It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Panavia Tornado. (Discuss)

RAF Tornado F3

The Tornado F3 is a fighter/interceptor version of the Panavia Tornado in service with the Royal Air Force. The aircraft's first flight was on October 27, 1979 and entered service in 1986. It is a long ranged twin engine aircraft, originally designed to intercept Soviet bombers as they came in from the east to strike the United Kingdom. The Tornado Air Defence Variants (ADV) for the Royal Saudi Air Force are produced to the F3 standard. Both the RAF and RSAF are replacing the Tornado ADV with the Eurofighter Typhoon. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with RAF Tornado F2. ... fair use (crown copyright) Photo is crown copyright, 2003. ... fair use (crown copyright) Photo is crown copyright, 2003. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with RAF Tornado F2. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... State motto (Russian): Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Capital Moscow Official language None; Russian (de facto) Government Federation of Socialist republics Area  - Total  - % water 1st before collapse 22,402,200 km² Approx. ... A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... The Royal Saudi Air Force is the air force of Saudi Arabia. ... British Eurofighter Development Aircraft (DA) The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multi-role canard-delta strike fighter aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers, Eurofighter GmbH, formed in 1983. ...

Background

The Tornado F3 has been criticised for its lack of "true" fighter performance. However to criticise the aircraft for this is to misunderstand the mission for which it was developed. The F3 was designed to fly and patrol far from base over the North Sea and Northern Atlantic and to intercept its targets at long range - not to have significant dogfighting capabilities. The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

It currently equips three squadrons of the RAF, Nos. 25, 43 and 111 Squadrons. In the past, it also equipped another four squadrons, Nos. 5, 11, 23 and 29 Squadrons. The type's Operational Conversion Unit is No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron . Each of the current squadrons has an established strength of 16 aircraft. There are also four aircraft permanently based in the Falkland Islands, in 1435 Flight. The OCU has an established strength of 20 aircraft. The F3 is based at RAF Leeming, RAF Leuchars, and RAF Mount Pleasant. No. ... No. ... No. ... No. ... No. ... No. ... No. ... An Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) is a unit within an air force whose role is to support preparation for the operational missions of a specific aircraft type by providing trained personnel. ... Number 56 (R) Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons in the RAF, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both world wars. ... While the UK officially does not foresee any threat to the Falkland Islands, it maintains significant military forces as a deterrent against any aggressor. ... RAF air defence bases RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England. ... RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. ... RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands is the most recent purpose-built airfield in the Royal Air Force. ...

History

For the ADV the IDS fuselage was stretched by 1.36m to reduce drag and allow the carriage of four Skyflash semi-active radar homing missiles as well as additional fuel. The Mk 104 engines, with longer afterburner nozzles, were optimized for high-altitude use. The IDS's ground-attack systems were replaced by a Marconi/Ferranti AI-24 Foxhunter air-interception radar, housed in a radome extended by 2.16m. The port cannon was also deleted. UK medium-range semi-active radar guided air-to-air missile derived from the US AIM-7 Sparrow missile and carried by the Tornado F3 interceptor aircraft. ... The General Electric Company plc (GEC) is a British company that was renamed Marconi plc on November 30, 1999 after its defence unit Marconi Electronic Systems was divested and sold to British Aerospace. ... The AI-24 airborne radar is carried by the Panavia Tornado Air Defence Variant and gives this aircraft its all-weather, day and night, beyond-visual-range engagement capability. ...

The Tornado F3 is an upgraded version of the original fighter version of the aircraft, the F2. The Tornado F2 originally first flew on March 5, 1984. There were initial problems with the Foxhunter radar which led, in some cases, to concrete being used to fill the space where the radome would have gone. These aircraft were jokingly referred to as having a Blue Circle radar (Blue Circle is a British concrete brand). 18 Tornado F2's were built, and they were used mostly in a training role until the radar problems were fixed, and then they were put into storage or upgraded. The Tornado F2 was the abortive first generation of the air superiority version (ADV) of the Panavia Tornado in Royal Air Force service. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Tornado F3 entered service in July 1986. 152 F3's were ordered, primarily to replace the Lightning F6 and Phantom FGR2. The F3's primary weapons when it entered service were the AIM-9 Sidewinder and Skyflash, a British upgrade of the American AIM-7 Sparrow missile. The English Electric Lightning (later the BAC Lightning) was a supersonic British fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, particularly remembered for its great speed, and its natural metal exterior that was used throughout much of its service life with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force. ... F-4 re-directs here; for alternate uses, see F4 The F-4 Phantom II (simply F-4 Phantom after 1990) is a two-place (tandem), supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber built by (originally McDonnell Aircraft Corporation) McDonnell Douglas Corporation. ... Sidewinder Missile The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. ... UK medium-range semi-active radar guided air-to-air missile derived from the US AIM-7 Sparrow missile and carried by the Tornado F3 interceptor aircraft. ... A RIM-7 Sea Sparrow being launched from the USS Essex (LHD-2). ...

