Panavia Tornado

Contents
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1 History
2 Versions
2.1 Interdictor/Strike (IDS)
2.2 Air Defence Variant (ADV)
2.3 Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance (ECR)
3 Upgrades
3.1 ASSTA
3.1.1 ASSTA 1
3.1.2 ASSTA 2
3.1.3 ASSTA 3
3.2 Capability Upgrade Strategy
3.2.1 Capability A
3.2.2 Capability B
3.3 TARDIS
3.4 Tornado Sustainment Programme
3.4.1 Stage 1
3.4.2 Stage 2
3.5 Italian MLU
4 Operators
5 Images
6 More information
6.1 External links
6.2 Sources

History

During the late 1960s several countries in Europe were looking for a future replacement for their current fleet of fighters. Of these countries Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands (all flying the F-104G at the time) joined in August 1967 forming the "Multi Role Aircraft for 1975" (MRA-75) programme, shortly afterwards joined by Canada. Like many other projects at that time, they concentrated on a variable geometry (swing-wing) aircraft, which seemed the way to make an aircraft perform well throughout a wider flight envelope.

The United Kingdom and France had already started the Anglo French Variable Geometry (AFVG) project in 1965, building on French studies on the subject. But after France pulled out of the project again in 1967, the UK also joined the MRA-75 group during 1968, while France went on on its own on what eventually would become the Mirage 2000. The expertise BAC had gained from the AFVG-project though proved to be very worthwhile in the MRA-75 programme.

On 17 July 1968, only weeks after the UK joined, the first Memorandum of Understanding for the MRA-75 was signed, covering the conceptional phase. From this conceptional phase two configurations were proposed in March 1969, by which time the name had changed to MRCA (Multi Role Combat Aircraft);

the PA100, a single seat aircraft for Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, as a replacement for the F-104G, in close air support and air superiority variants.
the PA200, a two seat strike/interdiction variant for Germany and the United Kingdom.

As a result, on 26 March 1969, Panavia GmbH was formed by MBB (now DASA), BAC (now BAE Systems) and Fiat (now Alenia), a multinational consortium which was to handle the production of the aircraft, followed by Turbo Union for the production of the engine on 1 June 1969. But during July 1969 the Netherlands withdrew from the programme, as had Belgium and Canada done earlier, leaving only Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

At this point the indicated requirements were for 600 single-seaters (480 for Germany and 120 for Italy) and 505 two-seaters (385 for the RAF and 120 for Germany), but by the time the "Definition Phase" Final Report was generated in April 1970, Germany had adjusted its requirements to 420 of the two seat variant, dropping its requirements for the single seat variant all together. In the process Italy also adjusted its wishes to the two seat variant which effectually mend the cancellation of the single seat variant.

On 22 July 1970 the 5th MoU was signed for nine flying prototypes and one static test airframe, followed in March 1973 by the 6th Memorandum of Understanding which covered six pre-series aircraft. In the mean time the assemblage of the first prototype had started late 1972 and this airframe had its official roll-out on 8 April 1974 at Ingolstadt-Manching in Germany.
Versions
Interdictor/Strike (IDS)

The IDS is the baseline strike model. It was delivered is following submodels:

Tornado GR1: The standard IDS version of the RAF. Interestingly, although fitted with advanced navigation equipment (partly already being developed for the TSR-2) such as Texas Instruments TF/TA radar, Decca Type 72 doppler navigation radar and BAE Systems FIN1010 three-axis digital INS, the Tornado is not fitted with internal EW equipment. On operational missions, Sky Shadow radar jammer and BOZ-107 chaff/flare dispenser pods are carried on the aircraft's wings, occupying two store stations.
Tornado GR1A: The reconnaissance version of the RAF. Sixteen GR1s were modified to GR1A and fourteen new-built GR1As have been built. The two 27mm guns have been removed to make room for the recce equipment. The base for this system is the TIRSS.
Tornado GR1B: As a replacement for the Blackburn Buccaneer at total of 26 GR1s were modified to the GR1B version. The GR1B was capable of carrying the Sea Eagle. The GR1B-designation was abandoned in 2001 since all GR4s are capable of carrying this missile
Tornado GR4: All RAF Tornado GR1s that underwent their Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) were designated GR4 afterwards. The upgrade comprised installment of a Global Positioning System (GPS), a new variant of the Heads Up Display (HUD) and a Laser Inertial Navigation System (LIRS)/Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS)
Tornado GR4A: Designation for a modified GR1A where the TIRSS has been replaced by new recce systems ; The Thales DJRP -Digital Joint Recconaissance pod (also carried on Harrier) and RAPTOR (Recconaissance Airborne Pod TORnado) both are external recce pods.
Tornado IDS: Designation used for the standard German and Italian Air Force aircaft and for the export version of the Tornado GR1 of the Royal Saudi Air Force. The German Air Force integrated the GBU-54/B Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (L JDAM) precision-guided bomb onto its Panavia Tornado IDS strike aircraft, it was announced on 3 December 2009.

