The Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) fleet of Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol aircraft have carried out their last operational flights today.
The sorties marked the end of type’s 40-year career with the RAF, which has seen the type keep guard over the UK’s territorial waters and beyond as well as saving numerous lives on SAR missions.
The aircraft are being retired two-years early as part of a cost-cutting exercise to help pay for the conflict in Afghanistan, despite the type’s record there as an important ISTAR platform. The type’s replacement - the updated Nimrod MRA4 - is not expected to achieve operational capability
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