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By Donna Richardson; Jane's Aviation Reporter
London

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) BAE Systems Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft that crashed in Afghanistan on 2 September, killing 14 personnel on board, has been identified by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) as aircraft XV230.

The Nimrod, which an MoD official said was likely to have crashed because of "technical difficulties", had undergone depot-level maintenance two months prior to the incident, an industry source told Jane's.

The official said the aircraft was on a reconnaissance mission at the time but that it could also serve as a communications relay platform.

Nimrod XV230 was one of six equipped with an L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical turret in 2003. A further urgent operational requirement, known as Project Broadsword, was implemented in early 2006 and introduced the capability to transmit real-time video imagery from the MX-15 to ground stations and commanders.

© 2006 Jane's Information Group

[STARMAN 352ND]

For The Crew ....rest In Peace....mates.
Jp