Twin-stick aircraft, with full mission-capability, are unofficially designated as Tornado GR1(T), Tornado GR4(T) and Tornado IDS(T).
Air Defence Variant (ADV)

The Tornado ADV was developed for the Royal Air Force as long-range interceptor to replace the F-4M Phantom II in this role. Is was fitted with a GEC-Marconi AI.24 Foxhunter radar and four British Aerospace Sky Flash [[[radar|radar]] guided missiles.

Tornado F2: The first ADV version of the RAF. This versions' AI24 Foxhunter radar encountered numerous problems in the beginning. This even led to the first Tornado F2s being delivered with concrete and lead ballasted 'Blue Circle' (a UK cement brand) radar instead of the Foxhunter.
Tornado F3: The eventual ADV version that was delivered to the RAF, replacing the F-4M Phantom II in the air-defence role.
Tornado ADV: Designation for the export version of the Tornado F3 of the Royal Saudi Air Force. Twin-stick aircraft, with full mission-capability, are unofficially designated as Tornado F2(T), Tornado F3(T) and Tornado ADV(T).

Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance (ECR)

Tornado ECR: Operates in the SEAD role. The ECR version is optimised for electronic battle management and reconnaissance. It is equipped with an Emitter Locator System (ELS), an Infrared Imaging System (IIS), Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and the Operational Data Interface (ODIN). The AGM-88 HARM High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile is used to combat radar installations.

Upgrades
ASSTA

The Avionics Software System Tornado Ada (ASSTA) upgrade program.
ASSTA 1

Beginning in 2000, German IDS, ECR and RECCE(IDS with additional cables to support the RECCE-POD) Tornados received the ASSTA 1 upgrade. The major modification of the ASSTA 1 (Avionics System Software Tornado in Ada) upgrade was the replacement of the weapons computer with a MIL-STD 1553/1760 or Ada MIL-STD 1815 computer. The Tornados also received an internal GPS, a Laser Inertial Navigation System, and the "Tornado Self Protection Jammer" ECM-pod. The new computer supports the HARM III, HARM 0 Block IV/V and Kormoran II missiles, the Rafael Litening II Laser Designator Pod and GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bombs.
ASSTA 2

The main focus of the ASSTA 2 programme was on improving the Tornado’s cockpit displays and increasing the aircraft’s survivability against the latest ground-based and airborne air defence systems. In addition, the Tornado was equipped with comprehensive software and hardware updates, such as an improved head-down visual display unit, modern colour screens, a digitised map display, the improved Tornado Defensive Aids Subsystem (TDASS) for radar warnings, an enhanced navigation system, and more powerful computers. All 85 Tornado aircraft destined for the Luftwaffe will now be consecutively upgraded to the new standard. The plan is to convert 62 aircraft at the company's Military Air Systems Center in Manching and 23 at the 1st Air Force Maintenance Regiment (Luftwaffeninstandhaltungsregiment 1) in Erding. The first ASSTA 2 Tornado was delivered to the Luftwaffe 10 April 2010.
ASSTA 3

In 2010, ASSTA standard 3 was tested in Manching. Mods include a multifunctional information distribution system/Link 16 data link, new SATURN radios, moving map displat taken from the Eurofighter Typhoon and a digital video and voice recorder. It also includes the integration of Boeing's GBU-54 LDAM. The German air force will receive its first upgraded Panavia Tornado strike aircraft in mid-2012 under the service's Cassidian-led ASSTA 3.0 avionics modernisation program. Cassidian is working on an ASSTA 3.1 operating standard, which will bring new colour displays capable of displaying images from the Reccelite reconnaissance pod. Full integration of the MIDS equipment will come with a subsequent ASSTA 3.1 phase in 2015. This will also replace obsolete displays in the rear cockpit and introduce new chaff and flare dispensers to further boost self-protection.
Capability Upgrade Strategy

In 2008, BAE Systems was awarded a contract for CUS(P) (Capability Upgrade Strategy (Pilot)) for the Tornado GR4 by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). CUS(P) will involve the design, development, integration and embodiment of an upgraded Secure Communications System and the introduction of a Tactical Data Link Capability onto the Tornado GR4 fleet, along with the integration of the Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb. The programme will deliver the upgrade in two stages.
Capability A

