Tornado IDS ASSTA1 (Germany)

This page is about the strike aircraft Tornado IDS ASSTA1 (Germany). For other versions, see Tornado (Family).

◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1

Alpha Jet A

◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1

Alpha Jet A

Germany

VIII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.7	11.7	11.7

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:400 000

Purchase:1 080 000

Description

During the late '90s, while Britain was undergoing its modernization of the Tornado fleet, Germany also began plans to upgrade their older Tornado IDS aircraft. The resulting upgrade package, named "ASSTA1" (Avionics System Software; Tornado in ADA) was finalized in 2000, to upgrade the German Tornado fleet for service in the 21st century. ASSTA1 incorporated a complete overhaul of most of the avionics suite, including an entirely new fire control system and weapons computer, GPS and Laser INS navigation suites, and the latest 1760 data bus, giving the Tornado full compatibility with the latest standardized NATO ordnance and their required targeting systems. As a result, in addition to its older loadouts, the ASSTA1 could carry the latest standard NATO guided ordnance, such as the AGM-88 HARM, in addition to the LITENING targeting pod and a plethora of Paveway III laser bomb options. Over the next years, German Tornados would also undergo the ASSTA2 and ASSTA3 upgrades, further enhancing their capabilities.

The ◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1, introduced in Update "Apex Predators", is a two-seat, twin-engine, swing-wing, multi-role combat aircraft built jointly by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy. This version is the Tornado Interdiction/Strike or IDS for short, and as such, is almost completely useless in air-to-air combat against fighters of its battle rating. Instead, the Tornado IDS is best used in mixed battles, where its powerful ordnance and strong avionics allow it to rain hell on enemy aircraft from above. All in all, the ASSTA1 provides great CAS capability for mixed battles to the high ranking players of the German tree.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 12 195 m2 362 km/h

Turn time28 s

Max altitude13 500 m

EngineTurbo-Union RB199-34R Mk.103

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight0 t

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 12,195 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	2335	2312	13500	28.4	28.6	180.4	176.5	800
Upgraded	2,396	2,362		27.6	28.0	229.6	204.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits	Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
			Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
Min sweep	972	520	972	552	440	~__	~__
Max sweep	1,555		N/A	N/A	N/A	~__	~__

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 670	< 650	< 700	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass			Wing loading (full fuel)
Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk.103		2	14,709 kg			___ kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)					Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		16m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	56m fuel
968 kg	Afterburning low-bypass turbofan		16,236 kg	16,523 kg	17,429 kg	18,789 kg	19,799 kg	26,310 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	16m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	56m fuel	MGW
Stationary	3,777 kgf	7,293 kgf	0.90	0.88	0.84	0.78	0.74	0.55
Optimal	4,192 kgf (1,400 km/h)	8,155 kgf (1,400 km/h)	1.00	0.99	0.94	0.87	0.82	0.62

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear0 km/h

The Tornado has no armour to speak of and is relatively large, making it an easy target for enemy guns. Almost any hit to the center part of the Tornado will leave its speed crippled, while any hit to the wings and tail will most likely cripple flight performance, if not disabling the aircraft outright. Although it could in theory make its way back to base even with only one engine, any enemy attention during this timespan will most likely get you sent back to the hangar. It also has 2 pilots, which means that you can continue flying in the unlikely case that only 1 pilot is knocked out.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 962 → 4 395

RB7 491 → 11 116

SB11 414 → 16 938

Total cost of modifications305 000

469 000

Talisman cost3 100

Crew training310 000

Experts1 080 000

Aces3 400

Research Aces1 280 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 340 / 600 %

250 / 250 / 250 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 340 New boosters Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 400 Wings repair Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 540 Engine Research: 33 000 Cost: 51 000 940	Fuselage repair Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 340 Airframe Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 400 Cover Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 540	Flares/Chaff Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 340 bk_27_belt_pack Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 340 Mk83 Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 340 G-suit Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 400 LITENING II Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 400 40px ASSTA 3.0 LJDAM Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 400 bk_27_new_gun Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 540 GBU-16 Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 540 EFS Research: 33 000 Cost: 51 000 940 GBU-24 Research: 33 000 Cost: 51 000 940

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)	Lead indicator

Offensive armament

The Tornado IDS ASSTA1 (Germany) is armed with:

• 2 x 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannons, chin-mounted (180 rpg = 360 total)

