Italian air force receives upgraded Tornado IDS
First of 18 modernised strike aircraft to be delivered goes on show at Farnborough
The Italian air force last week received its first Panavia Tornado IDS strike aircraft modernised to an initial upgrade configuration by Alenia Aeronautica, and has deployed the aircraft to the UK for this week's Farnborough air show.
Covering the conversion of 18 aircraft, the modernisation package is the first phase of a yet-to-be contracted full Italian mid-life upgrade (IT-MLU) programme. The initial work is the subject of a €35 million ($44 million) contract awarded to Alenia in July 2002 by the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency through the tri-national Panavia consortium. This built on a €132 million development and production contract covering non-recurring costs for the full MLU project awarded in June 2001.
Ilario Gonella, Alenia's IT-MLU programme manager, says the 18-aircraft enhancement adds a modernised avionics suite, including a new integrated navigation system, with a laser inertial navigation system with embedded GPS from Litef, a Lital secondary attitude and heading reference system, a Thales Tacan receiver and a Galileo Avionica radar altimeter.
The updated communications/ identification suite includes two Marconi Selenia Communications (MSC) digital V/UHF Have Quick I/II radios and a single HF transceiver, plus a new MSC Sicral national secure satellite communications terminal and an MSC new-generation identification friend-or-foe transponder.
The initial upgrade configuration allows the modernised Tornado IDS to carry the 455kg (1,000lb) Boeing GBU-31 GPS-guided JDAM and Raytheon Enhanced Paveway III GPS/laser-guided bombs with Mk84 and BLU-109 warheads built under licence by OTOMelara, and MBDA's Storm Shadow cruise missile. All integration activities will be completed by year-end, providing an initial operational clearance. The air force will receive 12 upgraded aircraft this year, with the remaining six to be delivered by mid-2005.
Source: Flight International
