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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 11/96 UPGRADE PROGRAMMES: TORNADO REMAINS ON TOP by Karl Schwarz The Tornado is the most important fighter aircraft in the fleets of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana, Royal Air Force, Luftwaffe, and Marineflieger (German Air Force and Naval Aviation). This will be so for quite some time, since the introduction of the Eurofighter EF2000 will not begin until the turn of the century and a direct successor for the Tornado in its role as fighter bomber is not expected before 2015/2020. Much has happened in the world since the multi-role swept-wing fighter was developed at the end of the sixties: Electronics and avionics have gone through a significant development, the military situation has entirely changed after the Warsaw Pact was broken up, and the defence budgets all over the world are under enormous pressure. It is no surprise that all operators are concentrating to maintain the fighting power of their Tornado fleets, which are gradually being adapted to the changing mission requirements and, if the budgets allow, are also to be improved. Based on the changed threat situation, the aircraft's flexible employment in multi-national operations outside of Germany, and the increasing necessity to avoid damage to non-military targets in unclear conflict scenarios, the Luftwaffe has come up with the following requirements for a mid-life update program: Improved survivability against modern air defence Precision-attack capability Independence from ground-based navigation Interoperability Optimization of tactical reconnaissance Improved deployment-capability Further optimization of the low-level capabilities These specifications are to be achieved through a range of new or improved systems - if possible until the year 2003 in order to meet NATO commitments and to avoid that the investments coincide timewise with the large-scale procurements of EF2000, NH90, and FLA. Although not all wishes can be realized, first steps have been taken. The Tornado's main computer is significantly enhanced by the integration of two single-board computers and by the switch to the Ada programming language. This is the basic requirement for any further measures. The costs for this modification are estimated at approximately DM 200 million (including the development) and the exchange of the equipment is supposed to be finished until 2002. A first lot of 105 Tornado IDS will be fitted with a Mil-Std.-1760A databus which will increase the flexibility of the armament. The integration of the bus is to be carried out during depot overhaul at the Dasa plant in Manching. The costs for this upgrade are calculated at DM128 million, plus DM 184 million should the remaining fleet be modified in a possible second lot. The integration of a combined LINS/GPS system is projected to improve the aircraft's navigation capability. A development contract with Litton respectively with its German subsidiary LITEF in Freiburg was recently signed. The procurement contract is expected for mid-1998. Details concerning the integration of a forward-looking infrared system (FLIR) are still unclear, even though there is a technical tactical requirement (TTF). However, there has been no decision on the specifications yet. This also raises the question for the procurement of a helmet-mounted display and the possible integration of a digital map. Concerning the electronic self-defence of the fighter the present considerations include the procurement of a missile approach warning-receiver, an improved radar warning receiver, as well as, the possible integration of an electronic-warfare management-function. As of now, only part of the fleet will be modified. The bids for the equipment will supposedly be out in the third quarter of 1997. The parliamentary decision about the procurement of the Rafael Litening laser-designator is expected for the end of 1997. The deliveries are expected to begin in 1999. The laser-designator will allow the autonomous employment of precision-guided bombs. Existing BLU-109/Bs (900 kg) will be modified with laser guidance and control equipment into GBU-24(V)2/B. It is again unclear which stand-off weapons will be procured. While the Apache missile was initially considered, the project "MAW Apache is currently being evaluated and offers for alternatives are being analyzed", according to the defence ministry. Other programs are closer to their realization. The defence ministry hopes to have the software improvements of the anti-radar missile HARM fixed by the end of March of next year. Furthermore, Dasa's development of a new reconnaissance pod is well under way. 36 of the pods, which will be equipped with two Zeiss cameras and the scanner receiver units of the Infrared Imaging System of the ECR Tornados, are scheduled for delivery to the reconnaissance wing AG 51 in Jagel. The pods will cost DM 360 million, plus DM 68 million for development costs. The German Air Force is not the only Tornado operator that will spend hundreds of millions in the coming years to upgrade its fleet. The Royal Air Force has started an ambitious upgrade of its GR.1 up to GR.4 standard. The first aircraft was ferried for its modification to the British Aerospace plant in Warton. The aircraft is scheduled to be returned to the RAF at the end of 1998. The British mid-life update, so far having costed 883 million Pounds, has a less pleasing history. Delays and excessive costs lead in 1993 to a change of the technical spcification, as well as, of the number of aircraft to be modified. This number was reduced from 161 to 142. The industry will be intensively involved in the maintenance and logistics of these aircraft, which will pay BAe another # 100 million until 2003. The RAF is also investing 125 million Pounds in its Tornado F.3 long-range air defence aircraft in order to adopt these jets at least partially to the new mission requirements. The Tornado will never become a dogfighter, but, equipped with the Hughes AIM-120 AMRAAM, it will at least be able to keep its opponents at a distance. The development work for the Tornado F.3 modifications will be accomplished in Warton while the necessary modification kits will be manufactured in Samlesbury and will then be integrated by BAe at the RAF base in St. Athan. Two squadrons are to have the modified aircraft already available in 1998. The Aeronautica Militare Italiano has rather moderate plans as compared to the RAF. The Italian Air Force plans to introduce a laser pod and the appropriate bombs. It is also planning to develop a microwave landing system for take-offs and landings in extremely difficult visual conditions. The Tornado modification programs are an ideal example of how existing aircraft must be adopted to new requirements. A flexible basic design is the mandatory prerequisite for this. Unlike the computer market that brings new models onto the market almost every month, the future life-span of fighter aircraft will be measured in decades. From page 34 of FLUG REVUE 11/96 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 11/96 Copyright 1996 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated October 20, 1996