Panavia Tornado operators
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Panavia Tornado The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing multirole combat aircraft, jointly developed and manufactured by Italy, the United Kingdom and West Germany. There are three primary Tornado variants: the Tornado IDS (inter ...
multi-role combat aircraft.


Operators

As of 2018, 320 operational Tornados are in use. Active units are in bold. ; *
Aeronautica Militare , colours = , colours_label = , march = (Ordinance March of the Air Force) by Alberto Di Miniello , mascot = , anniversaries = 28 March ...
- Italy procured a total of 100 IDS aircraft, of which 99 were production models and one was a pre-series aircraft converted to production standard. Twelve of these were dual-control versions. Sixteen were subsequently converted to ECR aircraft. In 1993, an agreement was reached with the United Kingdom to lease a total of 24 ADV aircraft, which were operated until 2004. As of 2018, Italy operates 70 Tornado IDS and 5 Tornado ECR. ** 102° Gruppo, 6° Stormo at
Ghedi Ghedi (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on November 24, 2001. Ghedi is known for a base of the Italian Air Force, Ghedi Air Base. ...
, flying IDS. Active from 1993. ** 154° Gruppo, 6° Stormo at
Ghedi Ghedi (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on November 24, 2001. Ghedi is known for a base of the Italian Air Force, Ghedi Air Base. ...
, flying IDS. Active from 1982. ** 155° Gruppo E.T.S., 6° Stormo at
Ghedi Ghedi (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on November 24, 2001. Ghedi is known for a base of the Italian Air Force, Ghedi Air Base. ...
, flying IDS/ECR. Active from 1985, equipped with ECR from 1998. Previously assigned to 50° Stormo at
Piacenza Piacenza (; egl, label= Piacentino, Piaṡëinsa ; ) is a city and in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, and the capital of the eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with over ...
. ** 156° Gruppo, 6° Stormo at
Ghedi Ghedi (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on November 24, 2001. Ghedi is known for a base of the Italian Air Force, Ghedi Air Base. ...
, flying IDS. First operational with Tornados from 1984. Now inactive. Previously assigned to 36° Stormo specialised in antishipping and TASMO roles. ** 12° Gruppo, 36° Stormo at
Gioia del Colle Gioia del Colle (; Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. The town is located on the Murge plateau at above sea level, between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Physical geography Territory ...
, flying ADV, now inactive, operational between 1984/1995-2004, replaced by
Eurofighter Typhoon The Eurofighter Typhoon is a European multinational twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed originally as an air-superiority fighter and is manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo ...
. ** 21° Gruppo, 36° Stormo at
Gioia del Colle Gioia del Colle (; Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. The town is located on the Murge plateau at above sea level, between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Physical geography Territory ...
, flying ADV. Now with 9° Stormo flying helicopters in special operations. Previously assigned to 53° Stormo at Cameri airbase. Lake ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 32, pp. 134–135.Niccoli ''Air International'' April 2008, pp. 46–47. ; *
Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
- Germany's air force obtained a total of 245 Tornado aircraft, with 210 of them as the IDS version, and 35 ECR. **
Jagdbombergeschwader 31 ''Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 31'' "Boelcke" (Tactical Air Force Wing 31; abbreviated as ''TaktLwG 31 "B"''), formerly known as ''Jagdbombergeschwader 31'' (Fighter-Bomber Wing 31; abbreviated as: ''JaBoG 31''), is a fighter-bomber wing of the ...
"Boelcke" at
Nörvenich Nörvenich is a municipality in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located about east of Düren. See also *Nörvenich Air Base Nörvenich Air Base (Fliegerhorst Nörvenich) is a German Air Force ...
flying IDS. Converted to Eurofighter Typhoon in 2009. **
Jagdbombergeschwader 32 ''Jagdbombergeschwader 32'' (Fighter-Bomber Wing 32; abbreviated as: ''JaBoG 32'') was a fighter-bomber wing of the German Air Force (''Luftwaffe''). The wing was based in the south of Germany at Lechfeld Airbase and flew Panavia Tornado, Tornado ...
