UK Defence Forum

MoD link has a video and confirms the GR4 Tornados involved in the Syria strikes were flown by No. 31 Squadron, the Goldstars.

Wouldn't surprise me if the GAF bought spares and/or airframes when we retire the GR4 fleet.

NickC wrote:
Last November German talk about introducing a new, fixed scheme for financial contributions, abandoning the practice of going by the number of airframes used in each nation (presume if accepted Britain will still pay though to 2035 to support the German aircraft), German unsure what financial contributions can be expected of the Italians (not a surprise, looks like German wishful thinking though one never knows, it will depend on the small print in tri-service agreement, re. para. below, may be some horse trading agreement can be reached).

Hang on, Germany expects us to continue funding the maintenance of a class of fighters even after we retire them, effectively subsidising their maintenance costs, for upto 15 years???

Has HMG agreed to this? I'll be fuming if my tax contributions are directly contributing to German military subsidies (which I'm already indirectly subsidising via Nato since Germany is not pulling it's weight)!

And then, on the other hand, they think that the Italians won't chip into the scheme even though they will still have an active fleet of Tornados???

Sure both Germany and Italy can have access to the retired airframes, but it won't be for free!

So we could keep the tonka's going for 50 more years and Germany would be happy to pay?

topman wrote:Wouldn't surprise me if the GAF bought spares and/or airframes when we retire the GR4 fleet.

They will need some, as their own config is not suitable (and now not certified???) for night missions

I don't think they would buy to fly them but I wouldn't be surprised if they bought them to strip for spares.
They'd be a very different aircraft in some ways to what they have, plus ours have far more hours on than theirs.

lol Germany is so funny.

sunstersun wrote:lol Germany is so funny.

Said no-one, ever.

Alles Klar

Das Boot is kanut.

(Forces TV) 11th July 2018

Operation Shader - the UK's contribution to the fight against the so-called Islamic State - is almost four. One of the RAF's aircraft with a key role in the mission is the outgoing Tornado GR4.

(Forces TV) 14th August 2018

A two-seat switch-wing (or VG, variable-geometry wing) aircraft, the Tornado has served in a range of roles, as fighter and ground-attack aircraft.Developed and then renewed in recent years by then-Prime Minister David Cameron, the jet was kept in its role bombing ISIS from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for longer than originally planned.

the jet was kept in its role bombing ISIS from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for longer than originally planned.

The RAF website says " Tornado Force has drawn down towards the type’s planned out of service date (OSD), now set for 2019. The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review called for a reduction in frontline GR4 squadrons to two, but the need to maintain a constant deployment for Operation Shader saw a squadron re-formed and 12(B) Sqn was thus only very briefly disbanded, returning as a third unit."
- so a slight reprieve (original plan was 2024!)
- anyone know if the RAPTOR pods will go on our drones (or nowhere?)?

Nowhere, for all i know at least.

There is a photo somewhere on the internet of one fitted - for testing - on a Typhoon (the test a/c in Royal Mail orangey-red colour)... but this one https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com ... r-typhoon/ will have to do, as that photo is not easy to find

The tornado Sqn forming and disbanding happen some years ago, but if u ever wanted to see what size of force you need to sustain a Sqn deployment of around 8-10 a/c then it gives an indication you need 3 not 2 for future note.

Raptor pods won’t be going on anything other than tornado. Because they are reconnaissance airborne pod tornado. Will the dB-110 camera make it onto another raf a/c maybe as I mentioned in the future combat a/c thread using an external mould line of a large shape that can be used in variants to take fuel or house very sophisticated sensors is a great way to add capabilities to an a/c be they cameras or radars or ew. Such designs exist it’s all a question on allocating funding. The litening pod and reccelite another example. The rapid capabilities office and p4e will have taken notice.

SW1 wrote: if u ever wanted to see what size of force you need to sustain a Sqn deployment of around 8-10 a/c then it gives an indication you need 3 not 2

Quite right.

Still better than the MRB folly (need five, with little bit of everything, to sustain one on deployment).

PS March has been mentioned as the (revised) 2019 date... might that be about right?
- Or with Trump's Syria backroom deals (I wonder what he got in return? Iran stop supplying Yemen, if US troops pull out and restrict Saudi bombing capacity by not "lending" airtankers anymore... gives you a nice export deal on top, when they buy their own )
... will our Tonkas get busier than ever?

ArmChairCivvy wrote:

SW1 wrote: if u ever wanted to see what size of force you need to sustain a Sqn deployment of around 8-10 a/c then it gives an indication you need 3 not 2

Quite right.

Still better than the MRB folly (need five, with little bit of everything, to sustain one on deployment).

PS March has been mentioned as the (revised) 2019 date... might that be about right?
- Or with Trump's Syria backroom deals (I wonder what he got in return? Iran stop supplying Yemen, if US troops pull out and restrict Saudi bombing capacity by not "lending" airtankers anymore... gives you a nice export deal on top, when they buy their own )
... will our Tonkas get busier than ever?

1st of April I think is the official withdrawal date, lots of the support structures already shut or shutting down, the mighty fins time is almost up.

The old girl looking at her finest!



Still the best in the business low and fast.

After 28 years of continuous operational deployment the end is here.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... nd-455333/

Following the return of all its forward-deployed examples for the first time since 1991, the Tornado force will continue flying at a reduced rate in the UK, and be held at readiness to support operations if required, before conducting a nine-ship formation flight. Planned for 28 February, this is expected to include flypasts at multiple sites associated with the type through its history.

SW1 wrote:
Still the best in the business low and fast.

Can’t do everything though....

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... /13525.pdf

SW1 wrote:Planned for 28 February

29 March would have been a closer fit with the earlier expression " close to end of Q1"
and an appropriate date for leaving...

indeid wrote:

SW1 wrote:
Still the best in the business low and fast.

Can’t do everything though....

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... /13525.pdf

People like that should be billed the cost of answering that FoI.

That is as weird a FOI question as you’ll get either the person has no idea what a tornado is or is just an idiot or both

SW1 wrote:That is as weird a FOI question as you’ll get either the person has no idea what a tornado is or is just an idiot or both

Or see it as a challenge in those few weeks left in service.