After almost four decades on operations, Royal Air Force Tornado jets have returned home to RAF Marham from operations in the Middle East. 

First entering service in 1979, the fast jets have been involved in Op Shader for the past four and a half years, the UK’s mission to defeat Da’esh in Syria and Iraq.

“It is with a heavy heart, but enormous pride, that we bid farewell to the Tornado from operations. This truly is the end of an era, having played a vital role in keeping Britain and its allies safe for four decades”

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson

Assisted by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker from RAF Brize Norton, five Tornados returned to RAF Marham yesterday, with the remaining three returning today. Families and friends of the crew were on hand to welcome them back to the Norfolk base.

The Tornados’ weapons capabilities have been transferred to RAF Typhoon fast jets. Under the £425m ‘Project Centurion’, the Typhoon is now capable of delivering the Meteor air-to-air missile, the Stormshadow fire-and-forget cruise missile, and the Brimstone precision attack missile. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the Typhoon’s “new weapon systems will keep us as a world leader in air combat for a generation”.

The Tornado will be officially retired from service at the end of March. Speaking to the UK Defence Journal, the Ministry of Defence said the Tornados would “remain over UK skies for help with training exercises” until their retirement.

Gavin Williamson recently announced that RAF F-35 Lightning jets have been declared operational and are ready to be deployed around the world. Alongside the Typhoon, it will now form the backbone of the UK’s combat air fleet.

The F-35 could be deployed to RAF Akrotiri later this year to continue the fight against Da’esh.

The RAF trialled the interoperability between its Typhoon and F-35 aircraft last year, which it says proved “the effectiveness of both platforms when operating alongside one another”. 

The head of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, passed on his “sincerest congratulations to the Tornado Force”. He commended their “exceptional effort” after “4 years of continuous commitment to defeating Daesh in Iraq and Syria”


Originally named the Tornado GR1, the aircraft’s first use in live operations was during the Gulf War in 1991, when 60 Tornado GR1s were deployed from bases in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

They were later upgraded to the GR4 model, which has been used ever since over the skies of Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.

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Henry was a defence & security writer at the UK Defence Journal but is now with Storyful. He had a particular focus on recruitment, mental health, and industry news.
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Cam Hunter
Cam Hunter
5 years ago

If they do send the F35s to Cyprus to hammer ISIS then that would be a nice swap from tornados. I’ll miss the tornados flying around up here in the north, we don’t get many these days, they used to always fly lower than the house roofs I worked on up Loch Ness and the great glen, it was amazing, and camera phones really sucked a few years back so got no great pictures or videos!!.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Cam Hunter

You won’t do. You had 3 squadrons of GR4 at Lossi until a few years ago plus 15R Squadron the OCU.

2 of them were cut when Liam Fox was DS. The other is now at Marham.

Using a gold plated asset like Lightning to drop bombs on ISIS is a colossal waste of an asset in my opinion.

A bit like using 1 billion quid T45s to patrol singly picking up drug hauls and deterring pirates.

Anthony D
Anthony D
5 years ago

With you there Danielle, it’s a scandal. These jobs should be for predators and opvs.

Steven Maturin
5 years ago
Reply to  Anthony D

But what you have the F35’s and the T45’s doing in this time? Sat around rusting.

Get them out there working. If you went and spent thousands on a 4×4 but refused to drive it until the weather got really bad would that not also be a waste of money?

andy reeves
andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Anthony D

opv’s they’re just big fanny boats, total waste of money, its about time somebody realised it and binned them they can’t even catch fishing boats

Cam Hunter
Cam Hunter
5 years ago

As I said “WE DONT GET MANY THESE DAYS” up north as they were replaced by typhoons at Lossie!. And what would you have the F35s do? It’s great training for the F35s flying REAL missions as aposed to training and it’s not like the RAF would have squadrons flying against ISIS it would be a handful at most these days. If we have the jets we may aswel use them or we will lose them!, or would you prefer we have them sitting in hangars or flying around the UK?. And you don’t mind the Typhoons flying against ISIS… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Cam Hunter

Typhoons no. We have many more, and they have taken the GR4s role. And are already on station.

As for capitals, no need. I was agreeing with you but you clearly missed it.

We will lose them if we keep them for their primary task flying off the QECs???? Really. Tell that to the RN or HMG spending billions on a programme that puts billions more into UKPLC.

HF
HF
5 years ago

Remember the US brought back Skyraiders in Vietnam for these sort of missions ?

andy reeves
andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Cam Hunter

LONG IME,GREAT SERVICE THANKS TORNADO RUST IN PIECE.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago

For me an iconic RAF jet alongside Harrier.

