Panavia Tornado variants

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The Panavia Tornado was produced in three major variants; the strike/reconnaissance Interdictor/Strike (IDS), the IDS-based Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance (ECR) and the Air Defence Variant (ADV). There are also several sub-variants of these.

Contents 1 Interdictor/Strike (IDS) 1.1 RAF Tornado GR.1 1.2 RAF Tornado GR.1B 1.3 RAF Tornado GR.4 1.4 RAF Tornado GR.1A/GR.4A 1.5 Luftwaffe IDS 1.6 Marineflieger IDS 1.7 Aeronautica Militare IDS 2 Air Defence Variant (ADV) 2.1 RAF Tornado F.2 2.2 RAF Tornado F.3 2.2.1 Capability Sustainment Programme 2.2.2 Lease to Italy 2.2.3 Future 3 Electronic Combat & Reconnaissance (ECR) 4 References

[edit] Interdictor/Strike (IDS)

Tornado IDS
Royal Air Force Tornado GR.1B of No. 12 Squadron RAF
Type	Strike aircraft
Manufacturer	Panavia Aircraft GmbH
Maiden flight	14 August 1974
Introduced	1979
Primary users	Royal Air Force Luftwaffe Aeronautica Militare RSAF
Number built	774

The Tornado IDS is operated by Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. It is one of the world's most sophisticated and capable interdiction and attack aircraft, with a large payload, long range and high survivability.

The Tornado was cleared to carry almost all the air-launched weapons in the NATO inventory, including cluster bombs, anti-runway munitions, and nuclear weapons. The aircraft also has a limited air-to-air capability with Sidewinder AAMs. RAF Tornadoes are designated by the GR series. The GR1 was delivered in a dark sea-grey/dark-green wraparound camouflage, but this was changed to dark grey during the late 1990s. In operations over Iraq some GR1s received a sandy "pink" scheme. GR4s participating in the 2003 Iraq War were painted in a light grey scheme. German Navy examples normally sported a distinctive black/blue/gunmetal grey camouflage pattern.

The RAF is investigating replacements. This could be a manned aircraft, a UAV or a cruise missile based weapons system. Options for manned aircraft include modified versions of the Eurofighter Typhoon or the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. If selected the Typhoon would likely be modified for internal weapons carriage and increased internal fuel capacity.

[edit] RAF Tornado GR.1

The RAF Tornado GR.1' was the first generation version of the Panavia Tornado strike aircraft of the Royal Air Force. The first of 228 GR1s was delivered on June 5, 1979 and the type entered service in the early 1980s. 142 aircraft were upgraded to GR4 standard from 1997 to 2002, after which time the GR.1 designation was abandoned.

The Tornado was designed for ultra-low-level penetration strikes on Warsaw Pact targets in Europe using both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons, e.g WE.177. However, the end of the Cold War precluded it from ever seeing that use. A major feature of the GR.1 was its terrain-following radar, which allowed all-weather hands-off low-level flight, but current doctrine eschews extreme low-level flight and relies on inertial navigation with GPS updates rather than TFS. The RAF Tornado IDS aircraft have a Laser Range Finder and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) under the fuselage on the starboard side, just forward of the nose landing gear in an aerodynamic fairing. This system consists of a laser that can be used to measure the slant range of a point on the ground relative to the aircraft. This information is then used by the aircraft's avionics to compute targeting information for the crew. The LRMTS laser sensor can also be used to receive reflected laser energy from a third-party laser, allowing the crew to find targets that have been marked by troops on the ground or another aircraft. The laser cannot be used for guiding laser-guided bombs. IDS aircraft supplied to Italy, Germany and the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment do not have the LRMTS system, but the aircraft supplied to the Royal Saudi Air Force do.

Its actual combat debut came in 1991 in the Gulf War. Nearly 60 GR1s were deployed by the United Kingdom to air bases at Muharraq (Bahrain), Tabuk and Dhahran in Saudi Arabia^[1]. In the early stages of Operation Granby RAF Tornado GR.1s were used to target Iraqi military airfields using 1000lb (454 kg)unguided bombs in loft-bombing attacks and the JP233 runway denial weapon. Six RAF Tornados were lost, as was one Italian Tornado. Of the RAF aircraft, 4 were lost while delivering unguided bombs, one was lost after delivering JP233, and one was lost trying to deliver laser-guided bombs^[2] . Following the end of the initial phase of the war, the GR.1s were switched to medium level strike missions. However they lacked both equipment and training to complete these missions properly. In an emergency deployment, the UK sent out a detachment of Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft equipped with the Pave Spike laser designator, allowing the GR.1s to drop precision guided weapons. A further crash program was initiated which saw some GR.1s fitted with the TIALD system. In the aftermath of the war, British forces remained in the Gulf, with GR1s being based at Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait for operations over the southern no fly zone. GR.1s based there took part in Operation Desert Fox in 1998.

