Panavia Tornado
Studies started from 1968 on an international project including Belgium, Canada, Holland, the UK, Italy and West Germany on a STOL fighter-bomber with interdiction, long range strike and tactical reconnaissance capabilities.
The three first countries withdrawing at an early stage, the UK (BAC), Italy (Aeritalia) and West Germany (MBB) joined in 1969 to form the Panavia joint venture and went on with the MRCA-75 project (Multi Role Combat Aircraft for 1975). For the engine, a collaboration was started between Fiat, MTU and Rolls-Royce to form the Turbo-Union consortium.
The Tornado is a variable wing geometry fighter-bomber with all weather terrain following capability and fly by wire controls. Different Tornado versions were developed : IDS (Interdiction Strike), ADV (Air Defence Variant), BT (Bomber Trainer), ECM (Electronic Counter Measures)
Automatic leading edge slats, Krueger flaps and the variable sweep wings contribute efficiently to short take-off performance, landing distance being also reduced by the use of wing spoilers and reverse trust.
Variants
- Tornado IDS (Interdiction Strike)
- Tornado GR Mk 1 : RAF identification for IDS machines.
- Tornado GR Mk 1A : (IDS) RAF All weather reconnaissance version of the GR Mk 1. 30 built.
- Tornado GR Mk 1B : RAF maritime attack version (1994). Sea Eagle missiles. 24 built.
- Tornado GR Mk 2 : RAF ADV version with Spin Prevention and Incidence Limitation systems. See below : Tornado ADV.
- Tornado GR Mk 3 : RAF ADV version with RB199-34R Mk 104 engines
- Tornado GR Mk 4 : RAF 1996 mid-life upgrade of 142 GR Mk 1's. FLIR replacing the former terrain following radar on this version.
- Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant)
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