Did Nimrods carry Sidewinders during the Falklands War, and was that sensible?
Short answerMR2 Nimrods did receive a limited Sidewinder fit, but the discussion regards it as an awkward defensive expedient for a large maritime-patrol aircraft.
NotesThe discussion first checks the claim, then establishes that the limited fit applied to Nimrod MR2 maritime-patrol aircraft during the campaign. The intended targets were Argentine maritime-surveillance aircraft rather than fast fighters. Even so, the answer is sceptical because a large patrol aircraft must point toward an opponent to employ a short-range Sidewinder. Avoidance, warning, countermeasures, and fighter support are safer responses, which helps explain why the equipment was removed after the war.