The MRA4 needs a stability augmentation system because it doesn't fly in a straight line. Fixing this will incur additional costs and will bring a delay to initial deliveries.
They build an aircraft that can't fly in a straight line and the
customer has to pay to fix it?
Even though the announced order in 2006 was for 12 aircraft, BAE has only been contracted to supply nine, plus three options.
This would seem to contradict
Hansard...:
18 July 2006:
The Secretary of State for Defence (Des Browne): I can announce that the contract for foil (sic) production of 12 Nimrod MRA4 aircraft has been placed with BAE Systems. This is the culmination of many years of hard work by BAE Systems and its supply chain, and builds upon the considerable investment already made by the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems. Nimrod MRA4 has had a troubled and well publicised history of time delays and cost overruns. The contract restructuring introduced since early 2003 has been successful in stabilising costs and with three aircraft participating in the flight trials programme, the design has now reached a level of maturity which permits a commitment to foil production.....
BAe Investors Brief, same month: ..
Nimrod Production contract During Farnborough Airshow, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Des Browne MP announced that the UK Government had signed a production contract for a 12-aircraft fleet of the next-generation Nimrod, the MRA4....