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Tornado Over Europe
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NATO SWORD FOR THE EIGHTIES
The multi-role Panavia Tornado, now less than a year away from entering operational service, has been described by the C-in-C, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, as “a major contribution to forces in the Central Region”. On the eve of the first flight by a production aircraft, a leading European aerospace journalist traces the history and progress of this outstanding international collaborative venture.
Forty years ago it would have been impossible to imagine that three European nations would jointly develop a combat aircraft. Just think a combination of the Supermarine Spitfire, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Fiat G 55! Even 20 years ago the aircraft manufacturers of the individual countries were going strictly their own ways: Britain was building the P. 1 Lightning interceptor, the Federal German Republic was developing the EWA VJ 101 V/STOL experimental fighter, and Italy was producing the Fiat G 91 strike aircraft.
For the last 10 years, however, these three nations have been working jointly on a military collaboration program that is without precedent. Five hundred companies with a total of approximately 70,000 employees will_ participate when the manufacturing program of the Tornado multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) is fully underway and for the air arms of the three nations the Tornado will become their most important weapon-system up to the year 2000, and perhaps beyond.
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