Suspended armament

The Tornado IDS ASSTA1 (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs			1, 2	1, 2‡	1, 2‡ *	1‡	1, 2‡	1, 2‡	1, 2
1,000 lb Mk 83 AIR bombs			1, 2	1, 2‡	1, 2‡ *	1‡	1, 2‡	1, 2‡	1, 2
1,092 lb GBU-16 Paveway II bombs			1†	1*†		1†‡			1†
2,000 lb GBU-24 Paveway III bombs				1*†
AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles		1								1
Large calibre countermeasures	28										28
LITENING II targeting pod								1†
1,500 l drop tanks			1						1
* Guided bombs on hardpoint 4 cannot be equipped with 1,000 lb bombs on hardpoint 5-6 † LITENING II targeting pod must be equipped when using guided bombs ‡ Bombs on hardpoint 6 cannot be equipped with dual bomb mounts on hardpoints 4-8 or GBU-24 on hardpoint 4

Default weapon presets

2 x 1,500 l drop tanks 56 x large calibre countermeasures 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total) 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (7,000 lb total) 7 x 1,000 lb Mk 83 AIR bombs (7,000 lb total) 12 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (12,000 lb total) 12 x 1,000 lb Mk 83 AIR bombs (12,000 lb total) 4 x 1,092 lb GBU-16 Paveway II bombs (4,368 lb total) 1 x 2,000 lb GBU-24 Paveway III bomb (2,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

There are multiple ways to use the Tornado in ARB, one tactic is to stick to the team and try and give support with your AIM-9Ls on your way to the enemy bases and/or ground targets. This gives you the advantage of team cover and a bit of safety, although you will undoubtedly be in the midst of battle once enemy interceptors and fighters reach your team. The other tactic would be to go full throttle directly to the enemy bases while keeping extremely low to the ground to decrease your chances of being spotted visually or by radar. While this leaves you mostly alone and isolated from the possible support of your team, you will be able to take a more direct route to your main target, meaning you'll be able to evade any slower or unsuspecting enemies. Taking an active role in air-to-air combat is not advised, as the Tornado's flight performance is not suited to it and you'll most likely be shot down very quickly. So keep in mind that although the Tornado is fast, its not very manoeuvrable at high speed so try to avoid faster enemies such as the F-16 or the F-14. In the case of 1-to-1 confrontation the best option is to simply hope you are faster and run away, against capable fighters like the MiG-23, F-16, MiG-29, Viggen, F-14, and Mirage 2000 you don't stand a chance, unless the enemy pilot is extremely inexperienced. With countermeasures you are able to survive for longer if you can time their use and can dodge without losing too much of your speed. In GRB you can easily pick off enemy SPAA once you have unlocked your laser guided bombs, so try to fly as high as possibile. If you only have dumb bombs you're going to need to stick to the ground as much as possibile to avoid enemy AA, you can't linger too much on the battlefield or else the enemy team will begin to prioratise you as a target. You also need to be very weary of what type of enemy air has been spawned in, if you focus too much on ground vehicles you become easy pickings for any enemy aircraft which can take advantage of you not realising they're there. In conclusion, play a reserved role and only engage when you think its clear.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• High acceleration
• Laser-guided munitions give it a good ground attack capability

Cons:

• Bombs severely limit its maximum speed to about Mach 1.05
• Very sluggish and slow turning rate, is unable to effectively manoeuvre
• Only has access to 2 x AIM-9L for air-to-air purposes
• No search radar
• Tracking radar is limited to 5°x6° and has 2 km effective range

History

In 1967, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Italy, and the Federal Republic of Germany joined together to form the F-104 Replacement Group to begin joint planning for a Multi-Role Aircraft 75 (MRA-75) as a successor to the Starfighter.

In the UK, there was a need for a successor to the Canberra at the same time. Initially, work was done here on a national development, the BAC TSR.2. After this project was discontinued in 1965, development of a joint swing-wing fighter began with France under the Anglo-French Variable Geometry (AFVG) program. In addition, British forces were looking at introducing the General Dynamics F-111. However, France withdrew from the AFVG project in June 1967, and about six months later the British gave up their option to buy the F-111.

Britain decided to participate in a joint project in 1967 after initial coordination discussions with the F-104 Replacement Group nations. In 1968, the participating countries signed an initial memorandum that aimed at a joint project called the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). At this point, Canada and Belgium withdrew their intentions to participate, followed shortly thereafter by the Netherlands.

