On October 27, 1979, the Panavia Tornado ADV (Air Defense Variant) took to the skies, promising to be the finest swing-wing interceptor Britain had ever seen. The long-range, twin-engine aircraft was developed by the European Panavia Aircraft GmbH consortium with the primary intention of intercepting Soviet Bombers. The Soviet bombers were expanding across the North Sea, and the UK needed an ultimate weapon to prevent any chances of air-launched nuclear attacks. Hence, the development of Tornado ADV officially began in 1976 as the Royal Air Force issued Air Staff Requirement 395, calling for a long-range interceptor. The RAF was looking forward to replacing the English Electric Lightning F6 and McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 with the new vision of this interceptor.
Brewing the Tornado
The development of Tornado ADV was approved on March 4, 1976, and it was declared that 165 of the 385 Tornados ordered for the RAF would be a variant of air defence. Within the same year, the British Aircraft Corporation received the contract to provide three prototypes of the envisioned long-range interceptor. After two years of testing and manufacturing, the first prototype was ready by August 9, 1979. Within two months of construction, the prototype took its first flight on October 27, 1979, from Warton with pilot David Eagles. The flight test was successful and demonstrated a superior supersonic acceleration compared to the other version of the aircraft, the Tornado IDS. The Tornado ADV was able to achieve this remarkable speed even while carrying a full weapon payload. The data from the test flight was collected with the aid of real-time telemetry, which broadcasted live data from the aircraft back to the ground technicians. With a positive test result, the initial production model, designated as the Tornado F2, officially began service with the Royal Air Force in 1986.
The Tornado’s Fujita Scale
There were 18 Tornado initial F2 versions built, which were delivered to the Royal Air Force on November 5, 1984, and were mainly used for training by No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit RAF. With an expeditious number of advancements in the Tornado series, the F2 version was soon retired and replaced by the improved Tornado F3 in July 1986. The F3 version had a long operational period, with the NO.29 Squadron being the first RAF unit with operational Tornado ADVs. During the Gulf War (1990-1991), 18 Tornado F3s were deployed to support the Allied forces, and they flew over 2,000 combat air patrol sorties. However, their reign did not end with the end of the Gulf War, as the F3s continued to operate from 1993 to 1999 over Bosnia (Operation Deny Flight) and Yugoslavia (Operation Allied Forces) to escort NATO aircraft. The Tornado F3 supremacy, however, began to fade away by April 2009 as the F3s were reduced to one squadron with 12 aircraft and ultimately was retired in the early 2010s by the RAF and RSAF. The aircraft was replaced by the advanced Eurofighter Typhoon.
Other Air Force Operations
The Tornado F3 ADV was also chosen to operate with the Italian Air Force. On November 17, 1993, Italy signed an agreement to lease 24 Tornado F3s from the RAF for ten years. Later, in 2006, Saudi Arabia offered a £2.5 billion upgrade program for its Tornado ADV and IDS fleets, which was supposed to extend their service period until 2020. However, by 2011, the Eurofighter Typhoon had largely replaced the Tornado ADV in Saudi Arabia’s air defence role, concluding its operational tenure in the RSAF.
Dissipation
As the Tornado ADV was retired and replaced by better and more advanced aircraft, its decade-long service came to an end. They are preserved in various museums worldwide, standing tall with their legacy and expertise in multiple wars. The RAF Museum in Cosford flaunts an F3 variant of the Tornado ADV, allowing visitors to appreciate its contribution to the RAF’s air defence capabilities.
Today in Aviation History is a series highlighting the achievements, innovations, and milestones that have shaped the skies. All the previous anniversaries are available HERE.
Related Articles
"Haritima Maurya, pen name, ""Another Stardust,"" has been passionate about writing since her school days and later began sharing her work online in 2019. She was drawn to writing because of her love for reading, being starstruck by the art of expression and how someone can make you see and feel things exclusive to their experience. She wanted to be able to do that herself and share her mind with world cause she believes while we co exist in this beautiful world least we can do is share our little worlds within.
As a commercial pilot, Haritima balances her passion for aviation with her love for storytelling. She believes that, much like flying, writing offers a perspective beyond the ordinary, offering a bridge between individual experiences and collective understanding.
Through her work, ""Another Stardust"" aims to capture the nuances of life, giving voice to moments that resonate universally. "
Be the first to comment
Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art