Tornado IDS

Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike) - AKA "Tornado GR.1" -

ORIGIN: (Real World) Multi-national European consortium

GAMES FEATURED IN: Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

OPERATORS: Federal Erusian Air Force Independent State Allied Forces Osean Air Defense Force Yuktobanian Air Force

ACE SQUADRONS/PILOT: Del Vico (AC4)

VARIANTS: TND-ECR TND-F3 TND-GR.4

SPECIAL WEAPONS: Gun / 27 mm Mauser BK-27 Cannon Standard Missile / AIM-9M Sidewinder BDSP / JP223 Munitions Dispenser (AC5) / MW-1 Munitions Dispenser (AC04) LASM / BAe Sea Hawk (AC04) PGB / Paveway III (AC04)

ACE COMBAT 5 STATS: Speed: 63 Mobility: 40 Stability: 63 Defense: 90 Air-to-Air: 27 Air-to-Ground: 73

REAL-LIFE BIO: The Tornado IDS is operated by Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. It is one of the world's most sophisticated and capable interdiction and attack aircraft, with a large payload, long range and high survivability.

The Tornado was cleared to carry almost all the air-launched weapons in the NATO inventory, including cluster bombs, anti-runway munitions, and nuclear weapons. The aircraft also has a limited air-to-air capability with Sidewinder AAMs. RAF Tornadoes are designated by the GR series. The GR1 was delivered in a gunmetal grey/olive drab green camouflage, but this was changed to dark grey during the late 1990s. In operations over Iraq some GR1s received a sandy "pink" scheme. GR4s participating in the 2003 Iraq War were painted in a light grey scheme. German Navy examples normally sport a distinctive black/blue/gunmetal grey camouflage pattern.

The RAF is investigating replacements. This could be a manned aircraft, a UAV or a cruise missile (possibly Storm Shadow) based weapons system. Options for manned aircraft include modified versions of the Eurofighter Typhoon or the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. If selected the Typhoon would likely be modified for internal weapons carriage and increased internal fuel capacity. Currently no other Western aircraft (in service or planned) matches the Tornado's strike capabilities.

Source: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_IDS