Panavia Tornado GR4
Panavia Aircraft (BAe / British Aerospace) · United Kingdom · first flew 1998 · fighter
The Tornado GR4 is the mid-life upgrade of the RAF's Panavia Tornado GR1 strike aircraft, featuring modernised avionics, new sensors, and precision-weapon capability introduced from the late 1990s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Variable-sweep 'swing wing' set close to fuselage sides |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Variable-sweep 'swing wing' set close to fuselage sides
- Two crew in tandem under a long curved canopy
- TIALD or Litening targeting pod on centreline
Distinguished from the GR1 by its FLIR fairing under the nose, repositioned pitot probe arrangement, and the near-universal fit of a targeting pod; variable-sweep wings confirm the Tornado family.
Specifications
- The Panavia Tornado GR4 has a length of 16.72 m (55 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.91 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2337 km/h (1452 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
British Aerospace led the GR4 upgrade programme under contract from 1994, with the first modified aircraft flying in 1997 and entering service in 1998. The programme added night-vision goggles compatibility, a wide-angle HUD, colour moving map, and integration for TIALD targeting pods. GR4s served in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria before the type retired from RAF service in 2019.
Variants
The GR4A was the reconnaissance-optimised sub-variant retaining the sensor-recce suite of the GR1A. Some aircraft were further updated to GR4T standard with terrain-following radar enhancements.
Where you'll see it
Operated solely by the Royal Air Force at Marham and Lossiemouth; the type saw continuous operational use from 1998 until its retirement on 31 March 2019.
Related aircraft
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