Editing Hawker Siddeley Nimrod (section)

===Avionics===
[[File:Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2P (801), UK - Air Force AN1042029.jpg|thumb|Nimrod MR2 performing a low pass at Alconbury, August 1990]]

The Nimrod featured a crew of up to 25 personnel, although a typical crew numbered roughly 12,<ref name = "Fricker 593"/> most of whom operated the various onboard sensor suites and specialist detection equipment.<ref name = "Rininger 125">Rininger 2006, p. 125.</ref> A significant proportion of the onboard sensor equipment was housed outside the pressure shell inside the Nimrod's distinctive [[pannier]] lower fuselage.<ref name = "neal 120"/> Sensor systems included [[radar]], [[ESM radar detection]] and [[sonar]].The Nimrod and its detection capabilities were an important component of Britain's military defence during the height of the Cold War.<ref>Armfield, Hugh "Air Force Takes Over as Britain's Watchdog." ''The Age'', 26 October 1971. p. 8.</ref>

The Nimrod's navigational functions were computerised, and were managed from a central tactical compartment housed in the forward cabin. Various functions such as weapons control and information from sensors such as the large forward [[doppler radar]] were displayed and controlled at the tactical station.<ref name = "neal 122">Neal 1970, p. 122.</ref> The flight systems and autopilot could be directly controlled by navigator's stations in the tactical compartment, giving the navigator nearly complete aircraft control.<ref name = "neal 128"/> The navigational systems comprised [[Digital data|digital]], [[Analogue electronics|analogue]], and [[electro-mechanical]] elements. The computers were integrated with most of the Nimrod's guidance systems such as the [[air data computer]], [[astrocompass]], [[inertial guidance]] and doppler radar. Navigation information could also be manually input by the operators.<ref>Neal 1970, pp. 122, 126.</ref>

Upon entry into service, the Nimrod was hailed as possessing advanced electronic equipment such as onboard [[digital computer]]s. The increased capability of these electronic systems allowed the RAF's fleet of 46 Nimrod aircraft to provide equal coverage to that of the larger fleet of retiring Avro Shackletons.<ref name = "Fricker 593"/> The design philosophy of these computerised systems was that of a 'man-machine partnership'; while onboard computers performed much of the data sift and analysis processes, decisions and actions on the basis of that data remained in the operator's hands.<ref name = "neal 119"/> To support the Nimrod's anticipated long lifespan, onboard computers were designed to be capable of integrating with various new components, systems, and sensors that could be added in future upgrades.<ref name = "neal 123">Neal 1970, p. 123.</ref> After a mission, gathered information could be extracted for review purposes and for further analysis.<ref name = "neal 128">Neal 1970, p. 128.</ref>