TORNADOS GET IMPROVEMENTS
By Karl Schwarz
The German Air Force, which once was wholly oriented to the defence of the Federal Republic of Germany against an attack from the east, must today cover a wider operational spectrum, from small-scale crisis operations through to full-blown conflicts. The need to move forces around in Europe and also outside has to be allowed for. Such missions require amongst other things accurate target attacks from a distance as well as improved communication options for smooth command and control remote from the homeland and interoperability with Allied air forces.
On these points the Luftwaffe (and also the naval air arm) has significant capability gaps. To rectify this situation, a mid-life update is planned for the Panavia Tornado. Even if the number of aircraft in service will decline following introduction of the multirole Eurofighter from 2010, the swing-wing aircraft is likely to remain the main offensive air platform over the next 20 years.
The first steps towards updating the performance and capability of the Tornado have already been carried out in the form of the ASSTA 1 programme (Avionics System Software Tornado in ADA). Thus the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger aircraft have been fitted with a significantly faster main computer that has a lot more memory capacity, a more reliable GPS/laser inertial navigation system and a second generation display video recording system.
Integration of the Rafael Litening laser target designator and laser-guided Paveway III bombs (an upgrade of the Mk.84 and BLU 109) was carried out last year. Two months of trials at the USAF airbase at Eglin, Florida that included seven bomb releases produced very good results.
Panavia, or rather integrated teams from the partner companies of EADS Military Aircraft and Alenia, are now working on another, even more comprehensive update programme. The acronym ASSTA 2 covers a number of individual measures aimed primarily at improving the displays in the cockpit and at enhancing the aircraft’s ability to foil modern ground- and air-based anti-aircraft systems.
The Display System Upgrade is intended to adapt the pilots’ workstations to the more demanding set of requirements. The issue here is to present the significantly increased quantity of information now available in such a way that the crew can assimilate the operational situation at a glance. Management and use of the new, more complex weapons needs to be made easier as well.
In the front cockpit, the Repeater Projected Map Display (RPMD) is therefore to be replaced by a Pilot Head Down Display (PHDD). This will be a 12.7 x 12.7 cm LCD built by Astronautics from the USA. The navigator is also to get a colour display. The new 15.8 x 15.8 cm LCD from Astronautics is known as the Navigator’s Head Down Display (NHDD) and is to replace the Combined Radar and Projected Map Display (CRPMD).
These screens will offer the crew a digital map of the terrain to be overflown. It is made by Dornier and is based on the system planned for Eurofighter. Compared with the films previously used, the representation is much more detailed and flexible. The display can also show the tactical situation and a graphical representation of aircraft system status, which was not previously available to the pilot in the front cockpit.
Also new is a 7.6 x 7.6 cm colour Electronic Warfare Indicator for the pilot from Diehl/Thales. In addition, the weapon systems officer is to gain a programmable Control and Display Unit (CDU) from Canadian Marconi/Diehl Avionik to operate the various computers and, above all, the Tornado’s electronic warfare suite.
In parallel to the changes in the cockpit, the Tornado Defensive Aids Subsystem (TDASS) is being upgraded so as to improve the aircraft’s self-protection capability. TDASS comprises a new radar warning receiver (RWR) and an integrated Defensive Aids Subsystem Computer (DAC). This computer co-ordinates all operations relating to self-defence, thus reducing crew workload.
According to EADS, the technology used has been designed so that it can be rapidly modified to accommodate future developments. Germany has chosen an RWR from Saab Avionics (formerly CelsiusTech) of Sweden, while Italy has selected Elettronica as its supplier.
As the Italian Air Force’s Tornados have had virtually no significant updates since they entered service, they are also to be fitted with a new TACAN, a new radar altimeter and the MIL-STD 1760B data bus.
Everything together provides the basis for the integration of new weapons. These include the AGM-88 HARM PNU which, thanks to the new inertial platform and GPS receiver, should be much more accurate against ground-based air defence systems. Above all, it will be able to continue attacking even after the ground radar has been switched off.
Both the Italian and German air forces are planning to procure a genuine stand-off weapon (over 300 km). In the case of Germany this will be the Taurus, currently under development with LFK, while Italy has chosen the Franco-British Storm Shadow from MBDA. In Germany, modification to allow the firing of the new IRIS-T short-range AAM is another option.
A lot of work thus remains to be done. The estimated development cost of the ASSTA 2 package is about DM 900 million (Germany and Italy combined). Contracts were signed with Germany in December 2000 and with Italy on 1 July 2001, and the first design reviews for the new functionality have already taken place.
This year the first equipment will be available for test bed checks. Flight testing is scheduled to commence in 2003. This will last for two years, as testing of electronic warfare systems is a highly complex area. The aim is to have the new capabilities released by January 2005, with some of the new weapons actually entering service in Italy earlier than that date.
Fitting the new components into the aircraft is extremely time-consuming. The Tornado will need to spend nearly nine months in depot maintenance and being upgraded in the factory, in the case of Germany at the EADS plant at Manching. However, it is not yet clear how many aircraft will be fitted with the new systems. A procurement decision could be prepared for in the 2003 budget review process.
An expensive performance and capability upgrade only makes sense if the airframes still have many years’ service left in them. Again, there is a need for action in this regard, as the first Tornados have already reached their original ceiling of 4,000 flying hours. It has therefore been agreed among the European partners to increase this to 8,000 hours.
Precisely what measures will be necessary for this is presently under investigation. According to a spokesman from Panavia, the airframe is in principle very robust. It will probably be sufficient to strengthen specific areas, especially in the centre fuselage, with upgrade kits. However, all the systems right through to the hydraulic lines and the wiring will need to be requalified. Testing for this is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2002.
In the long-term it is desirable to equip the Tornado with a tactical MIDS datalink, while an upgrade of the electronic warfare suite with digital receivers or towed decoys would also be of interest. However, as always, it will be difficult to obtain the necessary funding.
From page 52 of FLUG REVUE 4/2002
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April 4, 2002 at 7:17 am