It made its combat debut in the 1991 Gulf War. 18 aircraft deployed to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. No air-to-air victories were scored, as the type lacked modern IFF and a full suite of defensive aids, and thus flew patrols further back from Iraqi airspace where encounters with enemy aircraft were less likely. After 1991, combat operations continued as the no-fly zones over Iraq were patrolled. The Tornados operated over the south of the country, flying from Saudi Arabia under Operation Resinate South. On average, six aircraft were involved. These operations continued right up until 2003, when Iraq was invaded again. Operation Telic saw 14 F3's deployed to Saudi Arabia. The F3's (of 43(F) & 111(F) Sqns) were, unlike during the 91 Gulf War, deployed deep into Iraq both before and after the 'shock and awe' air strikes. Again, no air-to-air victories were scored, although the Iraqi Air Force flew no sorties at all during the campaign in 2003. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. ... Road to Dhahrans main gate (Picture taken from Khobar way) Dhahran (Arabic الظهران aẓ-Ẓahrān) is a city in Saudi Arabia located in the countrys Eastern Province not far from the Persian Gulf. ... ↔ ⇔ ≡ For other possible meanings of iff, see IFF. In mathematics, philosophy, logic and technical fields that depend on them, iff is used as an abbreviation for if and only if. Common alternative phrases to iff or if and only if include Q is necessary and sufficient for P and P... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Stub | 2003 Iraq conflict ... This article covers invasion specifics. ... Operation Telic is the codename under which all British operations of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and after are being conducted. ... Events Aulus Plautius, with 4 legions, landed on Britain. ... For other uses, see number 111. ... The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) is the military branch in Iraq responsible for aerial warfare. ...

Italian Tornados

In the early 1990s the Italian Air Force (AMI) identified a requirement for a "bridging fighter" to boost its air defence capabilities pending introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon. These fighters were to operate alongside the service's F-104 Starfighter which was approaching obsolesence, particularly with regard to multinational and coalition operations. The Tornado ADV was selected from, amongst others, the F-16. In 1994 Italy announced its intention to lease 24 Tornado F3s from the RAF for a period of ten years. At this time the Eurofighter Typhoon was expected to begin entry into service around 2000. The Aeronautica Militare Italiana is the Italian air force. ... British Eurofighter Development Aircraft (DA) The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multi-role canard-delta strike fighter aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers, Eurofighter GmbH, formed in 1983. ... F-104 Starfighter The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a high-performance supersonic interceptor aircraft, capable of high speeds and climb rates. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

First training of AMI pilots began in March 1995 at RAF Coningsby while technicians gained experience at RAF Cottesmore and Coningsby. The first aircraft was accepted on July 5, 1995 and flown to its Italian base the same day. Delivery of the first batch was completed by 1996. The second batch was delivered between February and July 1997 and these aircraft were of a slightly higher specification. 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... RAF Coningsby, is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. ... RAF Cottesmore is a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

AMI Tornados flew combat air patrols during Operation Allied Force, the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia in the spring of 1999. An USAF F-15E takes off from Aviano, Italy Operation Allied Force was NATOs military operation against Yugoslavia that lasted from 24 March to 10 June 1999 and is considered a part of Kosovo War. ... The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in all south Slavic languages, in Macedonian and Serbian Cyrillic Југославија) is a term used for three separate but successive political entities that existed during most of the 20th century on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

In 2000, with major delays hampering the Eurofighter, the AMI began a search for another interim fighter. While the Tornado itself was considered, any long term extension to the lease would have involved upgrade to RAF CSP standard at least (see below). This was not considered cost effective and 34 ex-USAF F-16s were selected instead. By 2003 the AMI began returning Tornados to the RAF. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Tornados in Italian service suffered poor servicability rates. While this could be surprising given Italy's fleet of the Tornado IDS, the service did not have immediate access to spare equipment and engines available to the RAF. Any criticism of the aircraft's capabilities must take account of the mission for which it was designed, i.e. not to have significant dogfighting capabilities put rather to undertake long range and lengthy combat air patrols. The aircraft did however allow the AMI to participate in multi-national training and operations.

