Tornado F.Mk3

File:Panavia Tornado F.3.jpg

The Panavia Tornado Air Defence Variant (ADV) is an interceptor version of the Panavia Tornado manufactured by Panavia Aircraft GmbH in service with the British Royal Air Force. The aircraft's first flight was on 27 October 1979 and entered service in 1986. It is a long-range, twin-engine aircraft, originally designed to intercept Soviet bombers as they came in from the east to strike the United Kingdom.

Design and development

The aircraft was developed to meet an RAF requirement (Air Staff Requirement 395 or ASR.395) for a long-range interceptor to replace the Lightning F6 and Phantom FGR2. Development was approved on 4 March 1976, with BAe to provide 3 prototypes. The first prototype was rolled out at Warton on 9 August 1979. The prototype made its maiden flight on 27 October 1979.

The Tornado ADV's differences compared to the IDS include a greater sweep angle on the inboard fixed wing sections, deletion of Kreuger Flaps, a longer radome for the Marconi/Ferranti Al.24 Foxhunter airborne interception radar, and a fuselage stretch of 1.36 m to allow the carriage of four Skyflash semi-active radar homing missiles (SAAM). The port-side cannon was also deleted.

The stretch was applied to the Tornado front fuselage being built by the UK, with a plug being added immediately behind the cockpit, which had the incidental benefit of reducing drag and making space for an additional fuel tank (Tank '0') carrying 200 imperial gallons (909 L; 240 U.S. gal) of fuel.

F.Mk3

The Tornado F3 made its maiden flight on 20 November 1985. Enhancements over the F2 included RB.199 Mk 104 engines, which were optimised for high-altitude use with longer afterburner nozzles, the capacity to carry four underwing Sidewinder missiles rather than two, and automatic wing sweep control.

Criticisms of the ADV

The Tornado ADV has been criticised for its lack of "true" fighter performance. It is true that the Tornado does not have the close combat performance of an aircraft such as the F-16. However, it was designed as a Cold War interceptor rather than an air superiority fighter. Its primary purpose was to carry a large number of missiles and fly them far from base over the North Sea and Northern Atlantic; once on station it needed to have good endurance and then be able to engage and destroy targets at long range. For this mission, dogfighting capabilities would always be a secondary consideration.

Variants

Tornado F3

Improved version, powered by two Turbo-Union RB.199-34R Mk 104 engines, with automatic wing sweep control, increased AIM-9 carriage and avionics upgrades.

Tornado EF3

Unofficial designation for F3 aircraft modified with ALARM missile capability.

Specifications

[1]General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 18.7 m (61.3 ft)
• Wingspan: (Variable geometry wing)
  • At 25° wing position : 13.91 m (45.6 ft)
  • At 67° wing position: 8.60 m (28.2 ft)
• Height: 5.95 m (19.5 ft)
• Wing area: 26.6 m² (286 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 14,500 kg (32,000 lb)
• Loaded weight: 21,546 kg (47,500 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 28,000 kg (61,700 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Turbo-Union RB199-34R Augmented Turbofans
  • Dry thrust: 40.5 kN (9,104 lbf) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 73 kN (16,410 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 800 knots IAS (1,452 mph, Mach 2.27, 2,338 km/h)
• Range: 755 nmi (869 mi, 1,390 km)
• Ferry range: 2,300 nmi (2,650 mi, 4,265 km) with four external tanks
• Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.56

Armament

• Guns: 1× internal Mauser BK-27 (27mm) with 180 rounds (versus 2× BK-27 mounted on 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
• Rockets: None
• Missiles:
  • Air-to-air missiles:
    • 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or AIM-132 ASRAAM
    • 4× British Aerospace Skyflash or AIM-120 AMRAAM (mounted on 4 semi-recessed under-fuselage hardpoints)
• Bombs: None
• 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

• Marconi/Ferranti Al.24 Foxhunter radar