The Nato Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) has awarded a MET Annex 27 contract to Panavia Aircraft for modernisation of the Italian Air Force’s (ITAF) Tornado strike fighter aircraft.
Involving integration of two new weapons, followed by a subsequent flight testing programme, the contract demonstrates commitment by all participants in achieving continued efficiencies on the programme, long-term support for the aircraft sustainability and capability upgrades of the platform.
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The company will integrate the AGM-88E advanced anti radiation guided missile (AARGM) and the small-diameter-bombs (SDBs) on the ITAF’s latest Tornado versions, including the RET 7 and RET 8 mid-life upgrade (MLU) configuration.
Both weapons are scheduled to be incorporated in a common software load with one Panavia Service Release Recommendation (PSRR) in the next three years.
Powered by two Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk 103 turbofan engines, the Tornado is a variable-sweep wing combat aircraft being developed by Panavia, a consortium of Alenia Aeronautica, EADS and BAE Systems in three primary variants for air strike missions.
The aircraft variants include the Tornado interdictor / strike (IDS) fighter-bomber for suppression of enemy air defences, electronic combat / reconnaissance (ECR) version and an air defence variant (ADV) interceptor.
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By GlobalDataCurrently operating 62 Tornado IDS and 16 ECR variants, the ITAF is planning to upgrade a total of 58 aircraft to the MLU RET8 configuration by 2015.
The aircraft is also operational with the German, Saudi and the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).
Involving participation from all Panavia companies, such as Alenia Aermacchi, Cassidian and suppliers, Boeing and Alliant Techsystems (ATK), the integration and flight testing programme is scheduled to be completed by December 2015.
Image: NETMA’s general manager and Panavia’s managing director during the MET contract signing. Photo courtesy of © 2012 Alenia Aermacchi – A Finmeccanica Company.
