TECHNICAL

cal headings to insure system’s enhanced

range. Another important system is IRLS

(Infra-Red Line Scanner) which provides the

thermo-visual, across the horizon image of

the area being monitored. The scanner itself

is installed in the cover located under the

fuselage behind the front landing gear leg.

Through a digital port

the information from both systems can be

displayed on the WSO (Weapon Systems

Officer) screen in the rear cockpit overlapping each other creating the complete

image of the combat situation in the form of

the electronic map. This information can also

be displayed on the pilot’s monitor. There is

a FLIR (Forward-looking Infrared) sensor

located on the starboard of the forward

wheel well which purpose is the visual

terrain scanning and targets’ identification.

The sensor can rotate 180 degrees and its

range is approximately 20 kilometers. The

image can be projected on the pilot’s HUD for

better navigation at night or on the displays

in both pilots’ cockpits. The last system is the

data interface ODIN (Operational Data Interface) which can in real time relay the data

from ELS and IRLS systems to other aircraft

or ground units. IRLS container, together

with its electronic blocks was removed from

many Tornadoes ECR and for current reconnaissance missions the removable RecceLite container, made by Israeli company

Rafael is used.

Lutwaffe has used this container since 2009.

The aforementioned systems are installed in

the fuselage so now let's proceed to the suspended equipment and ordnance. Two removable containers can be seen on Tornadoes

ECR, the active radar jammer CERBERUS

and passive radar and infrared jammer

BOZ-101 or 104. The IDS version is capable

of carrying these as well which is often the

case.

Jammer CERBERUS/TSPJ (Tornado Self

Protection Jammer) is a defense system

designed to jam the enemy’ communication

and radar means. It can be activated by an

operator or automatically by a radar warning receiver signal. Usually, it is attached

under the port wing. Interesting fact is that

it was developed with the secret contribution of the Israeli industry. When in the mid-1980s this information leaked to the public it

caused rather big political scandal.

System BOZ-101 or BOZ-104 is a passive container featuring the chaff flares dispensers

against IR or radar-guided anti-aircraft missiles. It is typically attached under the starboard wing.

The principal Tornado ECR weapon is AGM88 HARM anti-radar missile. Maximum of

four can be carried. Typically, only two are

attached under the fuselage but two more

can be hoisted on the wing inner hard points. The capability of carrying four AGM-88

missiles was frequently utilized during the

missions over the former Yugoslavia. Before

the missile is launched it receives the target coordinates from its aircraft and utilizes

14

eduard

German Tornado ECR reg. 46+36 (cn 851/GS269/4336) takes off from Rostock Laage (RLG/ETNL, 23 Aug 2014).

(photo: Petr Soukop)

CERBERUS IV

BOZ-101

AGM-88 HARM

them during the initial flight stage. In the final

stage of guidance the missile utilizes its own

active or passive radar system.

For its own defense the aircraft can be equipped with two AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles.

The Luftwaffe Tornadoes can be equipped

with 1000 liters drop tanks to increase their

range. From the production Tornadoes ECR

had the capability to deploy the AGM-65D

Maverick anti-ground missiles but this load

out has never been recorded in the course of

the service with Luftwaffe.

Combat deployment

The first combat deployment of the German

Tornadoes ECR took place in 1995. It was

even the very first German army deployment

since the end of WWII. The “honor” fell on

JaBoG 32 from Lechfeld when it was from

August 1995, within EG (EinsatzGeschwader)

1, or Operational Wing 1, deployed with eight

aircraft in the first tour of duty out of the Ita-

lian air base Piazenza in the operation Deliberate Force over Bosnia and Herzegovina

territories.

The Tornadoes mission was the reconnaissance and silencing of the enemy anti-aircraft defense. The operation was executed under the NATO and UN command to

protect UNPROFOR units and inhabitants of

the UN-controlled territory. The operation

commenced on August 30, 1995 and lasted

until September 20, 1995. After that EG 1 was

commissioned to support the IFOR mission

(1995-1996), then SFOR (1996-2001) and finally, in 2001 the operations of the German

Tornadoes at Piacenza air base ceased. During this period of time, in 1999 the Tornadoes also participated in the operation Allied

Force. Between March 24 and June 10 this

operation was conducted under the NATO

command against the former Republic of Yugoslavia during the war in Kosovo.

Again, the German Tornados flew reconnaissance, allied aircraft escort protection and

INFO Eduard - FEBRUARY 2022