at Lagerlechfeld flying ECR (34 aircraft). Disbanded in March 2013, operated between August 1985 – March 2013. **
Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33 ''Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33'' (Tactical Air Force Wing 33; abbreviated as: ''TaktLwG 33''), formerly known as ''Jagdbombergeschwader 33'' (Fighter-Bomber Wing 33; abbreviated as: ''JaBoG 33'') is a fighter-bomber wing of the German Air Fo ...
at Büchel flying IDS. Active, 46 aircraft. **
Jagdbombergeschwader 34 ''Jagdbombergeschwader 34'' "Allgäu" (Fighter-Bomber Wing 34; abbreviated as ''JaboG 34'') was a fighter-bomber wing of the German Air Force (''Luftwaffe''). The wing was based at Memmingen Air Base until its deactivation in 2003. The wing las ...
"Allgäu" at
Memmingen Memmingen (; Swabian: ''Memmenge'') is a town in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. It is the economic, educational and administrative centre of the Danube-Iller region. To the west the town is flanked by the Iller, the river that marks the Baden-Wü ...
. Disbanded in 2003. ** Jagdbombergeschwader 38 "Friesland" at
Jever Jever () is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Jever is usually associated with a major brand of beer, Jever Pilsener, which is produced there. The city is also a popular holiday resort. Jever was granted c ...
. Disbanded, German Tactical Conversion unit, August 1983 – September 2005.Lake ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 32, p. 131.List ''Air International'' May 2006, p. 51. **
Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 ''Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51'' "Immelmann" (Tactical Air Force Wing 51 "Immelmann"), formerly known as ''Aufklärungsgeschwader 51'' (Reconnaissance Wing 51), is a tactical reconnaissance wing of the German Air Force. In the beginning ...
"Immelmann" at Jagel/Schleswig, flying ECR. Active, 25 aircraft. ** Fliegerisches Ausbildungszentrum der Luftwaffe at Holloman Air Force Base, NM, USA, flying IDS. Operational Conversion Unit. Disbanded December 2019. *
Marineflieger The ''Marinefliegerkommando'' (Naval Aviation Command) is the naval air arm of the German Navy. History During the First World War, naval aviators were part of the . After the war Germany was no longer allowed to maintain a military aviation ca ...
- The German Naval Air Arm obtained 112 IDS aircraft for the anti-shipping mission. ** Marinefliegergeschwader 1 at
Jagel Jagel ( da, Hjagel) is a municipality in the district of Schleswig-Flensburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country ...
, flying IDS. Disbanded, operated between 2 July 1982 – 1 January 1994.Lake ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 32, p. 132. ** Marinefliegergeschwader 2 at
Eggebek Eggebek ( da, Eggebæk) is a municipality in the district of Schleswig-Flensburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated approximately 17 km northwest of Schleswig, and 18 km south of Flensburg. Eggebek is the seat of the ''Amt' ...
, flying IDS. Disbanded, operated between 1986 and 2005. ; *
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
- The United Kingdom obtained a total of 228 IDS aircraft; of these, 16 were subsequently converted to undertake the reconnaissance mission, alongside a further 14 new build airframes. Another 28 were converted for the anti-shipping mission. In addition, a total of 165 ADV aircraft were obtained, comprising 18 F.2s and 147 F.3s. The United Kingdom was the first country to completely phase out the Tornado when its last two units were disbanded in March 2019. ** No. II (Army Co-operation) Squadron at
Laarbruch Weeze (, Dutch: ''Wees'') is a municipality in the Lower Rhine (Niederrhein) region, in the northwestern part of North Rhine-Westphalia in the district of Kleve in the region of Düsseldorf. The municipality consists of the town of Weeze and th ...
then
Marham Marham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, approximate away from King's Lynn. An RAF station, RAF Marham, is situated nearby at Upper Marham.Ordnance Survey (1999). ''OS Explorer Map 236 - King's Lynn, Downham M ...
, flying GR4/4A (12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between September 1988 – January 2015. ** No. V (Army Co-operation) Squadron at
Coningsby Coningsby is a village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district in Lincolnshire, England, it is situated on the A153 road, adjoining Tattershall on its western side, 13 miles (22 km) north west of Boston and 8 miles (13 km) so ...
, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between 1987 – January 2003 ** No. IX (Bomber) Squadron at Honington, then Brüggen and Marham, flying GR4/4A (~12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 6 January 1982 – 14 March 2019. ** No. XI (Fighter) Squadron at Leeming, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between August 1988 – October 2005. ** No. 12 Squadron at
Lossiemouth Lossiemouth ( gd, Inbhir Losaidh) is a town in Moray, Scotland. Originally the port belonging to Elgin, it became an important fishing town. Although there has been over 1,000 years of settlement in the area, the present day town was formed over ...
, flying GR4/4A (~12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between September 1993 – 31 March 2014; 9 January 2015 – 14 February 2018. ** No. XIII Squadron at Honington then Marham, flying GR4/4A (12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 January 1990 – 13 May 2011. ** No. 14 Squadron at Brüggen then Lossiemouth, flying GR4/4A (12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 November 1985 – 1 June 2011. ** No. XV (Reserve) Squadron at Laarburch, then Honington (became GR4 Operational Conversion Unit) and Lossiemouth, flying GR4 (26 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 September 1983 – 31 March 2017. ** No. 16 Squadron at Laarbruch, flying GR1. Disbanded, operated between 13 December 1983 – 11 September 1991.Lake ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 32, p. 122. ** No. XVII Squadron at Brüggen, flying GR1. Disbanded, operated between 1 March 1985 – 31 March 1999.Lake ''Air International'' April 2008, p. 26. ** No. 20 Squadron at Laarbruch, flying GR1. Disbanded, operated between 29 June 1984 – 31 July 1992. ** No. 23 (Fighter) Squadron at Leeming, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between 1 November 1988 – 28 February 1994. ** No. XXV (Fighter) Squadron at Leeming, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between July 1989 – 4 April 2008. ** No. 27 Squadron at Marham, flying GR1. Disbanded and reformed as 12 Squadron, operated between 12 August 1983 – 1 October 1993. ** No. 29 (Fighter) Squadron at
Coningsby Coningsby is a village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district in Lincolnshire, England, it is situated on the A153 road, adjoining Tattershall on its western side, 13 miles (22 km) north west of Boston and 8 miles (13 km) so ...
, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between April 1987– 31 October 1998. ** No. 31 Squadron at Brüggen then Marham, flying GR4/4A (~10 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between September 1984 – 14 March 2019. ** No. 41 (Reserve) Squadron at
Coningsby Coningsby is a village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district in Lincolnshire, England, it is situated on the A153 road, adjoining Tattershall on its western side, 13 miles (22 km) north west of Boston and 8 miles (13 km) so ...
. The Typhoon & Tornado Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) (2 Aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 April 2006 – 16 November 2017 ** No. 43 (Fighter) Squadron at
Leuchars Leuchars (pronounced or ; gd, Luachar "rushes") is a small town and parish near the north-east coast of Fife in Scotland. The civil parish has a population of 5,754 (in 2011) Census of Scotland 2011, Table KS101SC – Usually Resident Populat ...
, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between September 1989 – 13 July 2009. ** No. 45 (Reserve) Squadron at Honington, flying GR1. Renumbered XV(R) Sqn, operated between January 1984 – 31 March 1992. ** No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron at Leuchars, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between 1 August 1992– 22 April 2008. ** No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron at Leuchars, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between June 1990 – 22 March 2011."111 Squadron."
''Royal Air Force'', Retrieved: 5 December 2011.
** No. 617 Squadron at Marham then Lossiemouth, flying GR4/4A (12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 January 1983 – 28 March 2014. **No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit ( No 65 (Reserve) Squadron) at Coningsby, flying F2/3. Renumbered 56(R) Sqn, operated between 1984 – 31 July 1992.Lake ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 32, p. 125. ** No. 1435 Flight at Mount Pleasant, flying F3 (4 aircraft). Replaced by Typhoon FGR4, operated between July 1992 – September 2009. **F3 Operational Evaluation Unit at
Coningsby Coningsby is a village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district in Lincolnshire, England, it is situated on the A153 road, adjoining Tattershall on its western side, 13 miles (22 km) north west of Boston and 8 miles (13 km) so ...
