From the BAE Systems website ...
Equipped with more than 90 antennae and sensors and containing over six million lines of software code, the MRA4 is able to scan an area the size of the UK every 10 seconds. The aircraft is able to fly 6000 miles or 14 hours without refuelling.
Spin is a wonderful thing, and almost anything can be made to sound possible. Yes you might be able to scan an area the size of UK every 10 seconds, but only if you are in the middle of a 200 mile radius circle that you want to scan. You cannot scan the UK in 10 seconds. I will reserve judgement on whether the aircraft can fly for 14 hours or 6000nm without refuelling.
However
A further milestone was achieved on March 8, with the first flight of the second production aircraft, PA05, which is now being painted in RAF livery before undergoing acceptance flights. The remaining seven production aircraft are all in build and will be delivered on schedule.
What delivery schedule are they working to now? Certainly not the first, most probably not the second, probably not even the third .... but hey, it sounds good news that it is being delivered on schedule.
The fact that the second production aircraft has only just taken to the air for the first time this month does not bode well for an early IOC date (end of this year I seem to remember reading once upon a time).
Does anyone know when the aircraft are all due to be delivered to Kinloss? Here's hoping that they get delivered soon, before everyone leaves and all experience is lost.
Y_G