Panavia Tornado

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Tornado
Tornado GR4s of the Royal Air Force over Iraq
Type	Ground attack Interceptor Electronic warfare
Manufacturer	Panavia Aircraft GmbH
Maiden flight	14 August 1974
Introduced	1979
Status	Operational
Primary users	Royal Air Force Luftwaffe Aeronautica Militare Royal Saudi Air Force
Produced	1979 - 1999
Number built	992
Variants	Tornado IDS Tornado ADV Tornado ECR

The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine fighters, which was jointly developed by the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. There are three primary versions of the Tornado, the fighter-bomber Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike), the interceptor Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant), and the suppression of enemy air defences Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance).

Developed and built by Panavia, a trination consortium consisting of British Aerospace (then the British Aircraft Corporation), MBB of Germany, and Alenia Aeronautica of Italy, the Tornado first flew on August 14, 1974, and saw action with the RAF and AMI (Italian Air Force) in Operation Granby / Gulf War. International co-operation continued after its entry into service within the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment, a tri-nation training and evaluation unit operating from RAF Cottesmore in Rutland in the English Midlands. Including all variants, 992 aircraft were built for the three partner nations and Saudi Arabia. Though still in service, plans are currently underway to replace the aircraft.

Contents 1 Development 1.1 Wingsweep 2 Variants 3 Service history 3.1 Luftwaffe 3.2 Italian Air Force 3.3 Royal Air Force 3.4 Royal Saudi Air Force 3.5 Timeline 4 Specifications (Tornado IDS GR.4) 4.1 Tornado ADV F3 5 Units 6 External links 7 Related content

[edit] Development

During the 1960s, aeronautical designers looked to variable geometry designs to gain the manoeuvrability and efficient cruise of straight wings with the speed of swept-wing designs. Britain and France initiated the AFVG (Anglo French Variable Geometry) project in 1965, which ended with French withdrawal in 1967. In 1968, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Canada formed a working group to examine replacements for the F-104 Starfighter, initially called the Multi Role Aircraft (MRA), and later called the Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). Britain joined the MRCA group in 1968, and a memorandum of agreement was drafted between Britain, Germany, and Italy.

The program was intended to produce a single-seat replacement for the F-104G, and a 2-seat strike craft for Britain and Germany. Canada and Belgium pulled out in 1969. The four remaining partner nations - United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, formed Panavia Aircraft GmbH on 26 March 1969, though the Netherlands would pull out in 1970. The United Kingdom and Germany each had a 42.5% stake, with the remaining 15% going to Italy. The scope of work for production was also agreed upon - the front fuselage and tail assembly in England, the center fuselage in Germany, and the wings in Italy. A separate multinational company, Turbo Union, was formed in June 1970 to develop and build the RB199 engines for the aircraft, with ownership similarly split 40% Rolls-Royce, 40% MTU, and 20% FIAT.

At the conclusion of the project definition phase in May 1970, the concepts were reduced to two designs; a single seat Panavia 100 which Germany initially preferred, and the twin seat Panavia 200 which the RAF preferred and which would become the Tornado. At this point, the aircraft was intended solely for the low-level strike mission. The RAF decided it needed an air defence fighter, and initiated the F2 variant. Though seriously flawed, its shortcomings were quickly corrected for the F3.

[edit] Wingsweep

The Tornado was originally designed as a low-level supersonic ground attack bomber, capable of taking off and landing in short distances. This requires good high-speed and low-speed flying characteristics. In general, an aircraft which is designed to fly at high speeds usually has poor low-speed characteristics. In order to achieve the desired high-speed performance, an aircraft has a highly swept or ‘delta’ wing platform. However, these wing designs are very inefficient at low speeds where unswept wing planforms are required. In order for an aircraft to be operated efficiently at both high and low speeds, variable wing sweep is a desirable feature; this was incorporated into the Tornado design.

When the wings are swept back, the Tornado GR4 increases its high-speed low-level capability by reducing drag. When sweeping, the wings partially slide into the fuselage, reducing the exposed wing area. This gives the aircraft a low gust response in turbulent low-level winds. This not only makes flight much more comfortable for the aircrew but makes the aircraft a more stable platform from which to aim and deliver unguided weapons at low level.

