Encyclopedia - Panavia Tornado

Panavia Aircraft GmbH was formed on 26 March 1969 by British Aircraft Corporation, Messerschmitt-Bölkow GmbH and Societa per Azioni Fiat. This consortium’s goal was to develop an aircraft for the air forces of the UK, Federal Republic of Germany and Italy, and the Federal German Navy. It was to be an all-weather combat aircraft. On 29 July 1976 an agreement was signed by the British, German and Italian governments for the production of 809 Tornados. This was later increased to 923 to cover the sales to Saudi Arabia and Oman. The first British, West German and Italian production aircraft first flew on 10 July, 27 July 1979 and 25 September 1981 respectively.

The RAF received 402 of the total 923 aircraft, comprising of 229 Tornado GR.Mk 1/1A aircraft and 173 Tornado F.Mk 2/3 aircraft; the Luftwaffe received 247 IDS aircraft; the Marinefleiger 112 IDS aircraft; the Aeronautica Militare Italiana 100 IDS aircraft; and the Royal Saudi Air Force had 48 IDS aircraft and 24 air defence fighters. The sale of eight ADV aircraft to Oman was cancelled and the aircraft were delivered to the RAF.

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