Panavia Tornado ADV

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Tornado ADV
RAF Tornado F3
Role Interceptor
Manufacturer Panavia Aircraft GmbH
First flight 27 October 1979
Introduced 1 May 1985
Primary users Royal Air Force
Royal Saudi Air Force
Italian Air Force
Number built 218
Developed from Panavia Tornado IDS

The Panavia Tornado Air Defence Variant (ADV) is an interceptor version of the Panavia Tornado in service with the British Royal Air Force. The aircraft's first flight was on 27 October 1979 and entered service in 1986. It is a long-range, twin-engine aircraft, originally designed to intercept Soviet bombers as they came in from the east to strike the United Kingdom. The Tornado ADV for the Royal Saudi Air Force were produced to F3 standard. Both the RAF and RSAF are replacing the Tornado ADV with the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Contents

[edit] Design and development

Tornado ADV prototype in 1980

The aircraft was developed to meet an RAF requirement (Air Staff Requirement 395 or ASR.395) for a long-range interceptor to replace the Lightning F6 and Phantom FGR2. Development was approved on 4 March 1976, with BAe to provide 3 prototypes.[1] The first prototype was rolled out at Warton on 9 August 1979. The prototype made its maiden flight on 27 October 1979.[1]

The Tornado ADV's differences compared to the IDS include a greater sweep angle on the inboard fixed wing sections, a longer radome for the Marconi/Ferranti AI.24 Foxhunter airborne interception radar, and a fuselage stretch of 1.36 m to allow the carriage of four Skyflash semi-active radar homing missiles. The port cannon was also deleted.

The stretch was applied to the Tornado front fuselage being built by the UK, with a plug being added immediately behind the cockpit, which had the incidental benefit of reducing drag and making space for an additional fuel tank (Tank '0') carrying 200 imperial gallons (909 L; 240 U.S. gal) of fuel.[2]

[edit] Tornado F2

The Tornado F2 (sometimes written as F.2) was the initial version of the Tornado ADV in Royal Air Force service, with 18 being built. It first flew on March 5, 1984 and was powered by the same RB.199 Mk 103 engines used by the IDS Tornado, capable of four wing sweep settings, and fitted to carry only two underwing Sidewinder missiles. Serious problems were discovered with the Foxhunter radar, which meant that the aircraft were delivered with concrete and lead ballast installed in the nose as an interim measure until they could be fitted with the radar sets. The ballast was nicknamed Blue Circle, which was a play on the Rainbow Codes nomenclature, and a British brand of cement called Blue Circle.[3]

[edit] Tornado F3

The Tornado F3 made its maiden flight on 20 November 1985.[1] Enhancements over the F2 included RB.199 Mk 104 engines, which were optimised for high-altitude use with longer afterburner nozzles, the capacity to carry four underwing Sidewinder missiles rather than two, and automatic wing sweep control.[3]

[edit] Criticisms of the ADV

The Tornado ADV has been criticised for its lack of "true" fighter performance. It is true that the Tornado does not have the close combat performance of an aircraft such as the F-16. However, it was designed as a Cold War interceptor rather than as an air superiority fighter. Its primary purpose was to carry a large number of missiles and fly them far from base over the North Sea and Northern Atlantic; once on station it needed to have good endurance, and then be able to engage and destroy targets at long range. For this mission, dogfighting capabilities would always be a secondary consideration.[4]

[edit] Operational history

[edit] Royal Air Force

The Tornado F2 was first delivered to the RAF on 5 November 1984, and its short career came to an end after the Tornado F3 entered service. These aircraft were used primarily for training by No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit RAF until they were placed in storage. The F2s were intended to be updated to Tornado F2A standard (similar to the F3 but without the engine upgrade) but only one F2A, the Tornado Integrated Avionics Research Aircraft (TIARA) was converted, having been customised by QinetiQ for UAV trials at MoD Boscombe Down.

RAF 43 Sqn (ZE887) Tornado F3 takes off at Kemble Air Day 2008
RAF 43 Sqn (ZE764) Tornado F3 with wings swept

Entering service in July 1986, 152 Tornado F3s were ordered. The F3's primary weapons when it entered service were the short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder and British Aerospace Skyflash, a British medium-range air-to-air missile based on the American AIM-7 Sparrow.

The Tornado F3 made its combat debut in the 1991 Gulf War with 18 aircraft deployed to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. However, they did not get the opportunity to engage any enemy aircraft. The F3 lacked modern IFF and a full suite of defensive aids, thus they flew patrols further back from Iraqi airspace where encounters with enemy aircraft were less likely.[citation needed] After 1991 combat operations continued as the southern no-fly zones over Iraq were patrolled. The Tornados flew from Saudi Arabia under Operation Bolton and then 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 F3s deployed to Saudi Arabia. The F3s (of 43(F) and 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 2003 campaign.

