Panavia GR.1 Tornado

Still one of the most versatile warplanes despite its age, the Tornado was designed in the late 1960s as a multi-role combat aircraft able to carry heavy armament loads. The Tornado was developed as a collaborative effort by British, German, and Italian interests. The basic design included the use of two advanced turbofans offering a high thrust to weight ratio and good fuel economy. A fly-by-wire system and advanced navigation/attack system incorporating radar with search, ground mapping, and terrain following capabilities adds to its defensive and attack capabilities. The Tornado also includes a variable-geometry wing system.

The first Tornado IDS (InterDictor/Strike) aircraft flew on August 14, 1974 and entered service in July 1980. The IDS is operated by the RAF as the Tornado GR.1A reconnaissance and the GR.1B attack variants, as well as the German Luftwaffe and Marineflieger, and Italian and Saudi Arabian Air Forces with slightly different avionics.

In the early 70s, the RAF forsaw a need to replace its Lightning and Phantom aircraft in the air defence and superiority roles. This resulted in the design of an IDS derivative known as the Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant). Three prototypes were designed, with the maiden flight taking place on October 27, 1979. Although resembling the IDS in design, the ADV has a longer, more slender nose housing a multi-mode Doppler radar capable of locating multiple targets up to 185km away. The fuselage to the rear of the cockpit was also extended to allow the ADV to carry two tandem pairs of Sky Flash AAMs underneath. In addition, up to four short-range AAMs can be carried on two underwing pylons.

Prime Contractor: Panavia
Nation of origin: UK, Germany, and Italy
Function: Attack (IDS), Fighter (ADV)
Crew: 2
Year: 1974 (IDS), 1979 (ADV)
In-service year: 1980 (IDS), 1985 (ADV)

Engine: IDS - Two Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk.103 afterburning turbofans, 16,800 lb thrust each
ADV - Two Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk.104 afterburning turbofans, 16,520 lb thrust each

Dimensions
Wing span:
@ 25 degrees 13.91 m / 45 ft 8 in
@ 67.5 degrees 8.6 m / 28 ft 3 in
Length:
IDS - 16.72 m / 54 ft 11 in
ADV - 18.68 m / 61 ft 4 in
Height: 5.95 m / 28 ft 3 in
Weight:
IDS - 44,996 lb empty / 60,000 lb max. take off
ADV - 31,790 lb empty / 61,700 lb max. take off
Ceiling:
IDS - 50,000 ft
ADV - 70,000 ft
Speed: 2,337 km/h / 1,453 mph
Range: 3,895 km / 2,420 miles

Armament:
IDS - Two Mauser BK27 27mm cannons with 180 rounds each, plus up to 19,840 lb including two AIM-9L Sidewinder AAMs, ALARM anti-radiation missiles, Kormoran/Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles, cluster bombs, freefall bombs, laser-guided bombs, two JP-233 submunition dispenser weapons mounted below-fuselage, ECM pods, or drop tanks on seven external points
ADV - One IWKA-Mauser 27mm cannon plus four Sky Flash AAMs, four AIM-9L Sidewinder AAMs, and two fuel tanks on ten external points