1999 saw further action for the GR.1 in the Kosovo War. Aircraft operated from RAF Bruggen in Germany during the first part of the war, flying precision strike missions. They later moved to a base on Corsica shortly before the war ended to bring them closer to the combat zone.

Following the Kosovo War, the GR.1 was phased out as more and more aircraft were upgraded to the GR.4 standard. The final GR.1 was upgraded in 2003 and returned to the RAF on 10 June. ^[3]

[edit] RAF Tornado GR.1B

The Tornado GR.1B was a specialised anti-shipping variant of the RAF Tornado GR.1. Based in Scotland at RAF Lossiemouth, they replaced the Blackburn Buccaneer in the anti-shipping role, delivering the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile. It did not have the ability to track shipping with its radar and relied on the missile's seeker for target acquisition.

When the Tornado GR.1 strike aircraft of the Royal Air Force were updated to the GR.4 standard in the late 1990s there was no corresponding GR.4B version of the GR.4. It was judged that a specialised anti-shipping variant of the aircraft was no longer needed as the threat from surface warships the GR.1B was designed to operate against had decreased, and also because the Sea Eagle missile was coming towards the end of its shelf-life and there were no plans to replace it due to the cost of doing so.

[edit] RAF Tornado GR.4

As early as 1984 the UK Ministry of Defence began studies of a Mid-Life Update (MLU) of the aircraft to rectify shortcomings of the GR.1. This update, to Tornado GR.4 standard would improve capability in the medium level role while maintaining the Tornado's exceptional low-level penetration capability. The GR.4 upgrade was not approved until 1994, which was revised to include lessons learned from the GR.1's performance in the 1991 Gulf War. One major change was the move from low level penetration to medium level attacks, while maintaining the low level capability. The contracts were signed with British Aerospace (later BAE Systems) in 1994 for the upgrade of 142 GR.1s to GR.4 standard, work began in 1996 and was finished in 2003.

Upgrades to the more than twenty-year old aircraft included FLIR (Forward-Looking InfraRed), a wide-angle HUD (Heads-Up Display), improved cockpit displays, NVG (Night Vision Goggles) capabilities, new avionics and weapons systems, updated computer systems, and a Global Positioning System receiver. The updated weapons system allowed integration of the latest offensive weapons, for example the Storm Shadow and Brimstone missiles and reconnaissance equipment such as the RAPTOR pod. As of late 2006, the GR4 fleet is being fitted with a new 12.8-inch Multi-function display in the rear cockpit to replace the circular radar projetced map display: The BAE Systems Tornado Advanced Radar Display Information System (TARDIS) is an Active-matrix liquid crystal display.^{[4] [5]} TARDIS is currently being fitted to aircraft of the Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit before being fitted to all GR4 aircraft.

[edit] RAF Tornado GR.1A/GR.4A

The GR.1A was a reconnaissance variant of the RAF IDS. It is also in service with the Saudi Air Force. With the upgrade of the GR.1 to GR.4 standard, similarly the GR.1A became the GR.4A. The GR.4A is equipped with the internally mounted TIRRS (Tornado Infra-Red Reconnaissance System), one on each side of the fuselage and a single IRLS (Infra-Red LineScan) reconnaissance sensor mounted on the underside of the fuselage. The sensor package replaced the 27 mm cannon. The RAF ordered 30 airframes, either as rebuilds of GR.1's or as new airframes and 25 aircraft were upgraded to GR.4A standard. The GR.4A retains almost all of the offensive capabilities of the GR.4. As RAPTOR becomes the principal reconnaissance sensor of Tornado in RAF service, TIRRS will be phased out. To this end, the RAF's Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at RAF Marham which comprises II Squadron and 13 Squadron now fly both GR.4A and GR.4 airframes, since the sensors specific to the GR4A are not essential to the reconnaissance role.

[edit] Luftwaffe IDS

The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) received 212 Tornado IDSs. On January 13 2004 the then German Defence Minister Peter Struck announced major changes to the German armed forces. A major part of this announcement is the plan to cut the German fighter fleet from 426 in early 2004 to 265 by 2015. Assuming the full German order for 180 Eurofighter Typhoons is fulfilled, this will see the Tornado force reduced to 85. ^[6]

[edit] Marineflieger IDS

The German Navy's air wing (Marineflieger) received 112 Tornado IDSs. In late 2004 the last Tornado unit was disbanded. The maritime combat role has been assumed by the Luftwaffe a unit of which has had its Tornados upgraded to carry the Cormorant and AGM-88 HARM missiles.