The aircraft was designed to be land-based and operate from large airfields that were considered to be vulnerable to aerial attack. Therefore, during the development of the aircraft, short field landing capability was considered essential in order to enable the aircraft to operate from short strips on potentially damaged runways and taxiways. With the wings swept fully forwards the Tornado GR4 generates greater lift because of the increased exposed wing area and the utility of full-span flaps and slats. This gives greater lift at lower speeds, reducing the minimum landing speed required and therefore giving shorter landing distances.

In general, when the pilot wants to fly at low speed, they sweep the wings forward (through a selection lever in the cockpit) to maximise lift, and when flying faster they sweep the wings further back. The Tornado GR4 flies at one of 3 levels of wing sweep: 25, 45 and 67 degrees of sweep. There is a corresponding speed range that is appropriate for each level of wing sweep; these change with the configuration of stores on the aircraft, as they directly affect the lift and drag characteristics.

[edit] Variants

Main article: Panavia Tornado variants

There are three primary variants, the Interdictor/Strike (IDS), the Air Defence Variant (ADV), and the Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance (ECR), with 80% commonality between the airframes.

[edit] Service history

[edit] Luftwaffe

The prototype model made its first flight on 14 August 1974 from Manching airbase in what was then West Germany. The first service delivery was made on 27 July 1979, with deliveries totaling 247 IDS variants, including 35 special ECR. The Deutsche Marine also received 112 IDS variants ^[1].

[edit] Italian Air Force

The Aeronautica Militare received 100 Tornado IDS (15 were later converted in ECR version). They took part in the first Gulf war (1991), losing one plane to AAA, and in 1999 in Kosovo with IDS for bombing and ECR for suppression of enemy A.A. radars role (115 HARM missiles were launched by A.M.). Actually there in a program for improve the Tornado's capabilities. For 10 years the Italian Airforce used as gap-filler (between Starfighter F-104 and the introduction of EF-2000) 24 Tornado ADV, leased from the Royal Air Force.

[edit] Royal Air Force

The Tornado GR.4 made its operational debut in patrols during Operation Southern Watch. The aircraft flew from Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, and patrolled a large part of southern Iraq. Several times bombs were dropped when the aircraft were fired upon by Iraqi ground defences.

Its full wartime debut came in Operation Telic, the British part of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The aircraft, according to all indications in the public domain, performed well. The campaign in Iraq marked a number of firsts for the aircraft. No. 617 Squadron debuted the Storm Shadow Missile, and enhanced Paveway smart bombs were used in an anti-runway capacity.

[edit] Royal Saudi Air Force

On September 25, 1985, UK and Saudi Arabia signed the Al Yamamah I contract including, amongst other things, the sale of 48 IDS and 24 ADV model Tornados. The first flight of a RSAF Tornado IDS was on March 26, 1986, and the first Saudi ADV was delivered on February 9, 1989.

In September 2006 it was reported that the Saudi government signed a contract worth £2.5 billion ($4.7 billion) with BAE Systems to upgrade possibly 80 aircraft in the Saudi Air Force fleet which it wants to keep until 2020.

[edit] Timeline

• 1971
  • September - Intention to Proceed (ITP) signed by the three governments.
  • 27 September - First test run of RB199 engine.
• 1974
  • 14 August - First flight of prototype P01 from Manching, Germany.
  • 30 October - First flight of prototype P02 from Warton Aerodrome, UK.
• 1975
  • 5 December - First flight of P05 from Turin, Italy.
• 1976
  • 29 July - Contract signed for Batch 1 aircraft.
• 1979
  • 5 June - First Tornado IDS delivered to RAF.
  • 6 June - First IDS handed over to Luftwaffe.
  • 9 August - First Tornado Air Defence Variant (ADV) prototype rolls off Warton production line.
• 1981
  • 29 January - Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE) officially opened at RAF Cottesmore.
  • 25 September - First Italian IDS delivered.