Capability Sustainment Programme

Realising that the in its current form the F3 would not continue as an effective platform up to its planned out of service date of 2010, the UK Ministry of Defence initiated the Capability Sustainment Programme (CSP). This project, announced on March 5, 1996, included; The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (65th in leap years). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

• Integration of ASRAAM and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles
• Radar upgrades to improve multi-target engagement
• Improved pilot/navigator displays
• New processor and weapon management computers.

The CSP would see the removal of a non-standard state of aircraft, various upgrades (notably to the Foxhunter radar) had lead to the situation described as "fleets within fleets." However the Foxhunter radar, having overcome many of the early difficulties, was to cause significant problems during the upgrade programme. This manifested itself when efforts were made to integrate the AMRAAM missile with the aircraft as a replacement for Skyflash. The radar had to be considerably modified to interface properly with the missile. The AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile is a British air-to-air missile with infra-red guidance. ... The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range, Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced am-ram), commonly known to air crews as the Slammer, is a new generation air-to-air missile, developed as the result of an agreement between the United States and other NATO countries (see below). ...

In what was criticised as shortsighted at the time the F3 would not exploit the full capabilities of the AMRAAM missile. AMRAAM uses two mid-course updates after launch to refresh target information prior to its own seeker taking over. The CSP, as announced, would not provide this capability. Despite becoming operational before 2002 the F3 force deployed on operations with the Skyflash, not AMRAAM, leading to suggestions that the decision not to fully integrate the missile made it no more effective than the original missile. In 2002 the MoD announced the F3 force would receive a further upgrade to allow these midcourse updates.

Future

A further upgrade, undisclosed until early 2003, was the integration of the ALARM anti-radiation missile to allow suppression of enemy air defence missions. The aircraft's new designation was EF3. The EF3's existing radar warning receivers formed the basis of an extremely effective Emitter Location System, which is used to locate radar antennae. For the British anti-radiation missile, see ALARM. For the Welsh alternative rock band, see The Alarm. ... AGM-88 HARM missile on a US Navy aircraft SEAD (pronunciation: see-add), or Suppression of Enemy Air Defences operations are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defences (SAMs and AAA) primarily in, but not limited to, the first hours of an attack. ...

These upgrades are underway to evolve the F3 from a single role aircraft which are not cost effective in the post-Cold War world. This is due to the escalating cost of developing and maintaining aircraft, an excellent example of which is the spiralling cost of the F-35 even with its massive production run. Increasingly aircraft are expected to be multi-role, hence the emphasis now on the Typhoon's ground attack capabilites (which was designed as an air-superiority fighter) and the design of a small diameter bomb to fit into the weapons bay of the F-22. The Cold War was the protracted geostrategic, economic, and ideological struggle that emerged after World War II between the global superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States, supported by their respective and emerging alliance partners. ... The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a fighter plane currently in early development by Lockheed Martin (with partners Northrop Grumman and BAE SYSTEMS.) The primary customers are the United States armed forces and the United Kingdom (RN and RAF), but the Netherlands... British Eurofighter Development Aircraft (DA) The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multi-role canard-delta strike fighter aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers, Eurofighter GmbH, formed in 1983. ... ...

Having been in service for 19 years, the replacement for the F3 is now on the horizon. Production of the Typhoon, its successor has started. The Operational Evaluation Unit for the Typhoon has formed, and the Operational Conversion Unit will form in 2004. 2005 sees the first squadron of Typhoons entering operational service, and by 2010, the Tornado F3 will be gone from RAF service. British Eurofighter Development Aircraft (DA) The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multi-role canard-delta strike fighter aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers, Eurofighter GmbH, formed in 1983. ...

Delivering Security in a Changing World is the UK's vision for the future of the armed forces, as part of this on July 21 2004 Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon detailed plans to reduce the number of F3 squadrons by one to three squadrons. This represents 16 aircraft and is the first stage in the transition to the Typhoon. The 2003 Defence White Paper, entitled Delivering Security in a Changing World sets out the future of the British military, and builds on the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the 2002 SDR New Chapter which responded to the challenges raised by the War on Terror. ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... Geoff Hoon (right) at Pentagon briefing The Right Honourable Geoffrey William Geoff Hoon (born December 6, 1953) is a British politician and is the Labour Member of Parliament for Ashfield, and is the Lord Privy Seal and the Leader of the House of Commons. ...

