Aircraft

Farnborough: BAE Nimrod flies past air show as contract for 12 signed with UK defence authorities

A BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 flew past the Farnborough air show today as the company signed a long-awaited production contract for the type.

The aircraft, BAE’s production-standard aircraft PA03, made a surprise flypast at 11:30, well before the official flying display (pictured below).

The impromptu display was to celebrate the signing of a production contract signed with the UK defence ministry (MoD) for 12 aircraft, including the three prototypes already flying. BAE and the MoD declined to disclose the value of the contract, but the total value for development and production is expected to be less than £3.8 billion ($6.95 billion).

First deliveries to RAF Kinloss will be in 2009, with the first squadron to stand up in 2010.

Images: © BAE Systems