Nov71 <<Didn't HMG consider buying US AWACs before deciding on new Nimrod airframes & upgraded electronics?>>
Are confusing airframes and missions?
HMG certainly considered buying AWACs but Maggie got p
d off at the delays in NATO decision making and decided on a DIY solution with the Nimrod 3, the AEW conversion of the Nimrod 1 and some new airframes. That programme failed and we bought the Boeing product for airborne early warning.
The alternative to the Nimrod, at the time, was the Lockheed product, the P3 or the Dassault Atlantic Mk 1. Their airships insisted on 4 engines to that ruled out the Atlantic.