Cap A will provide a capability release to service for Secure Communications and Paveway IV.
Capability B

Cap B will include a release to service for a Tactical Data Link Capability.
TARDIS

Upgrade for RAF GR4 aircraft. The contract will replace 1970s wet film and display processing technologies with a new pilot multi-functional display (PMFD) integrated with a new radar and navigator's map processor known as the Tornado Advanced Radar Display and Information System (TARDIS). TARDIS is supplied by BAE Systems Platform Solutions Sector, and the PMFD by Astronautics.
Tornado Sustainment Programme

Upgrade for the Saudi Tornado fleet.
Stage 1

Carried out at BAE Systems Warton site.
Stage 2

Stage 2 will be carried out in Saudi Arabia. The RSAF is planning to equip the IDS fleet with a range of new precision-guided weapons and enhanced targeting equipment, in many cases common with those systems already fielded by the Royal Air Force's Tornado GR4s, such as the MBDA Storm Shadow.
Italian MLU

In July 2002, the Italian Air Force signed a contract with Panavia to provide a mid-life upgrade for 18 Tornado IDS aircraft. The MLU includes: new Litef GPS satellite system, radio, Galileo Avionica radar altimeter and Thales TACAN, and the ability to deploy GPS and laser-guided munitions and the MBDA Storm Shadow stand-off cruise missile. The first was delivered in July 2004 and deliveries concluded in 2007. A contract for the upgrade of a further 15 aircraft was signed with Alenia Aeronautica in November 2007, for delivery in 2009–2011. Four upgraded aircraft were deployed to Afghanistan in November 2008.
Operators

Royal Air Force: Tornado F3 and GR4/GR4A.
German Air Force: Tornado ECR and IDS.
Italian Air Force: Tornado ECR and IDS. The Italian Air Force operated the Tornado F3 for a short while (1995/2004) using aircraft on lease from the RAF.
Royal Saudi Air Force: Tornado ADV and IDS.
Fighter / Fighter Bomber

The Panavia PA 200 Tornado is a twin-engined two-seat variable-sweep wing multi-role combat aircraft produced by the multi-national consortium Panavia Aircraft GmbH, founded by BAC, British Aircraft Corporation (United Kingdom), Fiat Aviazione (Italy) and MBB, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (West Germany). The Panavia Tornado is operated by the Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, German Air Force - Luftwaffe and the Royal Saudi Air Force.
Crew 2

Propulsion 2 Turbofan Engines
Engine Model Rolls-Royce / Turbo Union RB.199-34R Mk.103
Engine Power (each)
dry/with Afterburner 38,5 / 71,5 kN 8655 / 16074 lbf

Speed 2230 km/h 1204 kts
1386 mph
Service Ceiling 15.240 m 50.000 ft
Rate of climb 4602 m/min 15100 ft/min
Range 1.389 km 750 NM
863 mi.

Empty Weight 14.500 kg 31.967 lbs
max. Takeoff Weight 28.500 kg 62.832 lbs

Wing Span 13,90 (8,60) m 45,6 (28,2) ft
Wing Area 31,0 m² 334 ft²
Length 16,70 m 54,8 ft
Height 5,70 m 18,7 ft

First Flight 14.08.1974
Production Status out of production
Production Range 1979-1999
Total Production 992

ICAO Code TOR

Data for (Version) Panavia Tornado IDS (GR.Mk 4)
Variants Tornado IDS (GR1, GR1A, GR1B, GR4, GR4A, Recce), Tornado ADV (F.3), Tornado ECR

Remarks
The main variants of the Tornado are the fighter bomber Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike), Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance) and the interceptor Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant). Today, Panavia shareholders are Alenia Aeronautica SpA (15%), BAE SYSTEMS plc (42,5%) and EADS Deutschland GmbH (42,5%). The total production of 992 Tornado includes 15 prototypes, 722 Tornado IDS, 204 Tornado ADV and 51 Tornado ECR (including 16 converted IDS for the Italian Air Force). Germany (Luftwaffe and German Navy) received 359 Tornado (324 IDS / 35 ECR), United Kingdom 398 (218 IDS / 180 ADV), Italy 100 (84 IDS / 16 ECR) and Saudi-Arabia 120 (96 IDS / 24 ADV).
Images https://acecombat.wikia.com/wiki/Tornado_GR.1 https://acecombat.wikia.com/wiki/Tornado_GR.4 https://acecombat.wikia.com/wiki/Tornado_IDS
http://zarconian.wikia.com/wiki/Zarconian_outer_space_Navy http://zarconian.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Space_Airforce http://zarconian.wikia.com/wiki/Zarco_Space_Army