Editing Hawker Siddeley Nimrod (section)

===MR2===
[[File:Nimrod - RIAT 2006 (2424167612).jpg|thumb|Nimrod MR2 XV254 at a steep bank while displaying at the Royal International Air Tattoo, 2006]]
Starting in 1975, 35 aircraft were upgraded to MR2 standard, being re-delivered from August 1979.<ref name="Don World p95">Donald 1996, p. 95.</ref> The upgrade included extensive modernisation of the aircraft's electronic suite. Changes included the replacement of the 1950s ASV Mk 21 radar used by the Shackleton and Nimrod MR1 with the new EMI [[Searchwater radar]],{{refn|Equipped with the Searchwater radar, a Nimrod could offer an "[[Airborne early warning and control|AWACS]]-like" capability in the maritime environment.<ref>Jefford et al. 2005, p. 134.</ref>|group=N}} a new acoustic processor (GEC-Marconi AQS-901) capable of handling more modern sonobuoys, a new mission data recorder (Hanbush) and a new [[Electronic Support Measures]] (Yellow Gate) which included new pods on the wingtips.<ref name="Don World p95"/><ref name="face p9-0,12-4">''Air International'' July 1981, pp. 9–10, 12–14.</ref>

Provision for [[Aerial refuelling|in-flight refuelling]] was introduced during the [[Falklands War]] (as the ''MR2P''), as well as hardpoints to allow the Nimrod to carry the [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] missile to counter enemy [[Argentine Air Force]] maritime surveillance aircraft.<ref>Brown 1987, p. 110.</ref> In preparation for operations in the [[Gulf War]] theatre, several MR2s were fitted with new communications and ECM equipment {{clarify|date=February 2020}} to deal with anticipated threats; at the time these modified aircraft were given the designation ''MR2P(GM) (Gulf Mod)''.<ref name="New role p53-4"/>

The Nimrod MR2 carried out three main roles: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Unit Warfare (ASUW) and Search and Rescue (SAR). Its extended range enabled the crew to monitor maritime areas far to the north of Iceland and up to {{convert|4,000|km|nmi|order=flip}} out into the Western Atlantic. With Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR), range and endurance was greatly extended. The crew consisted of two pilots and one flight engineer, two navigators (one tactical navigator and a routine navigator), one Air Electronics Officer (AEO), the sonobuoy sensor team of two Weapon System Operators (WSOp ACO) and four Weapon System Operators (WSOp EW) to manage passive and active electronic warfare systems.

Until 2010, the Nimrod MR2 was based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland ([[No. 120 Squadron RAF|120]], [[No. 201 Squadron RAF|201]] and [[No. 206 Squadron RAF|206]] Squadrons), and RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall ([[No. 42 Squadron RAF|42]] and [[No. 38 Squadron RAF|38(R)]] Squadrons). Following [[Options for Change]], 42 Squadron was disbanded and its number reassigned to 38(R) Squadron. The Nimrod MR2 aircraft was withdrawn on 31 March 2010, a year earlier than planned, for financial reasons.<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/LastFlightOfTheNimrodMr2.htm "Last flight of the Nimrod MR2."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004051634/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/LastFlightOfTheNimrodMr2.htm |date=4 October 2012 }} ''Ministry of Defence'', 31 March 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.raf-families-federation.org.uk/policies-news.asp?id=434 "Planning Round 10 is Going to be a Tough One."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724052613/http://www.raf-families-federation.org.uk/policies-news.asp?id=434 |date=24 July 2011 }} ''RAF Families Federation'', 6 January 2010.</ref> The last official flight of a Nimrod MR2 took place on 26 May 2010, with XV229 flying from RAF Kinloss to [[Kent International Airport]] to be used as an evacuation training airframe at the nearby MOD Defence Fire Training and Development Centre.<ref>Wilson, Tom. [http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Historic-plane-ends-career-Manston/story-11997519-detail/story.html "Historic plane ends its career at Manston."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402234152/http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Historic-plane-ends-career-Manston/story-11997519-detail/story.html |date=2 April 2012 }} ''This is Kent,'' 8 June 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2011.</ref>