In 1969, the definition phase began. The concept of the swing-wing was retained because of its versatility. The goal of the remaining nations, Germany, Italy and Great Britain, was to build a multi-role combat aircraft that could be used for conventional as well as nuclear air attacks, aerial reconnaissance and naval warfare from the air. The Warsaw Pact was seen as an adversary with a strong air defense and, at the same time, the ability to take offensive action against NATO itself with a large force deployment. The emphasis of the resulting operational requirements was therefore on high assertiveness and robustness. To ensure this, the new aircraft was required, among other things, to be capable of extreme low-level flight and precise weapons employment in all weather conditions, day and night, and also to have highly effective self-protection equipment. In addition, it was to be capable of using runways damaged by enemy air attacks. The UK also defined a requirement for a long-range interceptor fighter.

To ensure adequate representation of the interests of the participating nations in this multinational project, their governments decided to establish a joint organization under the NATO umbrella, the NATO Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Development and Production Management Organization (NAMMO). A separate agency, NAMMA, was established as the executive body with personnel from the three nations. NAMMA's mission was expanded in 1987 to include in-service support (NATO Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Development, Production and In-Service Support Management Agency). The agency merged with NEFMA from the Eurofighter program in 1995 to form the NATO EF 2000 and Tornado Development, Production & Logistics Management Agency (NETMA).

The industrial groups involved in the program, British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and Fiat Aviazione, merged to form the independent international Panavia Aircraft GmbH, based in Munich, which had overall responsibility during the production phase and was the sole point of contact for NAMMA.

In 1969, the invitation to tender was issued for the development of the engine. Here, the British company Rolls-Royce came out on top with the Turbo-Union RB199 engine against the American manufacturers Pratt & Whitney and General Electric, partly because of the high degree of technology transfer offered to the other participating nations. The Turbo-Union Ltd. consortium, based in Great Britain and involving Rolls-Royce, Motoren- und Turbinen-Union (MTU) and Fiat, was set up to manufacture the engine.

Development began on July 20, 1970, after the United Kingdom had prevailed with the concept of the two-seat twin-engine aircraft; based on experience with the F-104 and the Fiat G.91 and for cost reasons, Germany had originally called for only one pilot and only one engine. The envisaged number of aircraft declined from 1,500 (GB: 300, D: 550, I: 200, others: 600) in 1968, including the British fighter version, to 809 (GB: 385, D: 324, I: 100) in 1972. Overall, delivery figures over the entire production and service period totaled: GB: 402, D: 357, I: 100. Production of the assemblies proceeded according to a division of labor. The cockpit and tail sections as well as the vertical stabilizer were manufactured by BAC (later BAE Systems), MBB (later DASA and EADS) produced the center fuselage section and the air intakes, and Fiat (later Aeritalia and Alenia Aeronautica) produced the wings with the high-lift aids. Final assembly took place from 1973 at three sites in Warton (Lancashire, UK), Manching (Germany) and Turin (Italy).

The maiden flight took place in Manching, Germany on August 14, 1974, and in 1976 the aircraft, until then designated MRCA, was given the name Tornado.

Series production began in 1979. In 1980, the first Tornado was delivered to the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE) at Cottesmore for flying crew training. Equipment for operational units in the United Kingdom and Germany began in 1982, followed by Italy in 1984 and Saudi Arabia, the sole export customer, in 1986.

In late 1989, the U.S. Department of Defense investigated whether the Tornado could be used by U.S. air forces in the Wild Weasel role to replace the Phantom F-4G. However, this consideration was discarded in the early 1990s in favor of the existing F-16s.

From 1990 to 1991, the German Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance (ECR) variants were produced, which would later play an important role in the Balkan War. In 1991, the South Korean Air Force expressed interest in purchasing 50 Tornado ECRs. Due to delays caused by technical problems, the number was initially reduced to 24, and eventually the intention was abandoned.

In 1995, 339 Tornado fighter aircraft were in service with the Bundeswehr (Air Force and German Navy). Production of the Tornados then ended in 1998, after a total of 992 had been produced.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Tornado IDS ASSTA1 (Germany) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #340 - Metal Beasts section at 00:24 discusses the Tornado IDS ASSTA1 (Germany).

See also

Related development

• Tornado GR.1
• Tornado IDS (1995) (Italy)

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.