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Aviation History
1972
1972 - 1000.PDF
594 FLIGHT International, 27 April 1972 COMET TO NIMROb also watch over the northern seas. In a slightly different role, three specially equipped Nimrods, designated R Mk Is, are also operating in an electronic-reconnaissance role with No 51 Sqn at Wyton, in place of the modified Comet 2Rs. Apart from its invaluable augmentation of Strike Com mand's anti-submarine strength, the recent additional RAF order for Nimrods will improve the export prospects by keeping open the production line for a further two years. As will be seen from the table of the world's maritime- reconnaissance fleets, the number of countries using large, sophisticated and expensive anti-submarine patrollers is small, as are the overall totals of such aircraft. Neverthe less, Lockheed's Orion has already found overseas customers for some 20 aircraft, and 27 export orders for the smaller Breguet Atlantic have so far been achieved by the Franco-German consortium. Among several countries with requirements for new MR aircraft, Canada is perhaps the most likely prospect for a Nimrod order. Its 30 or so piston-engined Canadair Argus patrollers have been in service since 1958, and a decision on their replacement or renovation has been promised before the end of this year. India, Australia and South Africa are other countries with pressing requirements for aircraft with the capabilities of Nimrod, although financial and political difficulties may complicate procurement. Technically, however, the Nimrod remains supreme in its field, and, thanks to the visionary foresight of its designers, is likely to stay unchallenged for many years to come. WORLD FIXED-WING MR FLEETS Argentine Argentine Naval Aviation (Commando de Aviacion Naval) Grumman S-2A Tracker (6), Lockheed P-2H Neptune (6) Australia Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed SP-2H Neptune (10), Lockheed P-3B Orion (9) Royal Australian Navy Grumman S-2E Tracker (14) Brazil Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira) Grumman S-2A/CS2F-1 Tracker (13), Lockheed P-2E Neptune (10) Canada Canadian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Canadienne) Canadair CL-28 Argus (CP-107) (31), DHC CS2F-3 Tracker (CP-121) (36) Chile Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile) Grumman HU-16B Albatross (14) China Air Force of the People's Liberation Army (Chung-Kuo Zhen Min Tsie-Fang Tsun Pu-tai) Beriev Be-6 ("Madge") Egypt Egyptian Air Force Tupolev Tu-16 ("Badger") (25) Formosa (Taiwan) Chinese Nationalist Air Force (Chung-Kuo Kung Chuan) Grumman S-2A Tracker (9) France French Naval Aviation (Aeronautique Navale) Breguet 1150 Atlantic (40), Lockheed P-2H Neptune (24) Germany (West) Federal German Naval Air Arm (Marineflieger der Bundeswehr) Breguet 1150 Atlantic (20) Great Britain Royal Air Force Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR1 (46) Greece Helenic Air Force (Elliniki Aeroporia) Grumman HU-16B Albatross (8) : :::: :f :::::::••;::::* :;":::^|:;;:;: «31 -K- : i:: • • u ;::;;; : ; :;;;rs| ;;:::: i: ;t: -f- : :i: 4 :: k /' :: k :- " • :" 4 •• The Nimrod's weapons bay, the extreme length of which is clearly seen, can contain a variety of sonobuoys, bombs, mines, nuclear depth charges and torpedoes. AS. 12, Martel and other weapons can in addition be carried on the wing pylons India Indian Air Force (Bharatiya Vayu Sena) Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation (8) Italy Italian Naval Aviation (Aviazione per la Marina Militare) Grumman S-2A/F Tracker (36), Breguet 1150 Atlantic (18f) Japan Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (Kaijyoe Jiei Tai) Fleet Air Force Lockheed P-2H Neptune (53), Grumman S-2A Tracker (22), Kawasaki-Lockheed P-2J Turbo-Neptune (46/45f), Shin Weiwa PS-1 (30f) Netherlands Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service (Marine Luchtvaart- dienst) Grumman S-2N Tracker (18), Lockheed SP-2H Neptune (17), Breguet SP-13A Atlantic (9) New Zealand Boyal New Zealand Air Force Lockheed P-3B Orion (5) Norway Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luft- forsvaret) Lockheed P-3B Orion (6) Peru Peruvian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Peruana) Grumman HU-16B Albatross (5), Lockheed PV-2 Har poon (6) Portugal Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguese) Lockheed SP-2E Neptune (10) South Africa South African Air Force (Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) Hawker Siddeley Shackleton MB.3 (7) Soviet Union Soviet Military Aviation Forces (Sovyetskaya Voenne Vozdushnye Sily) Beriev Be-6 ("Madge"), Beriev Be-12 ("Mail"), Myasishchev 201-M ("Bison"), Tupolev Tu-16 ("Badger"), Tupolev Tu-20 ("Bear C"), Tupolev Tu-22 ("Blinder") Spain Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanol) Grumman HU-16B Albatross (7) Turkey Turkish Naval Aviation Grumman S-2E Tracker (14) Uruguay Naval Aviation (Aviacion Naval) Grumman S-2A Tracker (3) United States US Naval Aviation Lockheed P-2E/F/G/H/J Neptune (150*), Lockheed P-3A/ B/C Orion (350*), Grumman S-2A/E Tracker (450*), Lockheed S-3A Viking (1911") 'Approximate number in service, fOn order.
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