I hope it will receive an almighty send off.

Useful as Centurion is it is important to remember no new aircraft and numbers drop yet again, while tasks expand.

More with less. The same old story.

No matter what spin Gavin Williamson puts on it.

The Merlin thread at the moment is in the same theme.

Scrap an asset. Get already existing to cover the role. And call it a success story.

One day the slack of numbers will bite us.

HF
HF
5 years ago

‘Harrier’

Described by US fighter mafia man Pierre Sprey as totally useless – which provoked an indignant reaction from an former Tornado pilot I mentioned it to. Still, the Harrier force was flogged off by the useless Dr Fox at the behest of the even more useless slash & burn Osborne.

Chris
Chris
5 years ago

Indeed. I just hope that the RAF have planned a fitting farewell flying tour that fits in as many destinations in the country as possible to give them the send off that they deserve. Then hopefully of too museums or gate guardians, it would be a mighty shame to see them merely discarded and scrapped.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Agree Chris.

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago

You are not alone in your Thinking Daniele. I remember building an Airfix Model as a kid. it was called MRCA at the time. Seeing them fly the Mach Loop and various other parts of the Country over the years as well as at sea, they have left huge imprint in my memory. Was it 360 ordered/Built ? So, If the F35’s are to take over flying for Cyprus, WTF are we going to put on HMS POW ? 9 Operational F35’s so far. Way too few, spread way too Thinly over way too many Years. 138 in total over… Read more »

Paul T
Paul T
5 years ago

Agree with all the above comments,the Tornado has given Stirling service over the years,but after 40 years It cannot go on forever.The reality of the RAF today is a combat Fleet of Fast jets that will be sub 150 strong for some time to come unless any miracles are forthcoming from the Treasury.For Peactime purposes this may be enough but since the drawdown of Cold War (mk1) the RAF has been pretty busy in various conflicts,all we can hope for is that the future holds no unpleasant suprises.In lieu of a major change of Government policy I still think another… Read more »

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago

“What do you reckon”? Reckon you’re an Idiot. I’m only going by Every Post you ever post here. Touched by the hand of Salmond at a tender age Is my Guess. To be Honest though TH, I really hope you gain your Independence from us horrible folk South of the Border, That way you get to run around the Hills in Short Dresses with Gay Abandon again. And We, get to re-Point and Extend Hadrian’s best ever Idea. so that We don’t have to let you all back In when Mr Putin starts Probing your non existent Defences and best… Read more »

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago

Oh Dear, Oh Deary me. My Fellow Scotsman has Lost the plot. again.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
5 years ago

There was a time back in 1980 when we only had 9 Tornados delivered. More F35s are coming, and the capability straight off the bat is in another league from Tornado.

Julian1
Julian1
5 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

They talk about RAF operating them since ’79 but they never became fully operational until at least ’83. However, numbers and speed of delivery were considerably higher

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Robert, It’s only one more this year. making 17 in total with 9 in the UK. We haven’t actually ordered the full 138 yet either.

andy reeves
andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

but vastly overpriced and everyone is banking everything on it being able to deliver what it says in the brochures, i think we’re putting too much faith into something un tested, just we did withe t45’s

andy reeves
andy reeves
5 years ago

the decision to retire harrier which, missionwise could what tornado does except we gave 72 of them away to the u.s who promptly announced that they expected them to be in service after 2030.

Russjm
Russjm
5 years ago

Wasn’t ever a fighter, not much of a multi-roller either. Remember in Canada how some US / Canadians / French pilots called it the training dummy. Radar was poor, heavy on fuel and maintenance and lack of investment so by the time it was right it only had a few years left. Still the one the kids love at the shows though.

Julian1
Julian1
5 years ago
Reply to  Russjm

Don’t get that since Tornado was on opps pretty much permanently since ’91. It may have been a poor fighter but as strike/attack, there wasn’t too much better. The effectiveness of the weapons suite at least matched its peers and at best with Raptor/Brimstone offered a truly unique capability. You may be right about the range/power, but with AAR that was never a problem and power only became an issue when hot/high. As far as I can see an incredibly versatile platform which ended up excelling in a role it was never envisaged for. Any takers?

Lee1
Lee1
5 years ago
Reply to  Julian1

Indeed. for strike missions it was outstanding (after all that was what it was designed for). In fact it has probably been the best strike aircraft in the world for most of its career. It was a terrible fighter but then it was not designed to do that role and the fighter variant should never have seen the light of day. The Americans were impressed by its effectiveness during the first gulf war.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Lee1

Absolutely Lee.

Let’s see other fast jets at the time flying in total darkness 200 foot or lower into Poland and East Germany carrying out interdiction missions.