, flying F3. Merged with SAOEU becoming FJWOEU, operated between 1987 – 2004. **Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit (FJWOEU) at Coningsby, flying F3/GR4. Redesignated as 41(R) Sqn, operated between 2004 – April 2006. ** Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit (SAOEU) at
Boscombe Down MoD Boscombe Down ' is the home of a military aircraft testing site, on the southeastern outskirts of the town of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. The site is managed by QinetiQ, the private defence company created as part of the breakup of the Def ...
, flying GR1/4. Merged with F3 OEU becoming FJWOEU, operated between 5 October 1987 – 2004. **
Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment The Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE) was a multinational air unit based at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland, England, from 1981 to 1999. It performed training on the Panavia Tornado for the Royal Air Force (RAF), Luftwaffe, Marineflie ...
(TTTE) at Cottesmore, flying IDS, GR1. Disbanded, operated between 1 July 1980 – 31 March 1999.Lake ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 32, p. 126. **Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit (TWCU) at Honington, flying GR1. Redesignated 45(R) Sqn, operated between 1 August 1980 – January 1984. **Tornado Operational Evaluation Unit at Boscombe Down, flying GR1. Redesignated as SAOEU, operated between 1 September 1983 – 5 October 1987. ; *
Royal Saudi Air Force The Royal Saudi Air Force ( ar, ‎الْقُوَّاتُ الْجَوِّيَّةُ الْمَلَكِيَّةْ ٱلسُّعُوْدِيَّة, Al-Quwwat Al-Jawiyah Al-Malakiyah as-Su’udiyah) (RSAF) is the aviation branch of the Saudi Arabia ...
- Saudi Arabia initially obtained 72 Tornados, comprising 48 IDS and 24 ADV. A further 48 IDS aircraft were subsequently obtained. ** 7th Squadron RSAF IDSLake ''World Air Power Journal'' Volume 32, p. 137. ** 29th Squadron RSAF ADV 1989-2006 ** 34th Squadron RSAF ADV 1989-1992 ** 66th Squadron RSAF IDS from 1990, now inactive ** 75th Squadron RSAF IDS ** 83rd Squadron RSAF IDS


References

* Lake, Jon. "Aircraft of the RAF: Part 1 – Panavia Tornado". ''
Air International ''AIR International'' is a British aviation magazine covering current defence aerospace and civil aviation topics. It has been in publication since 1971 and is currently published by Key Publishing Ltd. History and profile The magazine was fir ...
'', Vol. 74, No. 4, April 2008, pp. 24–29. ISSN 0306-5634. * Lake, Jon. "Tornado Variant Briefing: Part III: Tornado Operators". ''World Air Power Journal'', Volume 32, Spring 1998, pp. 118–137. London: Aerospace Publishing. . ISSN 0959-7050. * List, Friedrich. "German Air Arms Review". ''Air International'', Vol. 70, No. 5, May 2006, pp. 50–57. ISSN 0306-5634.


External links

{{Commons, Panavia Tornado
Tornado (BAe) on Fas.orgPanavia Tornado IDS Attack Bomber on Aerospaceweb.orgPanavia Tornado on Tornado-data.comList of all active German TornadosGerman IDS Tornado 44+97
at the
Deutsches Museum The Deutsches Museum (''German Museum'', officially (English: ''German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology'')) in Munich, Germany, is the world's largest museum of science and technology, with about 28,000 exhibited objects from ...
subsidiary Flugwerft
Oberschleißheim Oberschleißheim () is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the Munich (district), district of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located 13 km north of Munich (centre). As of 2005 it had a population of 11,467. Oberschleißheim is ...
, Germany (DE)
Tornado A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, altho ...
Operators Operator may refer to: Mathematics * A symbol indicating a mathematical operation * Logical operator or logical connective in mathematical logic * Operator (mathematics), mapping that acts on elements of a space to produce elements of another sp ...