Tornado GR.4

Tornado GR.4
- Advanced Attacker -

Origin: (Real World)
United Kingdom

Games Featured In:
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

Operators:
Belkan Air Force
Estovakian Air Force
Osean Air Defense Force
Republic of Emmeria Air Force
Ustian Air Force
Yuktobanian Air Force

Variants:
Tornado IDS / GR.1
Tornado F3
Tornado ECR

Ace Squadron Pilots:
GrauFalk Squadron / BAF (ACZ)
Absender / BAF (ACZ)
Weihe / BAF (ACZ)
Drakon / ESAF (AC6)

Armament: (Special Weapons)
Gun / 1x 27mm Mauser BK-27 Cannon
Standard Missile / AIM-9M Sidewinder
BDSP / JP223 Munitions Dispenser (ACZ/AC6)
SOD / MBDA Storm Shadow (AC5)
ECMP / Marconi Sky Shadow / BOZ Chaff & Flare Dispenser (ACZ/AC6)
LASM / BAe Sea Eagle (ACZ/AC6)

Ace Combat 5 Stats:
Speed: 63
Mobility: 51
Stability: 71
Defense: 92
Air-to-Air: 37
Air-to-Ground: 82

Ace Combat Zero Stats:
Speed: 63
Mobility: 51
Stability: 71
Defense: 92
Air-to-Air: 37
Air-to-Ground: 82

Ace Combat 6 Stats:
Speed: 63
Mobility: 51
Stability: 71
Defense: 92
Air-To-Air: 37
Air-To-Ground: 82

Background:
As early as 1984 the UK Ministry of Defence began studies of a Mid-Life Update (MLU) of the aircraft to rectify shortcomings of the GR1. This update, to Tornado GR4 standard would improve capability in the medium level role while maintaining the Tornado's exceptional low-level penetration capability. The GR4 upgrade was not approved until 1994, after it had been revised to include lessons learned from the GR1's performance in the 1991 Gulf War. One major change was the move from low level penetration to medium level attacks, while maintaining the low level capability. The contracts were signed with British Aerospace (later BAE Systems) in 1994 for the upgrade of 142 GR1s to GR4 standard, work began in 1996 and was finished in 2003. Upgrades to the more than twenty-year old aircraft included FLIR (Forward-Looking InfraRed), a wide-angle HUD (Heads-Up Display), improved cockpit displays, NVG (Night Vision Goggles) capabilities, new avionics and weapons systems, updated computer systems, and a Global Positioning System receiver. Powered by two Rolls-Royce RB 199 Mk 103 turbofan engines, the GR.4 is capable of low-level supersonic flight and can sustain a high subsonic cruise speed. The aircraft can fly automatically at low level using terrain-following radar when poor weather prevents visual flight.

The updated weapons system allowed integration of the latest offensive weapons, for example the Storm Shadow and Brimstone missiles and reconnaissance equipment such as the RAPTOR pod. As of late 2006, the GR4 fleet is being fitted with a new 12.8-inch Multi-function display in the rear cockpit to replace the circular Combined Radar and Projected Map Display (CRPMD): The BAE Systems Tornado Advanced Radar Display Information System (TARDIS) is an Active-matrix liquid crystal display. TARDIS is currently being fitted to aircraft of the Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit (No. 41 Squadron RAF), before being fitted to all GR4 aircraft. All RAF Tornado GR1s that underwent their Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) were designated GR4 after-wards. The upgrade comprised installment of a Global Positioning System (GPS), a new variant of the Heads Up Display (HUD) and a Laser Inertial Navigation System (LIRS)/Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS).

Specifications:
Crew: 2
Length: 16.72 m (54 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 13.91 m at 25° wing sweep, 8.60 m at 67° wing sweep (45.6 ft / 28.2 ft)
Height: 5.95 m (19.5 ft)
Wing area: 26.6 m² (286 ft²)
Empty weight: 13,890 kg (31,620 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 28,000kg (61,700 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk 103 afterburning turbofans
Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (2,417.6km/h, 1,511 mph)
Range: 1,390 km (870 mi) typical combat
Ferry range: 3,890 km (2,417 mi) with four external drop tanks
Service ceiling: 15,240m (50,000 ft

SOURCE:
www.raf.mod.uk
www.wikipedia.org
www.ign.com
Wikipedia.com
airforce-technology.com

ACCREDITATION:
Original Article By: Solo-Wing Dixie
Article Updated By: Berserker