GR1 GR4 brilliant at it’s role.

Criticisms of its lack of manouverabiliry are ignorant of what it was designed to do.

Alan Reid
Alan Reid
5 years ago

Agreed Daniele
It was designed to be a stable weapons platform at very low level, and at very high speed – and was outstanding in that role.
The F3 long-range interceptor wasn’t bad either (despite its critics).

HF
HF
5 years ago
Reply to  Russjm

No such thing as a multi role combat aircraft, which is why it wasn’t a great ‘dog fighter’, but that wasn’t intended to be its role, even as a ‘fighter’.

Nick C
Nick C
5 years ago

The good Captain is right. I said as much about the Merlin numbers on that thread a couple of days ago, and got the usual “ but the quality is very high so we can do more with less”. That’s fine until you get into a shooting war of some kind and lose a few, which happens, and then you have got nothing in the reserve tank. If you look at the graphic produced by Save the Royal Navy, we will not have operational shipboard capability with the first F35 squadron until 2021/22, and the second, 809, until 2025. That… Read more »

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  Nick C

Nick C , I seem to recall we could actually Cram 42 F35B’s into and on, the QE Class Carriers If Push came to Shove, HMS Hermes was sent on her way in 82 with way more stuff than was ever really envisaged and I can tell you, there were a few “Touching Cloth” moments on the way down.

Still did the Job though, Didn’t We ?

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago

Nick C, The Obvious and Blatantly correct thinking Is overwhelmingly Ignored by virtually every MP, Government Official and Over Paid MOD Advisor. It’s only “Us” the grunts and Cannon fodder and Offspring of earlier “Cannon Fodder” that seam to care. As much as I am impressed with the Quality of our Equipment, Ships and Aircraft, not to mention our Military Personnel, I’m enormously concerned at the lack of Numbers. Have been for decades now.

(Shut Up TH, I’m really not Interested BTW )

John Clark
John Clark
5 years ago

Quite right Captain, it only encourages him to respond, leave him to his barking mad
(admittedly quite amusing) ranting….

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago

Long time ago when I was young, Dumb and full of Salty Sea Spray. Didn’t really know any better nor what was actually going on at the time, I just went with the Flow. Was your Colleague RN ?

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago

Captain. You have my respect. All our vets do.

Riga
Riga
5 years ago

Captain P. Should I be worried when a matelot tells me he was full of salty sea spray?

Being tall, I was normally in the front ranks when on parade and walking behind the navy left troubling images in my mind given the way they walked.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Nick C

Hi Nick C. I doubt we will see both carriers sailing with F35B squadrons that was never in the plan. 1 carrier ready. 1 reserve. 24 F35B on one carrier plus Merlin is a highly capable force few countries can match. Even just 12 F35 plus helicopters. It is far, far better than nothing, which is what we had since 2010. If situation demands it such as major war put a squadron on each plus helicopters. Or use one as strike the other with whatever helicopters be used. The point is we have the 2 carriers so one is always… Read more »

mark Trundle
mark Trundle
5 years ago

I’m a navy man through and through, just thought I would get that out there before we start. It troubles me greatly that the horrible political class have set the numbers we will have in stone already. Definatley yes, we need enough B variant to cover both carriers, might be tough to swallow but we do. The Raf have been winging for a bit about how they need a sharper tool to their toolbox and I can’t disagree, the FAA need ro cover both carriers with a spare squadron in my view, that’s pretty much all of the amount ordered!… Read more »

Sean
Sean
5 years ago

Fingers crossed once we have retired then we can sell them on to the Germans who might be forced to retain their Tornadoes for decades yet ?

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  Sean

Sean, Why, What’s wrong with their Star Fighters ?????

Sean
Sean
5 years ago

Well unlike their current Tornadoes I believe the Star Fighters could fly at night…

Lee1
Lee1
5 years ago
Reply to  Sean

When they were not crashing…

Nick C
Nick C
5 years ago

Captain P. I take your point about Hermes, I watched her leave Portsmouth with no boot topping showing at all she was so laden. Moving the deck park must have been entertaining! If you could get 42 F35’s on board you would get a fantastic sortie rate, but where are they? Even given some from the USMC I am not sure when we will see a full deck on either ship. Not too sure that the bloke TH is a Scot. Those I know were taught to write the Queens English, and usually do it rather well. He strikes me… Read more »

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  Nick C

Nick C, Hermes was sort of like a Heavy Float lead on a Light Fishing line. We were all pretty clueless at the time but some of the Seniors faces told a story all of their own when we got to the south and It’s Weather. “Wohh Shiiiiitttte” Was mentioned more than a few times. Awhile back, there was a Poster called “Chris H”, I think He was on board too ( Rusty Lusty was where we met, I think ) but He’s not on here any more.

