What does ER stand for?

Above them flew electronic reconnaissance and early warning planes, fighter jets and anti-submarine-warfare helicopters.

Meanwhile, L-3 Communications UK told AIN that its design for the Helix electronic reconnaissance system was platform agnostic and suitable for carriage on whatever medium-size aircraft the MoD chooses.

Preparation of the maritime battlefield will require marine surveillance satellites, electronic reconnaissance satellites, imaging reconnaissance satellites, communication satellites, and other space-based systems; airborne early warning aircraft, unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, and other airborne systems; and shore-based over-the-horizon radars, underwater sonar arrays, and the like.

Alexander Pikayev, an expert on the Russian military at the Carnegie Moscow Centre, says: "This is a very big and very difficult decision given what a unique role Lourdes plays for Russia as an electronic reconnaissance and eavesdropping centre.

This is a very big and very difficult decision given what a unique role Lourdes plays for Russia as an electronic reconnaissance and eavesdropping center," said Alexander Pikayev, an expert on the Russian military at the Carnegie Moscow Center.

The Nimrod's avionics systems include a highly sophisticated and sensitive suite of systems used for electronic reconnaissance.

Using the batteries, electronic reconnaissance can be conducted from military ground vehicles while noisy engines are off, thus helping avoid detection by the enemy while saving fuel.

Meanwhile, L-3 Communications UK told AIN that its design for the Helix electronic reconnaissance system was platform agnostic and suitable for carriage on whatever medium-size aircraft the MoD chooses.