Post by avro748 on Apr 27, 2013 17:13:30 GMT 1
Prompted by the brief discussion about the RSAF TSP Tornado IDS on the post by ‘Stu’ titled ‘Warton 19-04-2013’. I have done a bit of digging around on t’internet and come up with the following.
The Tornado Sustainment Program (TSP) is designed to keep the RSAF Tornado fleet relevant until 2020, with all the fleet (believed to be 84 IDS aircraft) receiving Phase 1 and 2 upgrades by 2013.
TSP was split into Phase 1 and 2. Phase 1 – Concentrated on cockpit modernisation, with Improved avionics and cockpit instrumentation displays, modern comms fit, GPS navigation. Phase 2 – Provision for advanced weapons and sensors; Storm Shadow medium range cruise missile, Brimstone anti-armour missile, Thales Damocles targeting pod and Paveway/enhanced Paveway LGB’s. Also upgrade of air to air missile capability (IRIS-T and/or ASRAAM?).
Warton received three Tornado IDS from the RSAF on 12-04-05, tthere was one of each subvariant in use by the RSAF; 6606 IDS, 6631 IDS(R) and 7503 an IDS(T). 6606 became ZK113, 6631 reverted to its original test serial ZH917 and strangely 7503 did not wear a british military serial for its, albeit very brief spell of post upgrade test flying. Although 7503 did get an overall grey paint job!
I don’t have a date for ZH917’s first flight after the TSP upgrade mods, but ZK113 reflew on 05-01-06 and 7503 on 11-09-09. As I mentioned 7503 only had a short period of test flying and was noted homeward bound at Malta on 07-12-09.
ZH917
ZK113
7503
Another batch of three Tornado IDS arrived at Warton on 15-12-06 (6611, 6612 and 6613) these were to be the first ‘production’ TSP upgrade aircraft. Subsequent upgrade work on the rest of the fleet was carried out in Saudi Arabia. The first of these to fly post upgrade was 6612 on 27-11-07, which was noted passing through Malta on 12-12-07. The other two were delivered through Malta also; 6613 23-01-08 and 6611 on 09-05-08. 6613 having made its first flight after upgrade on 11-01-08.
6613
Cheers
Shaun
The Tornado Sustainment Program (TSP) is designed to keep the RSAF Tornado fleet relevant until 2020, with all the fleet (believed to be 84 IDS aircraft) receiving Phase 1 and 2 upgrades by 2013.
TSP was split into Phase 1 and 2. Phase 1 – Concentrated on cockpit modernisation, with Improved avionics and cockpit instrumentation displays, modern comms fit, GPS navigation. Phase 2 – Provision for advanced weapons and sensors; Storm Shadow medium range cruise missile, Brimstone anti-armour missile, Thales Damocles targeting pod and Paveway/enhanced Paveway LGB’s. Also upgrade of air to air missile capability (IRIS-T and/or ASRAAM?).
Warton received three Tornado IDS from the RSAF on 12-04-05, tthere was one of each subvariant in use by the RSAF; 6606 IDS, 6631 IDS(R) and 7503 an IDS(T). 6606 became ZK113, 6631 reverted to its original test serial ZH917 and strangely 7503 did not wear a british military serial for its, albeit very brief spell of post upgrade test flying. Although 7503 did get an overall grey paint job!
I don’t have a date for ZH917’s first flight after the TSP upgrade mods, but ZK113 reflew on 05-01-06 and 7503 on 11-09-09. As I mentioned 7503 only had a short period of test flying and was noted homeward bound at Malta on 07-12-09.
ZH917
ZK113
7503
Another batch of three Tornado IDS arrived at Warton on 15-12-06 (6611, 6612 and 6613) these were to be the first ‘production’ TSP upgrade aircraft. Subsequent upgrade work on the rest of the fleet was carried out in Saudi Arabia. The first of these to fly post upgrade was 6612 on 27-11-07, which was noted passing through Malta on 12-12-07. The other two were delivered through Malta also; 6613 23-01-08 and 6611 on 09-05-08. 6613 having made its first flight after upgrade on 11-01-08.
6613
Cheers
Shaun
