Panavia Tornado GR4A |
|
Description |
Role |
Reconnaissance |
Crew |
2 |
First Flight |
July 11 1985
|
Entered Service |
April 3 1987
|
Manufacturer |
BAE SYSTEMS
|
Dimensions |
Length |
16.7 m |
54 ft 10 in |
Wingspan 67° sweep |
8.6 m |
28 ft 3 in |
Wingspan 25° sweep |
13.9 m |
45 ft 8 in |
Height |
5.95 m |
19 ft 6 in |
Wing Area |
26.6 m² |
286.3 ft² |
Weights |
Empty |
20,410 kg |
45,000 lb |
Loaded |
29,410kg |
64,842 lb |
Maximum Takeoff |
28,000 kg |
61,729 lb |
Capacity |
|
Powerplant |
Engines |
2 x Turbo-Union RB199 turbofans
|
Dry thrust |
40.5 kN |
lb |
Afterburner thrust |
71.2 kN |
lb |
Performance |
Maximum Speed |
2,336 km/h |
1,452 mph |
Combat Range |
1,482 km |
921 miles |
Ferry Range |
3,797 km |
2,360 miles |
Service Ceiling |
> 15,240m |
50,000ft |
Rate of Climb |
4572.5 m/min |
15,000 ft/min |
Wing Loading |
kg/m² |
lb/ft² |
Thrust/Weight |
N/kg |
lbf/lb at normal takeoff weight |
Power/Mass |
kW/kg |
hp/lb |
Avionics |
Avionics |
|
Armament |
Guns |
1 x 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon
|
Missiles |
AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, Storm Shadow, ALARM, Brimstone
|
Bombs |
Paveway LGBs, Dumb bombs
|
Other |
RAPTOR Reconnaissance pod, TIALD Laser designator
|
The Tornado GR.4A, an upgrade of the Tornado GR1.A, is a dedicated version of the Panavia Tornado used for all weather, day and night tactical reconnaissance. The GR4A retains all the offensive capabilities of the standard GR4 and is in service with the Royal Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force.
History
The Tornado programme first began with Tornado GR1s, which were built by a tri-national company (Panavia). 30 GR1As were ordered and were either converted from GR1 standard or delivered as new build aircraft. The GR1A was not fitted with cannon, the space was used for SLIR (Sideways Looking Infra-Red) reconnaissance sensors, one on each side of the fuselage and a single IRLS (Infra-Red LineScan) reconnaissance sensor mounted on the underside of the fuselage. In the main picture the SLIR widow can be seen below and to the right of the RAF roundel.
With the upgrade of the GR1 to GR4 standard, similarly the GR1A became the GR4A. 25 aircraft were upgraded, work beginning in 1996 and finished in 2003. Upgrades to the more than twenty-year old aircraft included, FLIR (Forward-Looking Infra-Red), a wide-angle HUD (Head-Up Display), improved cockpit displays, NVG (Night Vision Goggle) capabilities, new avionics and weapons systems, updated computer systems, and a Global Positioning System. The GR4 and GR4A have the capability to carry the Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for TORnado (RAPTOR).
Specifications
Powerplant: Two Turbo-Union RB199-103 Turbofans
Wingspan: 13.9m (fully spread)
Length: 16.7m
Max Speed: 2,336 km/h (Mach 2.2) at 11,000m altitude
Accommodation: Pilot and Navigator
Armament: Up to 18,000 lb (8,000 kg) of ordnance.
Units
Last updated: 05-07-2005 10:38:19
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04