Tornados for the 21st century

June 15th, 1999

British Aerospace is at the centre of the RAF's front-line Tornado aircraft major upgrade programmes to equip the aircraft with systems for service well into the next century.

A total of 142 Tornado GR1s and GR1As are being modified to GR4/4A standard and a number of Tornado ADVs are being upgraded under the £125 million Capability Sustainment programme.

At the heart of the Tornado GR4 programme is an overall improvement for Tornado's sensor, computer and weapons systems. The aircraft is receiving system enhancements including a forward looking infra-red (FLIR) system, an improved defensive aids system, improved cockpit displays and the ability to carry a wide range of new weapons.

The GR4 programme is a major undertaking at British Aerospace's Warton site where floor holding for a maximum of 20 aircraft has been created. At peak there will be a throughput rate of one aircraft every eight working days. Peak production will be in 2000-2001 with 31 aircraft each year.

Deliveries to front line squadrons began in May 1998, with the first aircraft going to RAF Bruggen in Germany. A total of 31 aircraft had been delivered to the RAF by April 1999. All 142 are due to be upgraded by early 2003.

Under a £30 million contract awarded in March 1999, British Aerospace will introduce further enhancements to the GR4 through the provision of an integrated Laser Inertial Navigator, Global Positioning System and Ground Proximity Warning System. This unit will bring increased reliability and performance to the aircraft's navigation system and provide cockpit audio and visual warnings in potential Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) situations. HOTAS (Hands-on-Throttle-and Stick) controls will also be introduce at this stage.

A further contract was awarded to British Aerospace in April 1998 for the flight-testing and integration onto GR4 of the new Storm Shadow cruise missile and the Brimstone anti-tank missile. Under this contract the aircraft will also be cleared to carry a new reconnaissance pod called RAPTOR (Reconnaissance Airborne Pod Tornado).

Future planned enhancements include the provision and installation of a SIFF (Successor Identify Friend or Foe) system, a new main computer and a nose radar upgrade.

The Tornado ADV Capability Sustainment Programme (CSP) introduces AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) and ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) onto the Tornado ADV together with the associated systems and software changes. The programme has remained on schedule since the contract was placed in March 1996. Upgrade of the first 24 aircraft was successfully completed by the end of 1998 and these aircraft are now in service at RAF Leuchars. The next phase has now commenced, covering a further 76 aircraft In January 2000 SIFF (Successor Identify Friend or Foe) and LINS/GPS (Laser Inertial Navigation/Global Positioning System) will be integrated into the upgrade programme.

The Tornado F3 CSP will provide the RAF with an air defence aircraft with a Beyond-Visual-Range missile that is capable of simultaneous engagements of multiple targets.

REF XQQEE XQQAR