Tornado The Multinational Swing-Wing Fighter & Bomber (Aviation News Special).pdf

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Combat Missions • Operators • Development • Aircrew Insights
The Multinational Swing-Wing Fighter & Bomber
In association with
Tornado
Special
UK
£5.99
INTRODUCTION
C
ontinual evolution has contributed to the Tornado’s longevity
and it remains at the ‘tip of the spear’. At a special event
last September to mark the 40th anniversary of the rst ight
of the Tornado on August 14, 1974, RAF Gp Capt Harvey Smyth
said: “The airframe is 40 years old, but the actual capability has
continued to evolve almost every year of its life.” Guests attending
Panavia’s event in Manching in Germany included members of air
forces operating the aircraft – and they were fulsome in their praise.
The Tornado was designed for the Cold War and to counter the
threat from the Eastern Bloc. The bomber variant’s versatility has
been one of its strengths. It is used for reconnaissance and the
suppression of enemy air defences. For the main ground attack role
it has an arsenal consisting of a wide range of precision weapons
including long-range missiles, such as Storm Shadow and Taurus.
Although the Air Defence Variant didn’t enjoy the same success
as the Interdiction Strike (IDS) version, it performed admirably in its
intended role as an interceptor protecting the UK potentially from
Soviet bombers far out over the North Sea.
The high regard in which the Tornado IDS is held by the air forces
ying it is illustrated by the fact that it is usually the rst aircraft
called upon when a crisis ares up and has been involved in
numerous campaigns over the years. While the RAF is due
to withdraw its aircraft in 2019, Germany and Italy plan to
keep theirs in service for at least another ten years and,
with Saudi Arabia upgrading its examples, retirement
seems a long way off.
The Tornado has been a multinational
success story and one that is set to continue
for some time to come.
Dino Carrara
Editor
German Air Force Tornado
44+61 was painted in the same
scheme as D-9591 to mark the
40th anniversary of the maiden
ight.
Philip Hayer
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Dino Carrara
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Tornado
3
CONTENTS
OF THE PANAVIA TORNADO
6
GENESIS & DEVELOPMENT
Jon Lake details the early days of the Tornado programme and looks at how
the various prototypes were used to test different elements of the aircraft.
32
STORM SHADOW MISSIONS
Mark Ayton, Editor of
AIR International,
got the inside story on the
Tornado GR4s’ long-range missions to strike targets in Libya using
Storm Shadow missiles.
TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT
12
TRI-NATIONAL TORNADO
The three partner nations on the Tornado programme established a joint
training unit at RAF Cottesmore that lasted almost 20 years. A former station
commander and an instructor describe its inner workings to Dino Carrara.
36
DEFENDER OF THE REALM
The Tornado F3 was designed to counter the threat from long-range
Soviet bombers during the Cold War. James Ronayne charts the
development of the Tornado F3 in RAF service.
18
RAF GERMANY – COLD WAR OPS
Dino Carrara talks to Wing Commander Grant McLeod (Ret), who was
Officer Commanding 17 Squadron during the transition to the Tornado
GR1, about Cold War operations with the type by RAF Germany.
40
TORNADO TRAINING
The RAF sends its future Tornado aircrew to XV (Reserve)
Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray to convert to the swing-
wing bomber. We provide an insight into the work of this
operational conversion unit.
24
STORM FORCE
– RAF TORNADO COMBAT OPERATIONS
46
BALTIC EAGLES
The German Navy established two wings of Tornados during the
Cold War whose main area of operation was the Baltic Sea. Doug
Gordon explains the varied roles undertaken by these Tornados
that were stationed at Jagel and Eggebek air bases.
For 25 years RAF Tornados have been almost continuously deployed and
involved in operations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Tim Ripley looks back over the Tornados’ combat missions.
4
Tornado
52
LUFTWAFFE’S LOYAL SERVANT
Dr Andreas Zeitler details the Tornado in Luftwaffe service.
80
ITALIAN MISSIONS
Italian Air Force Tornados have been involved in numerous operations,
Riccardo Niccoli looks back at the times they have been in harm’s way.
58
STILL GOING STRONG
Aviation News
Assistant Editor James Ronayne travelled to Büchel
Air Base to learn about the role played by the Tornados of Taktisches
Luftwaffengeschwader 33.
86
DESERT TORNADOS
Saudi Arabia was the only country outside Europe to buy the Tornado.
Jon Lake reviews the service careers of the IDS and ADV variants in the
desert kingdom.
64
SPECIAL SCHEMES
A selection of special schemes that have been worn by Tornados
over the years to mark a wide range of significant anniversaries and
achievements.
92
VERSATILE BOMBER
The Tornado IDS entered service with the Royal Air Force as the GR1
and GR1A and received a mid-life update to become the GR4 and GR4A.
The UK has continued to upgrade its Tornado bombers to improve their
capabilities. Dino Carrara charts their development.
Contents photo:
Sgt Peter George/RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2015.
Main Cover photo:
An RAF Tornado GR4 from 31 Squadron based at
RAF Marham. Key-Jamie Hunter.
Cover Insets (left):
A Royal Saudi
Air Force Tornado IDS. AirTeamImages.com/Stephane Beilliard.
Inset
(middle):
A view from the cockpit of a German Air Force Tornado.
Dr Stefan Petersen.
Inset (right):
The Italian Air Force operates the
Tornado IDS and ECR (pictured) variants. R Niccoli
IN ITALIAN SERVICE
68
TORNADO IDS AND ECR
Riccardo Niccoli examines the career of the ground-attack Tornado in the
Italian Air Force.
76
STOP-GAP FIGHTER
The Italian Air Force leased Tornado F3s from the Royal Air Force to cover
for the delay of the Eurofighter Typhoon entering service.
Tornado
5

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