The Italian air force has asked Alenia Aeronautica to further enhance the capabilities of the country's Panavia Tornado IDS fleet in parallel to its recent contract award for the upgrade of 55 Alenia/Embraer AMX light-attack aircraft.
The 18 Tornados already being taken to an initial "first upgrade" configuration (Flight International, 20-26 July 2004) - featuring a modernised navigation and communication suite in addition to the capability to deliver GPS-guided weapons and the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile - will in addition receive an interim night vision goggle-compatible cockpit and external stores configuration release. This will enable the aircraft to fully employ the new weapons and provide the air force with a credible long-range strike capability ahead of the planned Italian Tornado mid-life upgrade (IT-MLU) programme.
Meanwhile, the air force has asked Alenia to pick a reconnaissance pod for its Tornado and AMX fleets. The requirement is for six to eight electro-optical/synthetic-aperture radar systems with datalink and ground stations to be operational in 2006.
The air force has defined its requirements for the Tornado MLU programme, which is expected to involve 57 IDS and ECR models in addition to the 18 "first upgrade" aircraft. Improvements will include adding a Link 16 tactical datalink, a new defensive aids subsystem, new cockpit displays and other changes, including those covered by the "first upgrade" package.
LUCA PERUZZI / GENOA
Source: Flight International
