Nimrod MRA4 'ready to train'

BAE Systems has handed over the first Nimrod MRA4 to the UK Ministry of Defence.

Gary Parsons - 12-Mar-2010

ZJ517/PA03 is the third pre-production MRA4. BAE Systems image

March 12: In a brief ceremony at its Woodford factory, BAE Systems handed over the first Nimrod MRA4 to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) on March 10, which declared it ‘ready to train’.

The first production aircraft, ZJ514/PA04 was accepted on behalf of the MoD by Group Captain Jerry Kessell and signifies type acceptance from the manufacturer. Royal Air Force crews can now begin to train on the aircraft, ready for Initial Operating Capability in the latter half of 2012.

Group Captain George Martin, the UK MoD’s Nimrod MRA4 Operations Manager said “Today sees the end of the acceptance process for MRA4, namely type, production and last, but by no means least, that of capability. It marks a key milestone in the delivery of the first MRA4 for service use.”

ZJ514 has now moved to BAE Systems’ Warton site, where RAF aircrew will be trained under what is termed the ‘Transition Programme’ to become instructors at RAF Kinloss in Moray, Scotland where the aircraft will eventually be based.

Acceptance of PA04 also coincided with the retirement of ZJ516/PA01 and ZJ518/PA02, the two pre-production aircraft having served their purpose and now await disposal.

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