[edit] Capability Sustainment Programme

Realising that in its current form the F3 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 led 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[who?] as shortsighted at the time, the F3 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. On June 8, 2001, the MoD signed a contract for a further upgrade to the F3 force to allow these midcourse updates.[5] The upgrade to give full AMRAAM capability, together with updated IFF, known as the AMRAAM Optimisation Programme (AOP) was incorporated in the remaining F3 fleet between December 2003 and September 2006.[5].

[edit] Tornado EF3

A further upgrade, undisclosed until early 2003, was the integration of the ALARM anti-radiation missile to allow suppression of enemy air defence missions.[6] The F3'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 and operated by XI Squadron.[citation needed]

[edit] Retirement

As part of Delivering Security in a Changing World, the UK's vision for the future of the armed forces, on 21 July 2004, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon detailed plans to reduce the number of Tornado F3 squadrons by one to three squadrons. This represented 16 aircraft and was the first stage in the transition to the replacement for the Tornado F3, the Eurofighter Typhoon. This entered operational service with the RAF in 2005, and by 2012, the Tornado F3 will be retired from RAF service. In April 2009, it was announced that the Tornado F3 force will be reduced to one squadron of 12 aircraft in September 2009.[7]

[edit] Royal Saudi Air Force

The UK and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding on 26 September 1985 for the Al Yamamah arms deal. This involved the supply of 24 Tornado ADVs along with other aircraft, weapons, radar, spares and a pilot-training programme.[1] The RSAF received its first ADV on 9 February 1989.[1]

[edit] Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare)

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-104ASA Starfighters which were approaching obsolescence, 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 F3s from the RAF for a period of ten years.[8] 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.[8]

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.[9]

Tornados in Italian service suffered poor serviceability 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] Variants

Tornado F2 
Two-seat all-weather interceptor fighter aircraft, powered by two Turbo-Union RB.199-34R Mk 103 turbofan engines. Initial production version, 18 built.
Tornado F2A 
F2 upgrade to F3 standard, but retaining F2 engines, one built.
Tornado F3 
Improved version, powered by two Turbo-Union RB.199-34R Mk 104 engines, with automatic wing sweep control, increased AIM-9 carriage and avionics upgrades.
Tornado EF3 
Unofficial designation for F3 aircraft modified with ALARM missile capability.

[edit] Operators

A Tornado F3 aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force sits on the flight line during Operation Desert Shield
 Italy
  • 12º Gruppo, 36º Stormo, AMI 1995-2003
  • 21º Gruppo, 53º Stormo, AMI 1995-2001
 Saudi Arabia
  • No. 29 Squadron RSAF 1989-date
 United Kingdom

[edit] Specifications (Tornado F3)

External images
Tornado ADV F2 cutaway illustration
Hi-res cutaway of Tornado ADV F2 by Flight Global, 2006.
Tornado IDS graphic

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 18.7 m (61.3 ft)
  • Wingspan: (Variable geometry wing)
    • At 25° wing position : 13.91 m (45.6 ft)
    • At 67° wing position: 8.60 m (28.2 ft)
  • Height: 5.95 m (19.5 ft)
  • Wing area: 26.6 m² (286 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 14,500 kg (32,000 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 21,546 kg (47,500 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 28,000 kg (61,700 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Turbo-Union RB199-34R afterburning turbofan
    • Dry thrust: 40.5 kN (9,104 lbf [1]) each
    • Thrust with afterburner: 73 kN (16,410 lbf [2]) each

Performance

Armament

Avionics

[edit] See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Taylor, Michael J.H. (2001). Flight International World Aircraft & Systems Directory (3rd ed.). United Kingdom: Reed Business Information. pp. 189–190. ISBN 061701289X. 
  2. ^ Evans 1999, p.121
  3. ^ a b Evans 1999, p.126
  4. ^ Butler, Tony (2001). British Secret Projects: Jet Fighters Since 1950. England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1857800958. 
  5. ^ a b Willis, David (December 2007), "Tornado F.3 - At its Peak", Air International (Stamford, Lincs, England: Key Publishing) 73 (6): 22–26, ISSN 0306-5634 
  6. ^ "Tornado F3". Royal Air Force. http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/tornadof3.cfm. Retrieved 2008-03-26. 
  7. ^ Urquhart, Frank (2009-04-17). "Historic squadron is disbanded – but Fighting Cocks may fly again". The Scotsman. http://news.scotsman.com/britisharmedforces/Historic-squadron-is-disbanded-.5179515.jp. Retrieved 2009-05-13. 
  8. ^ a b Sacchetti, Renzo (October 2003). "Italy's British Tornados". Air Forces Monthly (Key Publishing): pp. 50. 
  9. ^ "Final AMI Tornados F3s Returned". Air Forces Monthly (Key Publishing): pp. 9. February 2005. 

[edit] Bibliography

  • Evans, Andy. Panavia Tornado. Crowood Press, Ramsbury, Wiltshire UK, 1999. ISBN 1 861126 201 9.

[edit] Further reading

  • Jackson, Robert. Air War At Night. Howell Press Inc., Charlottesville, VA, 2000. ISBN 1-57427-116-4 (see p.139-144).

[edit] External links

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