• 1984
  • May - UK Ministry of Defence issues requirement for first Tornado upgrade project.
  • 5 November - First delivery of interim Tornado F2 standard to RAF.
• 1985
  • 11 July - First flight of RAF reconnaissance version, GR1A.
• 1991
  • 16 January - Italian and 60 British IDSs participate in Operation Granby, the first stage of the liberation of Kuwait. The ALARM missile and TIALD pod were rushed into service for RAF IDSs. Several aircraft were lost during low-level strike missions (e.g. using the JP233 runway-denial weapon) which were particularly vulnerable to anti-aircraft artillery fire and shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles.
• 1992
  • F.3s replace the Phantom in the Falklands Island defence role.
• 1993
  • March - British Tornado Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) project relaunched - with reduced capabilities from a 1989 upgrade plan.
  • April - RAF F.3s begin involvement in Operation Deny Flight in Bosnia.
  • 29 May - First flight of GR.4 upgrade development aircraft.
  • June - Al Yamamah II contract signed - 48 additional IDSs for Saudi Arabia.
• 1994
  • 14 February - First deliveries of RAF GR.1B maritime strike version.
  • 29 July - UK signs contract for MLU of GR1/GR1A/GR1Bs to GR.4/GR.4A standard.
• 1995
  • July - First of 24 RAF F.3s delivered on lease to Aeronautica Militare Italiana.
• 1996
  • 5 March - UK MoD announced F.3 "Capability Sustainment Programme" (CSP), to allow carriage of ASRAAM and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
• 1997
  • 4 April - First flight of upgraded GR.4, followed by first delivery on 31 October
• 1998
  • First CSP upgraded F.3s enter service.
  • 28 April - GR.4 enters front line service
  • 24 September - Final Tornado leaves production line, a RSAF IDS from Warton.
• 1999
  • 24 March-10 June- British, German and Italian IDSs participate in Operation Allied Force, NATO's air campaign against Serbia. British and Italian F3s also involved.
  • GR.4 deliveries completed.
  • Flight testing and aircraft integration of Storm Shadow begins.
• 2003
  • March-April - During the Iraq War RAF Tornado GR.4's and GR.4A's played a prominent role, employing the Storm Shadow missile in combat for the first time.
  • 23 March - One RAF Tornado GR4 was lost to friendly fire when it was engaged and shot down by a U.S. Patriot missile battery. Both crew members were killed. RAF F.3s of the Leuchars Fighter Wing carry out CAPs over Iraq until stood down mid April.
• 2004
  • RAF GR.4's and GR.4A's continue to form part of UK contribution to stability operations in Iraq.
  • RAF F.3s carry out Quick Reaction Alert in Lithuania as part of NATO's contribution to the country's air defences.

[edit] Specifications (Tornado IDS GR.4)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 16.72 m (54 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 13.91 m at 25° wing sweep, 8.60 m at 67° wing sweep (45.6 ft / 28.2 ft)
• Height: 5.95 m (19.5 ft)
• Wing area: 26.6 m² (286 ft²)
• Empty weight: 13,890 kg (31,620lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 28,000 kg (61,700 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk 103 afterburning turbofans, 43.8 kN dry, 76.8 kN afterburning (9,850 lbf / 17,270 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.34, 2,417.6 km/h (1,511 mph)
• Range: 1,390 km typical combat, 3,890 km ferry with four external drop tanks (870 mi / 2,420 mi)
• Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 76.7 m/s (15,100 ft/min)
• Thrust/weight: 0.55

Armament

• 1x 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon with 180 rounds
• Four fuselage pylons and four swivelling underwing pylons for a maximum of 9000 kg (19,800 lb) of weapons, fuel, and ECM pods, inner wing pylons have shoulder rails for two AIM-9 Sidewinder or ASRAAM self-defence missiles. A wide variety of air-to-ground weapons can be carried including Wasp ASM, Kormoran anti-ship missiles, BAe Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles, AGM-65 Maverick ASM, BAe ALARM anti-radiation missile, LAU-51A and LR-25 rocket pods, napalm bombs, retarded bombs, BL755 cluster bombs, and Paveway series laser-guided bombs, MW-1 munitions dispenser, JP233 munitions dispenser, Storm Shadow, Brimstone, Taurus missile, can be equipped to carry B61 and WE.177 nuclear bombs.
• RAPTOR Reconnaissance pod, TIALD laser designator
• Rafael Lightening III targeting pod has replaced TIALD 500 during the UK RAF's operations in Iraq.

