Project Helix will provide a rapidly deployable airborne electronic surveillance
capability, against an evolving and increasingly complex target set up to
2025. The capability will support operations where it will collect, analyse,
fuse and disseminate a coherent and readily interpretable electronic
surveillance picture in support of national, joint and coalition operations.
This information will support targeting and combat identification.
The original concept of the Project was for the procurement of
a modern mission system to fit into existing Nimrod R1 aircraft,
together with ground analysis facilities, training facilities and a
support solution to the planned Out of Service Date of 2025.
The procurement strategy to realise this concept was selection of
a preferred bidder by a competitive and phased‐down selection
process. Following a submission to the Defence Board by
Nimrod IPTL and the Director of Equipment Capability (ISTAR),
the Investment Approvals Board directed in 2008 that an
additional option focused on the US Rivet Joint system should be
considered. This was included in the Main Gate business case.
Thanks to the NAO Major Projects Report
Of course one could just see what the MoD says about it
here