The first UK Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado to be upgraded to GR4 mid-life update standard by British Aerospace had a 39min maiden flight on 4 April, from BAe's Warton airfield. The GR4 has a forward-looking infra-red sensor and night-vision-goggle capability, as well as a comprehensive upgrade to avionics and computer systems, including a new weapons databus and global-positioning-system. GR4 deliveries to the RAF are due to begin in early 1998, and 142 Tornado GR1s are to be upgraded to GR4 standard by 2002.
Source: Flight International