Alenia Aeronautica has been awarded a four-year €48.5 million ($71.8 million) contract for upgrading an additional batch of 15 Panavia Tornados, including 12 IDS strike and three trainer aircraft.
The deal is intended to extend the IDS/ECR aircraft fleet capabilities beyond the next decade.
The new batch of 15 upgraded aircraft, to be delivered between 2009 and 2011, will receive new autopilot and navigation displays. The package also includes night vision goggle-compliant lighting systems.
Alenia will also introduce an updated software package, a new Selex Communications landing aid subsystem, flight recorder and emergency locator transmitter.
The Finmeccanica company is close to freezing a further upgraded configuration to be applied to 35 more Tornados, including IDS, ECR and trainer version aircraft.
This third batch is scheduled for contract award in early 2009, with modification to be completed within the end of 2013. The third batch is expected to receive an Elettronica enhanced defensive-aid subsystem, full MIDS Link 16 capabilities, additional new displays for the cockpits, enhanced software release and the capability to employ new weapon systems such as the Alliant Techsystems advanced anti-radiation guided missile and small-diameter bombs.
In July 2002, Alenia received a first modernisation package contract to modernise 18 Tornado IDS, already returned to service, which included an upgraded communication and navigation suite in addition to new operational software, avionics and weapon data buses to enhance platform capabilities and allow the employment of Boeing GBU-32 JDAMs, Raytheon Enhanced Paveway III and MBDA Storm Shadow stand-off missile systems.
Source: Flight International
