Panavia Tornado ADV

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panavia_Tornado_ADV

The Panavia Tornado Air Defence Variant (ADV) is a long-range, twin-engine
interceptor version of the swing-wing Panavia Tornado. The aircraft's first
flight was on 27 October 1979, and it entered service with the Royal Air Force
(RAF) in 1986. It was also previously operated by the Italian Air Force (AMI)
and the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).

The Tornado ADV was originally designed to intercept Soviet bombers as they were
traversing across the North Sea with the aim of preventing a successful
air-launched nuclear attack against the United Kingdom. In this capacity, it was
equipped with a powerful radar and beyond-visual-range missiles, however initial
aircraft produced to the F2 standard lacked radars due to development issues.
The follow-up F3 standard was the definitive variant used by the RAF, as well as
all Tornado ADV aircraft that were leased by the AMI and procured by the RSAF.

During its service life, the Tornado ADV received several upgrade programmes
which enhanced its aerial capabilities and enabled it to perform the Suppression
of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission in addition to its interceptor duties.
Ultimately, both the RAF and RSAF retired their Tornado ADV fleets; the type has
been replaced in both services by the newer, multi-role Eurofighter Typhoon.

Origins

The Tornado ADV had its origins in an RAF Air Staff Requirement 395 (or
ASR.395), which called for a long-range interceptor to replace the Lightning F6
and Phantom FGR2. The requirement for a modern interceptor was driven by the
threat posed by the large Soviet long-range bomber fleet, in particular the
supersonic Tupolev Tu-22M. From the beginning of the Tornado IDS's development
in 1968, the possibility of a variant dedicated to air defence had been quietly
considered; several American aircraft had been evaluated, but found to be
unsuitable. However, the concept proved unattractive to the other European
partners on the Tornado project, thus the UK elected to proceed in its
development alone. On 4 March 1976, the development of the Tornado ADV was
formally approved; it was announced on this day that 165 of the 385 Tornados
that were on order for the RAF would be of the air defence variant.

In 1976, British Aerospace was contracted to provide three prototype aircraft.
The first prototype was rolled out at Warton on 9 August 1979, before making its
maiden flight on 27 October 1979 with David Eagles. The second and third
development aircraft made their first flights on 18 July and 18 November 1980,
respectively. During the flight testing, the ADV demonstrated noticeably
superior supersonic acceleration to the IDS, even while carrying a full weapons
loadout. The testing of the prototypes was greatly aided by the use of real-time
telemetry being broadcast back to ground technicians from aircraft in flight.
The third prototype was primarily used in the testing of the new
Marconi/Ferranti AI.24 Foxhunter airborne interception radar.

Performance

According to aviation historian Michael Leek, from the onset of the type's
development, the Tornado ADV encountered "...controversy and many questions over
the ADV's performance and suitability - controversy which stayed with the
aircraft for much of its service life".

The Tornado ADV was designed to serve in the role of an interceptor against the
threat of Soviet bombers, rather than as an air superiority fighter for engaging
in prolonged air combat manoeuvering with various types of enemy fighters. In
order to perform its anti-bomber primary mission, it was equipped with long
range beyond visual range missiles such as the Skyflash, and later the AMRAAM;
the aircraft also had the ability to stay aloft for long periods and remain over
the North Sea and Northern Atlantic in order to maintain its airborne patrol.
The Ministry of Defence acknowledged the Tornado ADV was not as significantly
superior an aircraft to the Phantoms it had replaced in the air-defence role.
However, the capability of its weapon systems was a dramatic improvement; in
particular the radar and onboard computer facilities. Compared with the Phantom,
the ADV had greater acceleration, twice the range and loiter time, and was more
capable of operating from short 'austere' air strips.


Role
Interceptor

Manufacturer
Panavia Aircraft GmbH

First flight
27 October 1979

Introduction
1 May 1985

Retired
2011 (RAF)

Status
Retired

Primary users
Royal Air Force (historical)
Royal Saudi Air Force (historical)
Italian Air Force (historical)

Number built
218

Unit cost

£14 million (1980)

Developed from
Panavia Tornado IDS

Operational history

Royal Air Force

On 5 November 1984, the first interim Tornado F2 was first delivered to the RAF,
and its short career came to an end shortly following the improved Tornado F3
entered service. These aircraft were used primarily for training by No. 229
Operational Conversion Unit 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 unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) trials at MoD Boscombe Down.

