Only one Nimrod R1 is to remain in service for "Libya"...

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12707222

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/ ... rawal.html

10 March 2011 Last updated at 20:59 GMT

Two Nimrod UK spy planes reprieved until June at least

The planes are based at RAF Waddington in Linconshire Two spy planes due to have been retired at the end of March are now to be kept in service for at least another three months, the BBC has learnt.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on whether the decision is related to discussions on setting up a no-fly zone over Libya.

The Nimrod R1s are sophisticated spy planes currently deployed in the Middle East.

Crews have now been told they will continue in service until June.

The two planes were due to have been officially retired at a ceremony at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire on 31 March.

But crews at the base have now been told that will not happen and that the planes will continue in service until the end of June at the earliest.

The Ministry of Defence will not comment on the decision beyond saying that in the current circumstances, it is assessing if it might extend the life of what defence experts say are crucial assets.

The UK and France are working on a UN resolution for a no-fly zone in Libya but the US has cautioned that it must be a UN decision with wide international support.

http://key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=2971&t ... n=military

Nimrod retirement postponed

The UK MoD has postponed the retirement date of the last two Nimrod aircraft.

11-Mar-2011

Key - Gary Parsons

March 11: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has postponed the retirement date of the last two Nimrod aircraft in Royal Air Force service for at least another 90 days.

The two Nimrod R1 Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft in service with 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington were due to have been retired on March 31, but will now remain in service until at least the end of June.

One aircraft is currently at Seeb in Oman supporting Operation Herrick, and the other is operating from Akrotiri in Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

It is suspected that this aircraft is monitoring the situation in Libya.

A BBC report says that the MoD “will not comment on the decision beyond saying that in the current circumstances, it is assessing if it might extend the life of what defence experts say are crucial assets.”

The Nimrod’s replacement, the RC-135W Rivet Joint, will not be available until 2014.

[Malcolm Bezzina]

The nimrod R1 is flying nearly daily in our FIR
maLC

[Malcolm Bezzina]

Yes its the one based in Akrotiri also a VC10 was present and a Sentry

[Stratofreighter]

http://key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=3025&t ... n=military

UK MoD confirms Nimrod extension

The UK Secretary of State for Defence has confirmed that one Nimrod R1 aircraft is to be retained.

Gary Parsons - 31-Mar-2011


Key - Gary Parsons

March 31: The UK Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, confirmed yesterday in a written answer to the House of Commons that one Nimrod R1 reconnaissance aircraft is to be retained by the Royal Air Force beyond its previously announced retirement date of today.

In the answer Dr Fox said “The original decision to withdraw the Nimrod R1 from service was taken in 2008 by the previous Government.

However, in view of current events in Libya one Nimrod R1 aircraft is being kept in the region for up to three months in support of UNSCR 1973.

This is a pragmatic decision given the aircraft is already in the region but is subject to continuous review of the Alliance's operational requirement.”

It is thought that of the two aircraft is use with 51 Squadron,
XW664 will be withdrawn from Operation Herrick in Afghanistan within the next few days
and XV249 will continue to operate with 907 Expeditionary Air Wing from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus until the crisis is resolved.