Panavia Tornado

The Panavia Tornado has three main variants (strike aircraft, high-altitude interceptor, and electronic warfare suppressor), and has served with the air forces of four countries (UK, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia). Whether or not it was successful at handling such a wide variety of roles is the subject of much debate. Since 2005, it has been gradually replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The GR1 is ground strike version of the basic Tornado. Used extensively during the Gulf War, initially at low level to make enemy airfields unusable, and subsequently for medium/high level laser guided bomb strikes against a wide range of enemy ground targets. The GR.1 has very sophisticated avionics, allowing low level runs to target either flown by the pilot using his HUD, or by the terrain following radar. The wings sweep automatically to the most efficient configuration, giving an unparalleled combination of speed, ride comfort and fuel economy. The Tornado has a claim to be the most efficient strike aircraft in the world. The two man crew comprises of a front seat pilot and a rear seat navigator/weapons system officer. The aircraft uses thrust reversal buckets to slow down on landing, large scoops which swivel behind the engine jet pipes to direct thrust forwards. GR.1s also have an arrestor hook for emergency landings.

During the 1991 Gulf War, military planners made the elimination of Iraq's air defenses a top priority. At the start of Operation Desert Storm, Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR1 aircraft attacked Iraqi air bases at low-level with Hunting JP233 anti-runway weapons and suppressed enemy air defenses. Afterward, GR1 aircrews flew medium-level missions using 1,000-pound bombs. At the end of the conflict, they used Paveway II laser-guided bombs against other strategic targets. Flying more than 1,500 operational sorties, mostly at night, RAF GR1 aircrews played an important role in forcing the Iraqis out of Kuwait, and the RAF lost six GR1s in combat.

IKWA Mauser 27mm gun

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:

Six-government feasibility study (originally involving Belgium and Canada) initiated 17 July 1968; project definition began 1 May 1969; development phase started 22 July 1970; structural design completed August 1972; first flight 14 August 1974 by first of nine prototypes (P01-09: see 1978-79 Jane's for details); Tornado name adopted September 1974; German procurement approved 19 May 1976; production programme initiated 29 July 1976 by three-government MoU for 809 aircraft in six batches (640 IDS, 165 ADV, plus four preseries aircraft brought up to IDS production standard).

First flight 5 February 1977 by first of six preseries Tornados (PP11-16: see 1980-81 and earlier editions); Italian production approved 8 March 1977; first flights by production IDS in UK and Germany 10 and 27 July 1979 respectively.

Contract to develop mid-life update for RAF GR. Mk 1 awarded 16 March 1989; 26 GR. Mk 4s (part of proposed batch 8) cancelled 18 June 1990. Final Italian aircraft (MM7088) delivered 12 July 1989; final German IDS (4622) 31 May 1989; final ECR and last German built Tornado (4657) handed over 19 December 1991 and delivered 28 January 1992; final RAF GR. Mk 1 (ZG794) delivered 19 November 1992. New reconnaissance system being acquired for 40 ex-naval aircraft transferred to German Air Force during 1993.

DESIGN FEATURES:

Continuously variable-geometry shoulder wings, with leading-edge sweep angles from 25o (minimum) to 67o (maximum) on movable portions (limited to 63o when 2,250 litre drop tanks carried), 60o on fixed inboard portions; modest overall dimensions; high wing loading to minimise low-altitude gust response; swivelling wing pylons to retain stores alignment with fuselage.

LANDING GEAR:

Hydraulically retractable tricycle type, with forward-retracting twin-wheel steerable nose unit. Single-wheel main units retract forward and upward into centre section of fuselage. Emergency extension system, using nitrogen gas pressure.

POWER PLANT:

Two Turbo-Union RB199-34R turbofans, fitted with bucket type thrust reversers and installed in rear fuselage with downward-opening doors for servicing and engine change. Mk 101 engines of early production aircraft nominally rated at 38.7 kN (8,700 lb st) dry and 66.0 kN (14,840 lb st) with afterburning (uninstalled); RAF aircraft have engines downrated to 37.7 kN (8,475 lb st) in squadron service (37.0 kN; 8,320 lb st dry for TTTE) to extend service life. Mk 103 engines, introduced in May 1983 (engine number 761), dry rated nominally at 40.5 kN (9,100 lb st) uninstalled (38.5 kN; 8,650 lb st for RAF) and provide 71.5 kN (16,075 lb st) with afterburning. RAF ordered 100 modification kits in 1983 to upgrade Mk 101 engined aircraft to Mk 103 standard. VG air intakes locked open on RAF aircraft.

ACCOMMODATION:

Crew of two on tandem Martin-Baker Mk 10A zero/zero ejection seats under Kopperschmidt one-piece, rear-hinged, upward-opening canopy.

AVIONICS:

Comms: GEC-Plessey PTR 1721 (UK and Italy) or Rohde & Schwarz (Germany) UHF/VHF transceiver; Telefunken SystemTechnik UHF/ADF (UK and Germany only); SIT emergency UHF with Rohde & Schwarz switch; BAe HF/SSB aerial tuning unit; Rohde & Schwarz (UK and Germany) or Montedel (Italy) HF/SSB radio; Ultra communications control system; GEC-Marconi central suppression unit (CSU); Leigh voice recorder; Chelton UHF communications and landing system aerials and Siemens (Germany) or Cossor SSR-3100 (UK and Saudi Arabia) IFF transponder.

Radar: European built Texas Instruments multimode forward-looking, terrain-following ground-mapping radar.

ARMAMENT:

Fixed armament comprises two 27 mm IWKA-Mauser cannon, one in each side of lower forward fuselage, with 180 rounds/gun. Other armament varies according to version, with emphasis on ability to carry wide range of advanced weapons. GEC-Marconi stores management system. ML Aviation CBLS 200 practice bomb carriers also standard.

Weapons carried on seven fuselage and wing hardpoints: one centreline pylon fitted with single ejection release unit (ERU), two fuselage shoulder pylons each with three ERUs, and, under each wing, one inboard and one outboard pylon each with single ERU.

Among weapons carried are:

B61 and UK WE177B nuclear bombs;

1,000 lb (smart or conventional) bombs;

BLU-1B 750 lb fire bombs;

Mk 83 1,000 lb and Mk 82 500 lb bombs;

Mk 20 Rockeye cluster bombs;

Matra 250 kg bombs;

Lepus flare bombs;

Paveway II and III laser-guided bomb;

BL755 cluster bombs (277 kg; 611 lb Mk 1 or 264 kg; 582 lb Mk 2);

 

Sidewinder air-to-air, and ALARM or AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles;

Maverick, Sea Eagle and Kormoran air-to-surface missiles;

LAU-51A and LR-25 rocket launchers;

Apache standoff weapons dispenser, from 1996;

 

JP233 low-altitude airfield attack munition dispenser;

MW-1 munitions dispenser;

Sources:

National Museum of the USAF

The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Air Warfare, edited by Chris Bishop, 2001, Aerospace Publishing

Korean War Aces, by Robert F. Dorr, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces, 1995