BAE Nimrod

[rickshaw]

Except there appears to be something substantially larger on top of the fin of the Nimrod...

[dy031101]

Except there appears to be something substantially larger on top of the fin of the Nimrod...

I'm wondering...... which one would be less troublesome: relocating the fin-top ECM sensors into the tail dome or mounting a radar antenna to cover the blind spot created by the fin-top fairing?

[ChernayaAkula]

And since the aircraft probably flies a race-track pattern, how long could a target stay in the "dead spot" anyway?

EDIT: Is there even a dead spot? IIRC, the entire width of the antenna is used. So only a rather small part would be obscured when the panel faces directly aft. Could degrade range a bit, but may not a be a completely dead spot. 

[kitnut617]

Except there appears to be something substantially larger on top of the fin of the Nimrod...

Not sure it would worry it any, the dish mostly looks downwards doesn't it.  Anyway, the downfall of the Nimrod AEW was the inability to link the two radars together, I wonder what makes Grumman figure they could do any better.

[rickshaw]

'cause they weren't GE(UK)?   Had a mate who worked for GE(UK) on the radar for the Nimrod AEW.  He always suggested it was two fantastic radars, rather than one.  He also made it clear that they never got the thing to work for more than five minutes at a time.   GE(UK) from his comment appeared to have bitten of something they couldn't chew.   I wonder how the Israelis managed to get their Phalcon phased array to work?

[kitnut617]

 I wonder how the Israelis managed to get their Phalcon phased array to work?

Does that worked the same way then ?

[GTX]

Now there's an idea:  Nimrod AEW with cheek/nose mounted arrays ala Phalcon.

Regards,

Greg

[Weaver]

That would probably work well. You'd have to re-engineer the pannier, but it all detaches in sections anyway so no biggy.

[GTX]

Speaking of Nimrod's, did anyone else note the interesting location for the FLIR/EO turret on the Nimrods in Afghanistan:





Regards,

Greg

[Weaver]

That's where the MR.2's FLIR turret always was, although I think the model has been upgraded more than once.

[GTX]

That's where the MR.2's FLIR turret always was, although I think the model has been upgraded more than once.

Well, I learn something new.

Regards,

Greg

[rickshaw]

Interesting location for the FLIR and an interesting mission for a maritime surveillance aircraft. I'm reminded of the P-2 Neptunes that ended up being used along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos with the IGLOO WHITE systems.

[Mossie]

It's also interesting to see Boz replacing the Sidewinders, not one I'd seen before.

[kitnut617]

It's also interesting to see Boz replacing the Sidewinders, not one I'd seen before.

I'm fairly sure I saw the BOZ in the Airfix kit Simon, I'll have a rumage around and see if I can find one of mine and double check.

[Shasper]

It makes sense tho', no "viable" airborne threats, Hostile MANPADs & God knows what all over the place . . .