[edit] Aeronautica Militare IDS

The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) received 100 Tornado IDS. 57 were operational as of July 2004. In July 2002 Italy signed a contract with NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) and the Panavia partner companies for the initial upgrade of 18 IDSs. Alenia Aeronautica is responsible for the upgrade, the first of which was completed in November 2003. ^[7] The first phase of the upgrade will see a modernised avionics suite, new digital radios, a SATCOM capability and new weapons capabilites for the carriage of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Raytheon Enhanced Paveway III laser guided bombs and the MBDA Storm Shadow. A further upgrade is being developed by Alenia which will improve mission capabilites, a new Defence Aids Sub-System (DASS) and a MIDS communications capaility. The decision of whether or not to upgrade the whole fleet will follow. ^[8]

[edit] Air Defence Variant (ADV)

Tornado ADV
RAF Tornado F.3
Type	Air defence fighter
Manufacturer	British Aerospace
Maiden flight	27 October 1979
Introduced	1 May 1985
Primary users	Royal Air Force Aeronautica Militare RSAF
Number built	218

The Tornado ADV is operated by the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The aircraft was developed to meet an RAF requirement for a long-range interceptor. The major differences with the IDS include a fuselage stretch of 1.36 m to allow the carriage of four Skyflash semi-active radar homing missiles which had the incidental benefit of reducing drag and making space for additional fuel. The Mk 104 engines were optimised for high-altitude use with longer afterburner nozzles. The IDS's ground-attack systems were replaced by a Marconi/Ferranti AI-24 Foxhunter air-interception radar, housed in a radome extended by 2.16 m. The port cannon was also deleted.

Despite extensive development problems with the Foxhunter radar, Tornado F.3s finally reached service in 1984. In addition to the internal cannon, armament was originally four Skyflash and four AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, eventually replaced by AMRAAM medium-range and ASRAAM short-range weapons. Because of the narrowness of the centre fuselage, the recessed Skyflash/AMRAAM launchers are staggered.

The Tornado ADV has been criticised for its lack of "true" fighter performance. However to criticise the aircraft for this is to misunderstand the mission for which it was developed. The ADV was designed to fly and patrol far from base over the North Sea and Northern Atlantic and to intercept its targets at long range - not to have significant dogfighting capabilities.

[edit] RAF Tornado F.2

The Tornado F.2 was the abortive first generation of the air superiority version (ADV) of the Panavia Tornado in Royal Air Force service. Only 18 were ever produced, as serious problems were discovered with the Foxhunter radar. The problem was so serious that the radomes of the aircraft were filled with concrete and lead ballast as an interim measure until they could be upgraded to the newer F.3 standard. The concrete radar was nicknamed Blue Circle, which was both in line with British radar nomenclature (e.g. Blue Fox) and a play on a British brand of concrete called Blue Circle. These aircraft were used primarily for training until they were upgraded or retired.

The F.2 first flew on March 5, 1984, was introduced into service in 1984, and its short career came to an end four years later when the new F.3s came into the RAF. Some F.2 airframes were later updated to F.3 standard as attrition replacements. Only one F.2 remains flying, this is with QinetiQ at MoD Boscombe Down.

[edit] RAF Tornado F.3

The Tornado F.3 entered service in July 1986. 152 F.3's were ordered, primarily to replace the Lightning F.6 and Phantom FGR2. The F.3's primary weapons when it entered service were the AIM-9 Sidewinder and Skyflash, a British upgrade of the American AIM-7 Sparrow missile.

It made its combat debut in the 1991 Gulf War. 18 aircraft deployed to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, however they did not get the opportunity to engage any enemy aircraft. The F.3 lacked modern IFF and a full suite of defensive aids and thus flew patrols further back from Iraqi airspace where encounters with enemy aircraft were less likely. After 1991, combat operations continued as the no-fly zones over Iraq were patrolled. The Tornados operated over the south of the country, flying from Saudi Arabia under Operation Resinate South. On average, six aircraft were involved. These operations continued right up until 2003, when Iraq was invaded again. Operation Telic saw 14 F.3's deployed to Saudi Arabia. The F.3's (of 43(F) & 111(F) Sqns) were, unlike during the 91 Gulf War, deployed deep into Iraq both before and after the 'shock and awe' air strikes. Again, no air-to-air victories were scored, as the Iraqi Air Force flew no sorties at all during the campaign in 2003.

[edit] Capability Sustainment Programme

Realising that in its current form the F.3 would not continue as an effective platform up to its planned out of service date of 2010, the UK Ministry of Defence initiated the Capability Sustainment Programme (CSP). This project, announced on March 5, 1996, included;

• Integration of ASRAAM and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles;
• Radar upgrades to improve multi-target engagement;
• Improved pilot/navigator displays;
• New processor and weapon management computers.

