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L-3 boss confirms Nimrod R1 is dead

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Stephen Trimble

on July 24, 2008 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBacks (0) |

Overheard this morning on the L-3 Corp earnings call with analysts. CEO Michael Strianese was asked about a report (by Inside the Air Force's Marcus Weisgerber) that the UK would cancel Nimrod to buy US Air Force Rivet Joints. Strianese replied:

"As you know, last year L-3 won the role of prime contractor on Helix ... upgrading the electronic surveillance suite on Nimrod ... the UK has been reconsidering that decision and we understand it is considering purchasing Rivet Joints instead. Couple of reasons ... One, there was a crash of a Nimrod in Afghanistan last year. Condition of that airframe was not quite as good as they thought ... [So, the MOD could not justify cost of electronics upgrade] ... Two, participating in US Rivet Joint program would really help in terms of interoperability with US forces ... Provides some leveraging in UK investments for future threats ... [MOD also could] co-man US Rivet Joint platform with US troops and in effect get hands-on training in advance of delivery... I believe that the decision will get finalized in what is called Main Gate approval right now within the MOD ... we will probably get a green light in the spring."

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