In November 1987, No. 29 (Fighter) Squadron became the first RAF squadron to be
declared operational with the Tornado ADV.

The Tornado F3 made its combat debut in the 1991 Gulf War with 18 aircraft
deployed to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The aircraft deployed to the region were
later upgraded in a crash program with improved radar and engines, better
defensive countermeasures and several adaptions to the weapons systems to
improve combat performance in the Iraqi theatre; however, they still lacked
modern IFF and secure communications equipment. They therefore flew patrols
further back from Iraqi airspace where encounters with enemy aircraft were less
likely, and did not get the opportunity to engage any enemy aircraft. From
August 1990 to March 1991, the RAF's F3 detachment flew more than 2000 combat
air patrol sorties.

Following the Gulf War, the RAF maintained a small squadron of F3s in Saudi
Arabia to continue routine patrols of Iraqi no-fly zones. The Tornado F3 saw
further combat service, from 1993 to 1995 as escort fighters in Operation Deny
Flight over Bosnia, and in 1999 flying combat air patrols during Operation
Allied Force in Yugoslavia; during these extended overseas deployments, the F3
proved troublesome to maintain at operational readiness when based outside the
UK. Following lengthy delays in the Eurofighter programme to develop a successor
to the F3 interceptor, in the late 1990s the RAF initiated a major upgrade
program to enhance the aircraft's capabilities, primarily by integrating several
newer air-to-air missiles.

Royal Saudi Air Force

On 26 September 1985, Saudi Arabia and Britain signed a memorandum of
understanding towards what would be widely known as the Al-Yamamah arms deal,
for the provision of various military equipment and services. The September 1985
deal involved the purchase of a large number of Tornado aircraft; including the
Tornado ADV variant, along with armaments, radar equipment, spare parts and a
pilot-training programme for the inbound fleet, in exchange for providing
600,000 barrels of oil per day over the course of several years. The first
Al-Yamamah agreement ordered 24 Tornado ADVs and 48 Tornado IDSs. The RSAF
received its first ADV on 9 February 1989.

Historian Anthony Cordesman commented that "the Tornado ADV did not prove to be
a successful air defence fighter... The RSAF's experience with the first eight
Tornado ADVs was negative". In 1990, the RSAF signed several agreements with the
US to later receive deliveries of the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, and
thus had a reduced need for the Tornado ADV; Saudi Arabia chose to convert
further orders for up to 60 Tornado ADVs to the IDS strike variant instead.

Specifications (Tornado F3)

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 18.68 m (61 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 13.91 m (45 ft 8 in) at 25° sweep
8.6 m (28 ft) at 67° sweepHeight: 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 26.6 m2 (286 sq ft)
Empty weight: 14,500 kg (31,967 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 27,986 kg (61,699 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Turbo-Union RB199-34R afterburning 3-spool turbofan, 40.5 kN
(9,100 lbf) thrust each dry, 73.5 kN (16,500 lbf) with afterburner

Performance
Maximum speed: 2,400 km/h (1,500 mph, 1,300 kn) / M2.2 at 9,000 m (29,528 ft)
1,482 km/h (921 mph; 800 kn) near sea levelCombat range: 1,853 km (1,151 mi,
1,001 nmi) subsonic
556 km (345 mi) supersonicFerry range: 4,265 km (2,650 mi, 2,303 nmi) with four
external tanks
Endurance: 2 hr combat air patrol at 560–740 km (348–460 mi) from base
Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)

Armament

Guns 1 × 27 mm (1.063 in) Mauser BK-27 revolver cannon with 180 rounds
(internally mounted under starboard side of fuselage, versus 2× BK-27 mounted on
Panavia Tornado IDS)

Hardpoints: 10 total (4× semi-recessed under-fuselage, 2× under-fuselage, 4×
swivelling under-wing) holding up to 9000 kg (19,800 lb) of payload, the two
inner wing pylons have shoulder launch rails for 2× Short-Range AAM (SRAAM) each
4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or AIM-132 ASRAAM
4× British Aerospace Skyflash or AIM-120 AMRAAM (mounted on 4 semi-recessed
under-fuselage hardpoints)

Others: Up to 2× drop tanks for extended range/loitering time. Up to 4 drop
tanks for ferry role (at the expense of 4 Skyflash/AMRAAM).


Avionics

GEC-Marconi/Ferranti AI.24 Foxhunter radar



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