The CSP would see the removal of a non-standard state of aircraft, various upgrades (notably to the Foxhunter radar) had lead to the situation described as "fleets within fleets." However the Foxhunter radar, having overcome many of the early difficulties, was to cause significant problems during the upgrade programme. This manifested itself when efforts were made to integrate the AMRAAM missile with the aircraft as a replacement for Skyflash. The radar had to be considerably modified to interface properly with the missile.

In what was criticised as shortsighted at the time the F.3 would not exploit the full capabilities of the AMRAAM missile. AMRAAM uses two mid-course updates after launch to refresh target information prior to its own seeker taking over. The CSP, as announced, would not provide this capability. Despite becoming operational before 2002 the F3 force deployed on operations with the Skyflash, not AMRAAM, leading to suggestions that the decision not to fully integrate the missile made it no more effective than the original missile. In 2002 the MoD announced the F.3 force would receive a further upgrade to allow these midcourse updates.

[edit] Lease to Italy

In the early 1990s the Italian Air Force (AMI) identified a requirement for a "bridging fighter" to boost its air defence capabilities pending introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon. These fighters were to operate alongside the service's F-104 Starfighter which was approaching obsolesence, particularly with regard to multinational and coalition operations. The Tornado ADV was selected from, amongst others, the F-16. In 1994 Italy announced its intention to lease 24 Tornado F/3s from the RAF for a period of ten years. ^[9] At this time the Eurofighter Typhoon was expected to begin entry into service around 2000.

First training of AMI pilots began in March 1995 at RAF Coningsby while technicians gained experience at RAF Cottesmore and Coningsby. The first aircraft was accepted on 5 July 1995 and flown to its Italian base the same day. Delivery of the first batch was completed by 1996. The second batch was delivered between February and July 1997 and these aircraft were of a slightly higher specification. ^[9]

AMI Tornados flew combat air patrols during Operation Allied Force, the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia in early 1999.

In 2000, with major delays hampering the Eurofighter, the AMI began a search for another interim fighter. While the Tornado itself was considered, any long term extension to the lease would have involved upgrade to RAF CSP standard at least. This was not considered cost effective and 34 ex-USAF F-16s were selected instead. By 2003 the AMI began returning Tornados to the RAF, with the final aircraft arriving at RAF Saint Athan on 7 December 2004. One aircraft was retained by the Italian Air Force. ^[10]

Tornados in Italian service suffered poor servicability rates. While this could be surprising given Italy's fleet of the Tornado IDS, the service did not have immediate access to spare equipment and engines available to the RAF. The aircraft did however allow the AMI to participate in multi-national training and operations.

[edit] Future

A further upgrade, undisclosed until early 2003, was the integration of the ALARM anti-radiation missile to allow suppression of enemy air defence missions. The F.3's existing radar warning receivers formed the basis of an extremely effective Emitter Location System, which is used to locate radar antennae. The modified aircraft were then given the new designation Tornado EF3.

After 19 years, the replacement for the F.3 is now on the horizon. Production of the Typhoon, its successor has started. The Operational Evaluation Unit for the Typhoon has formed, and the Operational Conversion Unit was formed in 2004. 2005 saw the first squadron of Typhoons entering operational service, and by 2010, the Tornado F.3 will be gone from RAF service. Delivering Security in a Changing World is the UK's vision for the future of the armed forces, as part of this on July 21, 2004 Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon detailed plans to reduce the number of F.3 squadrons by one to three squadrons. This represents 16 aircraft and is the first stage in the transition to the Typhoon.

[edit] Electronic Combat & Reconnaissance (ECR)

Tornado ECR
Luftwaffe Tornado ECR
Type	SEAD aircraft
Manufacturer	Panavia Aircraft GmbH
Introduced	1990
Status	Active service
Primary users	Luftwaffe Aeronautica Militare
Number built	35 (and 16 IDS conversions)

Operated by Germany and Italy, the ECR is an IDS variant devoted to SEAD missions. It was first delivered on May 21, 1990. The ECR is equipped with an emitter-locator system (ELS) which is designed to locate enemy radar sites. The ECR is equipped with the AGM-88 HARM. The Luftwaffe's 35 ECRs were delivered new, while Italy received 16 converted IDSs. German ECRs were originally equipped with a Honeywell infra-red imaging systems for reconnaissance, however operational experience lead to the removal of this system; It was considered impractical for one aircraft to be tasked with both SEAD and reconnaissance. ^[11]

Italian ECRs (IT-ECR) differ from the Luftwaffe aircraft in that they were never equipped with a reconnaissance capability and as IDS conversion they are equipped with RB199 Mk.103 engines. Luftwaffe ECRs are equipped with RB199 Mk.105 which have a slightly higher thrust rating. The first IT-ECR was delivered on 27 February 1998 and formally accepted on 7 April. ^[12]

The RAF and RSAF IDS carry ALARM missiles in this role.

[edit] References