Tornado: The Fighter That Gave 40 Years To The RAF

The Tornado launched hundreds of airstrikes on so-called Islamic State in the Middle East (Picture: MOD).

Built more than 40 years ago to fight a nuclear war, the RAF's primary ground attack platform the Tornado has retired from service.

The aircraft completed its final flight last month in a flypast over the disbandment parade for the jet's last two squadrons.

It followed a retirement flypast over RAF Marham and RAF Cranwell at the end of February.

RAF Tornados carried out their final missions over Iraq and Syria in January, before returning to the UK the following month.

In addition to launching air strikes, the fighter jet was also able conduct intelligence gathering missions and was armed with a variety of Paveway bombs, Brimstone air-to-air missiles and Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

The aircraft also possessed an Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) for defensive purposes.

When deployed in an armed reconnaissance or close air support role, it would usually be armed with a mix of Paveway IV and Dual-Mode Seeker Brimstone, combined with a Litening III targeting pod, and in addition to the internal 27mm gun.

The aircraft entered service in 1979 and first saw combat in the first Gulf War, playing a major part in the RAF’s contribution to Operation Desert Shield and the liberation of Kuwait.

It was designed to attack countries in the Soviet Union, flying at low level and at great speed.

In 1997 the GR1 was upgraded and its successor, the GR4, was given upgraded avionics and the ability to carry cruise missiles.

By the time Tornado production ended in 1998, just short of a thousand had been built.

In 2009, the Tornado replaced the Harrier force in Afghanistan where it took part in intelligence gathering for coalition forces.

Two years later it was involved in Operation Ellamy against Colonel Gaddafi in Libya.

The aircraft has also performed duties in Kosovo, Libya, Afghanistan, and more recently against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

The Tornado has been an integral part of Operation Shader – the British contribution to the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS).

Eight GR4s relocated to RAF Akrotiri where they flew daily missions over Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Shader.

Based in Cyprus, the aircraft was flown in pairs alongside aircraft from other coalition nations to gather intelligence and hit IS targets in support of ground forces or civilians.

Involved from the very start of the operation, they gathered intelligence and launched hundreds of airstrikes against IS.

The aircraft may given 40 years of service, but it still carried a huge array of weaponry and the technology inside the Tornado was, in the words of one RAF officer, "state of the art".

Regardless, after more or less constant deployment since the early 1990s, the Tornado is to be phased out.

The RAF's Typhoon is to be significantly upgraded as part of a £2 billion investment over the next decade, including receiving the Tornado's capabilities.

The Defence Secretary paid tribute to the Tornado as he announced that nine of the UK's F-35 Lightning stealth fighter jets are ready to be deployed on operations for the first time.

Gavin Williamson said of the Tornado: "This is an amazing aircraft that has inspired so many.

"I remember as a child seeing it flying over ahead as I grew up in Scarborough as it flew down the Vale of Pickering.

"It was a magnificent aircraft, but an aircraft that has done such amazing service for our country."