Back

#1111 Tornado F3

Tornado F3
Purchased products will not feature the Squadron Prints watermark
£10.00 €11.98 $12.68
43.8 cm x 29.2 cm
Item added to bag. Click here to view bag.
Please select a size from above to proceed.
Print
Tornado F3
ZE791
RAF Leuchars
UK - Air Force
Delivery and shipping information

Description

Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1111 - Tornado F3, ZE791, RAF Leuchars, 25 Years of Air Defence. Designed as a long-range interceptor, the Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant) would be capable of tracking multiple targets in all weather conditions, whilst carrying beyond visual range missiles. The pointed radome would house the GEC Marconi AI-24 Foxhunter radar, and, although early tests were very promising, delays in development and production of the radar resulted in a later than planned in service date for the Tornado F3. The first F3 was delivered to the RAF on 28 July 1986 to 229 Operational Conversion Unit / 65(R) Squadron at RAF Coningsby. Over the following years, 29(F) Squadron and 5(AC) Squadron, both at RAF Coningsby, received the Tornado F3. The first squadron at RAF Leeming to receive the F3 was 11(F) Squadron, followed by 23(F) Squadron and 25(F) Squadron. 43(F) Squadron, the first of the RAF Leuchars Squadrons, received their first F3s in September 1989. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, a detachment from 5 and 29 Squadron was sent to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and subsequently flew the first combat missions. The participation in the first Gulf War led to a number of modifications, known as Stage 1+, that saw the F3 equipped with additional software for radar close combat modes, enhanced counter measures and upgrades to the AI-24 radar. 111(F) Squadron was the last operational unit to convert to the Tornado F3 and was declared operational on 31 December 1990. As a result of the ‘Options for Change’ defence review, 56 Squadron disbanded as a Phantom unit on 1 July 1992 but re-formed as the F3 OCU. The last unit to re-equip with the Tornado F3 was 1435 Flight at Mount Pleasant Airfield, receiving four F3s in July 1992. Over the years, further enhancements saw, amongst others, the introduction of the ASRAAM and AMRAAM, as well as the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). In a quarter of a century of service, the Tornado F3 was constantly on operational duty; the silent guardian of UK airspace, ever vigilant as it sat poised for launch on Quick Reaction Alert. The aircraft was taken to war in the Gulf, twice, and patrolled the No-Fly Zones in the Balkans and Iraq for years. In the South Atlantic, the Tornado F3 performed an uninterrupted stint of 17 years, concurrent with other operations and training exercises around the world. After 25 years, the Tornado F3 will be retired from service by the end of March 2011. With badges of the following squadrons who flew the F3: 5 Sqn, 11 Sqn, 23 Sqn, 25 Sqn, 29 Sqn, 41 Sqn, 43 Sqn, 56 Sqn, 65 Sqn, 111 Sqn, 229 OCU and 1435 Flt. Small Tornado F3s flank the text. In order of appearance: ZE791 5 Sqn, ZE887 11 Sqn, ZE809 23 Sqn, ZG780 25 Sqn, ZE205 29 Sqn ZE887 43 Sqn, ZE735 111 Sqn, ZE785 65 Sqn, ZE734 111 Sqn, ZG797 1435 Flt

You may also like