Roles
The Tornado GR4 is a variable geometry,
two-seat, day or night, all-weather attack aircraft, capable of
delivering a wide variety of weapons.
Specifications
- Engines: Two RR RB199 Mk103 turbofans
- Thrust: 16,000lbs each
- Max speed: 1.3Mach
- Length: 17.23m
- Max altitude: 50,000ft
- Span: 8.56m
- Aircrew: 2
- Armament:
Storm Shadow, DMS and Legacy Brimstone, ALARM Mk 2, AIM-9L
Sidewinder, Paveway II, Paveway III, Enhanced Paveway, Paveway IV,
Mauser 27mm Cannon, ASRAAM
Who uses the Tornado GR4/GR4A
- 9 (Bomber) Squadron
- RAF Marham
- 12 (Bomber) Squadron
- RAF Lossiemouth
- 31 Squadron
- RAF Marham
- 617 Squadron
- RAF Lossiemouth
- 15 (Reserve) Squadron
- RAF Lossiemouth
- 2 (Army Cooperation) Squadron
- RAF Marham
Details
(Please note: the Maximum speed stated
above comes from the RAF Release to Service manual; which states 1.3
Mach, this may differ from BAE Systems specifications, however the RAF
follow these guide lines)
The Tornado GR4 is a variable
geometry, two-seat, day or night, all-weather attack aircraft capable of
delivering a wide variety of weapons. Powered by two Rolls-Royce RB 199
Mk 103 turbofan engines, the GR4 is capable of low-level supersonic
flight and can sustain a high subsonic cruise speed. The aircraft can
fly automatically at low level using Terrain Following Radar (TFR) when
poor weather prevents visual flight. The aircraft is also equipped with
Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) and is Night Vision Goggle (NVG)
compatible. This gives it a relatively unique all weather night
capability as well as making it an impressive platform for mounting
passive night electro-optical operations. For navigation purposes, the
Tornado is equipped with an integrated Global Positioning Inertial
Navigation System (GPINS). The GR4 also has a Ground Mapping Radar (GMR)
to identify fix-points and update navigation systems as well as
providing an air to air search facility. The GR4 is also equipped with a
Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) that can be used to
locate targets designated on the ground or can provide accurate range
information to ground targets.
The GR4 typically carries up to a
maximum of 5 Paveway IV smart weapons or 2 Stormshadow cruise missiles
but can be configured with various weapons, targeting pods and
reconnaissance pods simultaneously including the Dual Mode Seeker (DMS)
Brimstone, ALARM Mk2 missile, Litening III and the Reconnaissance
Airborne Pod TORnado (RAPTOR).
The Tornado GR4 is a world leader
in the specialised field of all-weather, day and night tactical
reconnaissance. The RAPTOR pod is one of the most advanced
reconnaissance sensors in the world and greatly increases the
effectiveness of the aircraft in the reconnaissance role. Its
introduction into service gave the GR4 the ability to transmit
real-time, LOng Range Oblique Photography (LOROP) to commanders or to
view this in cockpit during a mission. The stand-off range of the
sensors also allows the aircraft to remain outside heavily defended
areas, thus minimising the aircraft’s exposure to enemy air-defence
systems. Additional capability in the Non-Traditional Intelligence
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (NTISR) role is provided by the Litening
III RD and the use of the ROVER data link for providing tactical
operators with real time Full Motion Video (FMV) in the battle space.
All
GR4 aircraft are capable of carrying the Air Launched Anti-Radiation
Missile (ALARM), which homes on to the emitted radiation of enemy radar
systems and can be used in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)
role. The GR4 is capable of carrying up to nine ALARM or a mixed
configuration of ALARM and bombs. The self protection capability of the
GR4 has recently been upgraded by the integration of the state of the
art ASRAAM short range air to air missile. Infra-Red (IR) and Radio
Frequency (RF) countermeasures are provided by a BOZ-107 Pod on the
right wing to dispense chaff and flares and a Sky Shadow-2 electronic
countermeasures pod on the left wing. The aircraft is also equipped with
an integral 27mm Mauser cannon capable of firing 1700 rounds per
minute.
The Tornado GR4 is now equipped with the Storm Shadow missile
and 2 variants of the Brimstone missile, including the most advanced
DMS variant. The Storm Shadow allows the Tornado to make precision
strikes in poor weather with a greatly increased stand-off range from
the target area. Whilst legacy Brimstone provides the Tornado with an
effective anti-armour weapon coupled with an enhanced stand-off range.
The DMS variant enables unrivalled flexibility coupled with precision
which is second to none.
In addition the Tornado GR4 Force trains and
maintains a capability with legacy weapons such as 1000lb class dumb
weapons, legacy Paveway II and III as well as their enhanced variants
and the AIM 9L.
The Tornado GR4 is currently operated from two
bases. Based at RAF Lossiemouth, in Scotland, are the Operational
Conversion Unit, 15 (Reserve) Squadron, 12 (Bomber) Squadron and 617
Squadron, the “Dambusters”. RAF Marham is the home of the GR4s of II
(Army Cooperation) Squadron, IX (Bomber) Squadron and 31 Squadron the
“Gold Stars”.
The Tornado GR4 has been successfully deployed in
Operational theatres since 1990. It has seen action under various
operations in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan and most recently Operation
ELLAMY over the skies of Libya in support of the United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1970.
