contribute tasks previously planned following cancellation defence secretary example worst performance idea allow position originally ordered reduced spent weren close getting capability happen january reported decision taken scrap aircraft flaws safety tests conducted found design non aircraft unclear example bomb bay doors functioned properly landing gear worked fuel pipe safe according magazine significant aerodynamic issues associated flying control concerns certain regimes flight meant grounded time cancellation signed safe magazine stated reason cancellation raf navy placed higher priority fast jets frigates maritime patrol defence chiefs publicly criticised decision scrap january concluded february decision proper understanding cost implications wasted replacement press reports february claimed royal_navy fleet air arm established committee consider acquisition maritime patrol aircraft replace anti submarine role estimated budget billion contrasting program cost billion reports suggested purchase consideration january reported attempts sell possible replacement november announced undertake range tasks undertaken intended specifications data flight insight general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight max takeoff weight powerplant lbf performance maximum speed mph range service ceiling armament guns wing stations internal bomb bay capacity provisions carry combinations rockets missiles air air missile air surface missile bombs depth charges air dropped torpedoes torpedoes naval mines multi mode search radar acoustic electro optical search detection system system
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4