The Royal Air Force is anxious not to lose a recently-acquired Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) capability, shelved in 1999 to save costs, but fast-tracked for the Iraq conflict under a one-year Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR).
The RAF has admitted that 10-12 Panavia Tornado F3s were upgraded as dual role air defence fighter/defence suppression aircraft under a new UOR, and while they were not ultimately needed in that conflict, the capability plugs a gap.
It was the air campaign over Kosovo that highlighted Europe's lack of SEAD capability. Germany and Italy operate a small number of HARM-armed Tornado ECRs, while the RAF had two Tornado GR1 'Pathfinder' squadrons armed with ALARM missiles. The ALARM missile proved extremely effective in combat in the Gulf War and in the Balkans, demonstrating a much higher kill probability than the rival US HARM missile.
HandicapHowever, the Tornado GR1/4 was unable to exploit its full potential, especially as a direct fire weapon, since it had little autonomous ability to accurately pinpoint the location of enemy radars. The RAF was thus handicapped in what the Americans call the 'wild weasel' role.
Development of a Tornado F3 SEAD capability reached an advanced stage following the issue of a UOR in 1999. At that time it was not envisaged as a standalone anti-radar aircraft; instead its Emitter Locator System (ELS) was used to target enemy radars for attack by more suitably armed platforms.
Precision
Flight trials of the ELS were undertaken during 2000, but the programme was cancelled as a cost-saving measure.
It was claimed that the modified F3 promised to pinpoint enemy radars with greater precision than dedicated SEAD aircraft, while the aircraft's JTIDS data link gave a useful ability to distribute data in real time to C3I platforms and to allied missile 'shooters' and bombers. It was even reported that the addition of ALARM would transform the ELS-equipped F3 into the most effective lethal SEAD/DEAD (destruction of enemy defences) platform in the world.
As the build up to war in Iraq progressed, the Tornado F3 SEAD programme was resurrected under a new UOR. Ten to 12 Tornado F3s were upgraded to carry a pair of BAE Systems ALARM missiles under the fuselage, as well as underwing Phimat chaff dispenser and BOZ expendables dispenser (or an Ariel TRD carrier).
The aircraft also retained underfuselage Vinten Vicon flare dispensers and were fitted with four CRL Sidewinder/ ASRAAM launch rails each potentially containing a BOL chaff dispenser.
Source: Flight Daily News