[edit] Tornado ADV F3

The ADV is in most respects similar to the IDS. It has been stretched (18.7 m) so as to accommodate the staggered quartet of AMRAAM missiles. It includes just one internal Mauser cannon rather than the two of the original IDS (the GR4 only has 1 cannon). The ADV uses the Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk 104. It has an empty weight of 14,500 kg, and has different weapons stores from the IDS (suiting its interceptor role).

[edit] Units

Unit	Base	Version	Status	Notes
AMI
102° Gruppo, 6° Stormo	Ghedi	IDS	Active
154° Gruppo, 6° Stormo	Ghedi	IDS	Active
156° Gruppo C.B., 36° Stormo	Gioia del Colle	IDS	Active
XII° Gruppo, 36° Stormo	Gioia del Colle	F.3	Inactive	1995-2004
155° Gruppo E.T.S., 50° Stormo	San Damiano	ECR	Active
53° Stormo		ECR	Inactive
Deutsche Marine
Marinefliegergeschwader 2	Eggebek		Disbanded	Disbanded 2005
Luftwaffe
Jagdbombergeschwader 31 "Boelcke"	Nörvenich	IDS	Active
Jagdbombergeschwader 32	Lagerlechfeld	ECR	Active
Jagdbombergeschwader 33	Büchel	IDS	Active
Jagdbombergeschwader 34 "Allgäu"	Memmingen		Disbanded	Disbanded 2003
Jagdbombergeschwader 38 "Friesland"	Jever		Disbanded	Disbanded 2005
Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann"	Jagel/Schleswig	IDS	Active
RAF
No. II Squadron	Marham	GR.4/4A	Active	12 aircraft
No. 5 Squadron	Coningsby	F.3	Disbanded	1987-2003
No. XI Squadron	Leeming	F.3	Disbanded	1988-2005
No. 23 Squadron	Leeming	F.3	Disbanded	1988-1994
No. 29 Squadron	Coningsby	F.3	Disbanded	1987-1998
No. 9 Squadron	Marham	GR.4/4A	Active	12 aircraft
No. 12 Squadron	Lossiemouth	GR.4/4A	Active	12 aircraft
No. 13 Squadron	Marham	GR.4/4A	Active	12 aircraft
No. 14 Squadron	Lossiemouth	GR.4/4A	Active	12 aircraft
No. 25 Squadron	Leeming	F.3	Active	16 aircraft
No. 31 'The Goldstars' Squadron	Marham	GR.4/4A	Active	12 aircraft
No. 43 Squadron	Leuchars	F.3	Active	16 aircraft
No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron	RAF Leuchars	F.3	Reserve	16 aircraft. F3 Operational Conversion Unit
No. 111 Squadron	Leuchars	F.3	Active	16 aircraft
No. 1435 Flight	Mount Pleasant	F.3	Active	4 aircraft, based in the Falklands
No. 617 Squadron	Lossiemouth	GR.4/4A	Active	12 aircraft
No. XV (Reserve) Squadron	Lossiemouth	GR.4	Reserve	26 aircraft. GR4 Operational Conversion Unit
Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment	Cottesmore	IDS, GR1	Disbanded
Royal Saudi Air Force
	KAAB	IDS	Active	96 IDS

[edit] External links

• Unofficial Panavia Tornado site
• RAF Squadrons
• FAS - BAe Tornado
• Aerospace Web - Tornado ADV
• Aerospace Web - Tornado IDS

[edit] Related content

 

Comparable aircraft

• Sukhoi Su-24
• F-111 Aardvark

 

Related lists

• List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

See also

• Future Offensive Air System