A-200C Tornado
Panavia / Saudi participation · Saudi Arabia · first flew 1979 · bomber
The A-200C is the Royal Saudi Air Force designation for the interdictor/strike variant of the Panavia Tornado IDS delivered under the Al-Yamamah arms deal, essentially identical to the RAF Tornado GR.1 in capability.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, variable |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Variable-sweep wings at mid-fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Variable-sweep wings at mid-fuselage
- Twin turbofan exhausts side-by-side at rear
- RSAF desert camouflage; broadly identical to IDS Tornado
Identical to RAF Tornado GR.1 in silhouette; RSAF aircraft typically carry green/grey or desert camouflage; Saudi roundel and RSAF markings are the primary distinguishing features.
Specifications
- The A-200C Tornado has a length of 16.72 m (55 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.91 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2417 km/h (1502 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Saudi Arabia ordered Tornado IDS aircraft as part of the landmark Al-Yamamah agreement signed in 1985 with the United Kingdom. The A-200C designation covers the strike-optimised aircraft delivered in several tranches, equipping RSAF squadrons at Dhahran and Tabuk. They flew combat missions during the 1991 Gulf War and remained the backbone of Saudi strike aviation until supplemented by Typhoon deliveries from the mid-2010s.
Variants
A-200A (IDS baseline); A-200C (updated IDS); EA-200B (electronic warfare/ECR role).
Where you'll see it
Royal Saudi Air Force; participated in Operation Desert Storm and subsequent Gulf region operations; gradually supplemented by Eurofighter Typhoon.
Related aircraft
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