Nimrod MRA4

Under a £2bn plus contract awarded by the MOD in July 1996, the Nimrod programme involved the re-engineering and re-build of 18 (originally 21) Nimrod MR2 aircraft to a new standard, known as the Nimrod MRA4 (Maritime, Reconnaissance and Attack), together with training and support packages.

A radical renegotiation of the contract in 2003 resulted in a separation of the design and development phase from production.   An announcement by the MOD in 2004 further reduced the MRA4 requirement, from 18 to 12.
 
With BAE Systems as prime contractor and design authority, the Nimrod MRA4 will not only offer unrivalled effectiveness in its maritime role, but could also embody additional capability, enabling it to undertake other missions. Following the MRA4’s inaugural flight in August 2004 there is now a three aircraft development fleet fully engaged in flight trials.

A production contract for twelve aircraft was awarded in July 2006, with a planned in service date of late 2010. The Nimrod MRA4 will be a hugely capable aircraft, building on the RAF's experience of more than 25 years successful operation of the MR2 fleet.