LONDON (Reuters) - The government said on Monday it had agreed with the U.S. government to buy three Boeing Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft.
"On 19 March we reached agreement with the U.S. government to purchase three Rivet Joint aircraft and associated ground systems," British Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said in a written statement to parliament.
He said the planes would deliver "vital capability for the Royal Air Force to replace the Nimrod R1 capability that will be retired from service in March 2011."
(Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Tim Castle)
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