Rokuth
Rokuth
5 years ago
Reply to  Nick C

“Not too sure that the bloke TH is a Scot.” Does make me wonder though. Considering the number of Scots who lost their lives in the building of the British Empire, his/her ramblings does seem to spit in the face of their legacy, and the history of Scotland. Also make me wonder about Scottish Politics. They want to exit the UK. Okay. BUT! They want to still keep the work and jobs related to the UK that will be lost when they leave. How’s that going to work? Will all those Scots marching in the streets now calling for the… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Rokuth

They will all down in England. Working.

The irony that the SNP wants to split from British brothers and sisters yet remain in political union with continental Europe amazes me.

HF
HF
5 years ago

You seem very knowledgable. Not sure why yopu keep going on about the empire, though. Care to explain that and your knowledge ?

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  HF

HF, I blame Salmond, Must be terrible being Touched at such a young age , Terrible. !

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  HF

He’s obsessed with it. Many a lefty is.

Strangely, they’re the only ones.

But they don’t get it.

julian1
julian1
5 years ago

Have the tornados been replaced at akrotiri with additional Typhoon, or will the numbers on Shader wind down? We keep hearing that ISIS are several thousand fighters hemmed into a small packet of land – surely a much lower (or perhaps no) tempo is required now? Don’t think f35 should go to shader, surely to achieve their AOC (maritime), their time has to be spent training to “the plan” to be ready for 2021 and that far eastern cruise

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  julian1

Good question Julian. No idea.

DaveyB
DaveyB
5 years ago

I expect to see a draw down of the number of our aircraft employed fighting ISIS within the year. ISIS are properly screwed, now that Russian advisors are leading the Syrians on the ground. Unless they can properly surround ISIS a lot of them will slip away to Libya, Chad etc. The problem comes when ISIS are “defeated” and Syria goes back to a full on civil war. Now that Iran is embedded in the country I don’t see them leaving any time soon, especially as they can lob stuff at Israel and blame it on Hamas. If Iran gets… Read more »

Paul T
Paul T
5 years ago
Reply to  julian1

Julian1 – just read that 8 Tornado’s have returned leaving 6 Typhoons ,if that’s true a slight reduction but surely better capability.

David E Flandry
David E Flandry
5 years ago

I remember they produced the Sea King AEW in record time, less than two months. Surely they could produce a squadron of Advanced Combat Hawks in a few months to take over hitting ISIS in Syria.

Julian1
Julian1
5 years ago

They weren’t new build, they were conversions. In the days of plenty of spare airframes

Julian1
Julian1
5 years ago

Just to correct a few posts. Original Tornado order was 365 including 220 GR1/1a and 165 F2/F3. Remember it clear as day in an inventory listing of the RAF probably in Flight Magazine cerca early/mid 80s. In the day when the RAF could muster 400-500 combat jets!

Pete
Pete
5 years ago

If uk did go for a few F35A’s could they carry ASRAAM.internally.. Was the internal integration issue on tbe B’s space, systems, cost or combination?

P

Meiron X
Meiron X
5 years ago
Reply to  Pete

Neither A or B versions carry ASRAAM internally, only externally on near wing tips. F-35A and B, can carry AMRAAM both internally and externally.

Nick C
Nick C
5 years ago

Two thoughts about the comments from TH.
Firstly, I’m glad to see that you have an old copy of Janes Fighting Ships to look up all the old classes of ships, lots of pretty pictures.
Secondly, before you start bragging about the next “Indy ref” just remember, or find out, how the Barnett formula works. Like last time, no one votes to be worse off

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  Nick C

Ha Nick, I thought It was the “Ladybird” book of ships. Interesting his comments about the Icelandic Cod Wars though.

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago

Obviously you still have that little “Ladybird book of Ships” TH.

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
5 years ago

An Interesting exercise held by the French Air force. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/02/05/french-air-force-rehearses-a-long-range-nuclear-strike/
Although the UK has gotten rid of its “buckets of sunshine” and relies solely on Trident there remains a NATO nuclear strike requirement for certain NATO countries including Germany. As Typhoon is not cleared to carry nuclear bombs what happens when Tornado goes out of service with the Luftwaffe ?

Johnno
Johnno
5 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

German Tornados inservice till 2025. Heard they rejected
F35 and looking at F18 and Rafael. Assume the latter two are nuclear cleared?

MattW
MattW
5 years ago

Knot in stomach and tear in eye moment with the end of the Tornado *sob*