Thursday, December 04, 2008

Tornado

IOC: 1982
Total Production: 1,001

Tornado ECR

IOC: 1990
Production: 35

Origin
Germany
Italy
United Kingdom

Contractor/s
BAE Systems
EADS
Finmeccanica

Family Members
Tornado ADV
Tornado Gr4
Tornado IDS

Air-to-Air Missiles:
AIM-9M Sidewinder (2)

Guided Missiles:
AGM-88D HARM (2)

Power plant:
RB199-34R Mk101 (2)
RB199-34R Mk103 (2)

Sensors & Communications:
BOW-21

Protection Systems:
TSPJ

Description: The Tornado is a swing-wing, multi-role aircraft designed to perform air defense, reconnaissance, and attack missions. It flies at low altitude and supersonic speed to penetrate sophisticated air defenses. Tornado aircraft variants feature tandem two-seat cockpit. Panavia is a consortium comprising Germany, United Kingdom and Italy responsible for the development and production of Tornado aircraft. The Tornado was ordered by the Panavia consortium countries plus Saudi Arabia.

The Tornado entered service in 1982. It was first deployed during the Gulf War in 1991. Subsequently Tornado aircraft have been employed over the former Yugoslavia and most recently over Iraq during operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. During these conflicts Tornadoes performed ground attack, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), reconnaissance and air defense missions.

The Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance) was developed to meet the requirements of Germany. It performs reconnaissance, electronic battle management, and SEAD missions. It is equipped with an advanced FLIR, an emitter locator system and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles.

Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 2

Dimensions: Height 6 m, Length 17.2 m, Wingspan 13.9 m

Weights: Max Weight 28,500 kg (62,831 lb), Min Weight 14,000 kg (30,864 lb), Payload 9,000 kg (19,841 lb)

Engine/s Performance: Thrust 29,680 lb (13,463 kg)

Performance: Max Range 2,780 km (1,501 nm), Top Speed 731 mps (Mach 2.20)

Other: Number of Engines 2

News
Italy Joins AARGM Program

Operators

Germany / 35

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

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