Specifications (F3)

General characterisitics

• Crew: 2
• Wing Span: (Variable geometry wing)
  • At 25° wing position : 13.91 m (45.6 ft)
  • At 67° wing position: 8.60 m (28.2 ft)
• Wing Area: 26.6 m² (286 ft²)
• Length: 18.7 m (61.3 ft)
• Height: 5.95 m (19.5 ft)
• Weights:
  • empty: 14,500 kg (32,000 lb)
  • maximum take-off: 28,000 kg (61,700 lb)
• Powerplants: Two Turbo-Union RB199-34R afterburning turbofans:
  • each with 40.8 kN (9,170 lbf) dry thrust or 77.1 kN (17,330 lbf) in reheat

A swing-wing is a type of pivoted wing planform that attempts to combine the advantages of a swept wing at high speeds, while avoiding its problems at lower speeds. ... RB199s of Tornado F3 The Turbo Union RB199 is an aircraft jet engine designed and built jointly by Rolls-Royce, MTU and FiatAvio (now Avio). ... CFM56-3 turbofan, lower half, side view. ...

Performance

• Max. Speed: clean: 2,338 km/h (1,452 mph) (Mach 2.27)
• Range:
  • Typical: 1,390 km (869 mi)
  • Ferry Range: (four external tanks): 4,265 km (2,650 mi)
• Service Ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
• Maximum rate of climb: m/s ( ft/min)
• Wing loading:
• Thrust/weight:

Armament

• One Mauser BK-27 cannon with 180 rounds.
• Three fuselage pylons and four swiveling underwing pylons for a maximum of 9000 kg (19,800 lb) of weapons, fuel, and ECM pods; inner wing pylons have shoulder rails for two AIM-9 Sidewinder or ASRAAM self-defence missiles
• Semi-recessed, staggered fuselage attachments for four BAE Systems Skyflash or AMRAAM, four AIM-9 Sidewinder or ASRAAM on dual rails on inner wing pylon; outer wing pylons not usually fitted.

The BK 27 (also BK27 or BK-27) (Translation: Board Cannon) is a 27 mm autocannon manufactured by Mauser (currently part of Rheinmetall). ... The term sidewinder can refer to: A species of rattlesnake, see sidewinder (snake). ... The AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile is a British air-to-air missile with infra-red guidance. ... Systems plc is the worlds fourth largest defence contractor and a commercial aerospace products manufacturer. ... UK medium-range semi-active radar guided air-to-air missile derived from the US AIM-7 Sparrow missile and carried by the Tornado F3 interceptor aircraft. ... The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range, Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced am-ram), commonly known to air crews as the Slammer, is a new generation air-to-air missile, developed as the result of an agreement between the United States and other NATO countries (see below). ... Sidewinder Missile The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. ... The AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile is a British air-to-air missile with infra-red guidance. ...

Units operating the F3

• No. 5 Squadron - 1987-2003
• No. XI Squadron - RAF Leeming....disbanded 31 October 2005
• No. 23 Squadron - 1988-1994
• No. 25 Squadron - RAF Leeming
• No. 29 Squadron - 1987-1998
• No. 43 Squadron - RAF Leuchars
• No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron - RAF Leuchars
• No. 111 Squadron - RAF Leuchars
• No. 1435 Flight - RAF Mount Pleasant

No. ... No. ... No. ... No. ... RAF air defence bases RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England. ... No. ... No. ... RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. ... Number 56 (R) Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons in the RAF, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both world wars. ... No. ... While the UK officially does not foresee any threat to the Falkland Islands, it maintains significant military forces as a deterrent against any aggressor. ... RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands is the most recent purpose-built airfield in the Royal Air Force. ...

Operators

• Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom (RAF),

Tornado F3 in Fiction

• In the Namco game, Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, the Tornado F3 is featured as one of the many pilotable aircraft. It is used as a defense interceptor.

References

• Sacchetti, Renzo (October, 2003). "Italy's British Tornados". Air Forces Monthly, p. 50.

Air Forces Monthly is a military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing, based in Stamford, United Kingdom. ...