Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1
Hawker Siddeley / BAE Systems · United Kingdom · first flew 1971 · bomber
The Nimrod R.1 is the RAF's dedicated signals intelligence variant of the Nimrod, stripped of anti-submarine weapons and MAD boom in favour of a classified electronic-intelligence suite.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbofan, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Same Comet-derived double-bubble fuselage as the MR.2 but no ventral weapons bay bulge |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- No tail MAD boom — the single most visible difference from the MR.2
- Dense antenna farm: blade aerials, fairings and wingtip pods replace the maritime radar bulge
- Same Comet-derived double-bubble fuselage as the MR.2 but no ventral weapons bay bulge
Against the MR.2, the absence of the MAD boom is the instant tell. The R.1 also shows numerous blade aerials and fairings absent on the maritime patrol variant, and the lower fuselage lacks the pronounced weapons-bay bulge.
Specifications
- The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 has a length of 38.6 m (127 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35 m (115 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 926 km/h (575 mph).
- Typical crew: 6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Three R.1s were converted from early airframes and entered RAF service in 1971, serving with No. 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington for over four decades. They collected electronic emissions from Warsaw Pact forces throughout the Cold War and flew operationally in the Falklands, the Gulf, Bosnia and Iraq.
Variants
Only three R.1s were ever built, modified successively with updated sensors. After one was lost in the Falklands, a replacement was converted. All three were retired in 2011 alongside the MR.2 fleet.
Where you'll see it
The R.1 served exclusively with No. 51 Squadron, SIGINT specialists at Waddington, and was the RAF's primary airborne ELINT platform. One aircraft, XW664, is preserved at RAF Museum Cosford.
Related aircraft
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