The Tornado F3 is the RAF’s air defence fighter. It is a twin-seat, twin-engined aircraft with a variable swing-wing that allows supersonic flight at all levels.
The F3 has all weather and day/night capability and can engage targets beyond visual range. Originally developed from the Tornado GR1, the F3 was introduced as a long-range interceptor aircraft to defend UK airspace. Changes in operational tasks, along with the experience gained during the Gulf War, led to a programme of major upgrades, delivered by Military Air Solutions that have dramatically enhanced the capability and performance of the aircraft.
The aircraft uses the BAE Systems Foxhunter multi-mode air-intercept radar to detect and target hostile aircraft. Military Air Solutions have a ‘power by the hour’ contract to support the Foxhunter radar that has achieved availability of 99% and saved £5m The situational awareness of the aircrew is enhanced by a joint tactical information distribution system (JTIDS) that complements the command and control capability provided by radio links and a suite of transponders and interrogators that can identify potential targets as friend or foe.
In its usual air defence role, the F3 can receive real-time information on approaching targets from patrolling Sentry early warning aircraft and attack nominated targets without having to use its own radar and give its position away to the enemy. The standard weapons carried by the Tornado F3 are up to four Sidewinder or ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missiles on the wing pylons and four Skyflash or AMRAAM medium-range missiles mounted under the fuselage.
The aircraft’s radar homing and warning receiver enhances threat detection and the F3 is defensively armed with chaff dispensers and infrared decoy flares. There are four operational F3 squadrons and the Operational Conversion Unit. 43(F) and 111(F) Squadrons are based at RAF Leuchars with 11(F) and 25(F) Squadrons at RAF Leeming. RAF Coningsby hosts 56(R) Squadron, which is the F3 operational conversion unit, and the Tornado F3 operational evaluation unit. Military Air Solutions has delivered a series of significant capability enhancements to the UK’s Tornado F3 fleet.
The most recent, the F3 sustainment programme, has integrated the latest advanced short and medium range air-to-air missiles and upgraded the aircraft’s main computer radar and datalink capabilities. The programme was delivered on budget in just 18 months, an unprecedented achievement for the introduction of a new fast-jet capability into service.
Specifications
Powerplant: Two RB199 engines
Wingspan: 8.6m to 13.91m
Height: 5.95m
Length: 18.68m
Max Speed: Mach 2.2
Max Altitude: above 50,000 ft
Crew: Pilot and Weapons System Operator
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