Tornado IDS MFG (Germany)

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

◄Tornado IDS MFG

◄Tornado IDS MFG

Germany

VIII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.0	11.3	11.3

Class:

Strike aircraft

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

MARKET

Description

During the acquisition of the Tornado IDS by the Luftwaffe, the Deutschemarine (German Navy) also received 112 Tornado IDS aircraft for the anti-shipping and maritime patrol/reconnaissance roles. The naval Tornados, designated "Marineflieger", were easily recognizable due to the sea-gray liveries they usually used, and were outfitted with special weapon systems not found on the Luftwaffe Tornados, allowing them to use the AS.34 Kormoran anti-ship missile and BL775 cluster munitions. At the end of the Cold War, per the CFE Treaty, half of the Marinefliegers would be removed from naval service and instead incorporated into the Luftwaffe, to replace a wing of reconnaissance RF-4 Phantoms. The remaining Marinefliegers would continue their anti-shipping and maritime roles until 2005, when their units were disbanded and the Tornados were dispersed back into the Luftwaffe and upgraded into the ASSTA standard.

The ◄Tornado IDS Marineflieger was introduced during Update "Apex Predators" as a reward for the 2022 Winter Quest event. Being a older Tornado IDS variant, it lacks the ASSTA1 upgrade found on its tech tree counterpart, meaning it can not use guided bombs and advanced targeting pods. However, being the Marineflieger (Naval variant), it gets access to the active radar AS.34 Kormoran anti-ship missiles, a very unique and niche weapon system. The Tornado is not great at air-to-air combat, and as this variant lacks its laser-guided bombs, it's also somewhat underwhelming in mixed battles against tanks. The IDS Marineflieger serves best as a collector's vehicle, due to its rare gift/event vehicle status, unique camouflages, and special weaponry. The aircraft does find a niche use on certain maps in Air Simulator Battles, where its anti-ship missiles can be used against AI controlled naval targets.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 11 582 m2 308 km/h

Turn time29 s

Max altitude13 000 m

EngineTurbo-Union RB199-34R Mk.103

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight0 t

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 11,582 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	2,295	2,292	13000	29.4	29.5	172.1	169.8	800
Upgraded	2,324	2,308		28.6	29.0	220.0	195.0

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	560	1,166	552	440	~8	~3
Max sweep	1,555		N/A	N/A	N/A	~9	~3

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	25,423 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	0.57
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	0.64

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

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 338 → 5 043

RB7 885 → 11 914

SB10 119 → 15 289

Total cost of modifications306 000

468 000

Talisman cost3 100

Crew training310 000

Experts1 080 000

Aces3 400

Research Aces1 280 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 330 / 600 %

250 / 250 / 250 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 New boosters Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 400 Wings repair Research: 26 000 Cost: 40 000 610 Engine Research: 50 000 Cost: 77 000 1 200	Fuselage repair Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 Airframe Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 400 Cover Research: 26 000 Cost: 40 000 610	Flares/Chaff Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 bk_27_belt_pack Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 Mk83 Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 280 G-suit Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 400 AS.34 Research: 17 000 Cost: 26 000 400 bk_27_new_gun Research: 26 000 Cost: 40 000 610 EFS Research: 50 000 Cost: 77 000 1 200

Armaments

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

Offensive armament

The Tornado IDS MFG (Germany) is armed with:

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

Suspended armament

The Tornado IDS MFG (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
AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles		1								1
AS.34 Kormoran missiles			1	1				1	1
Large calibre countermeasures	28										28
1,500 l drop tanks			1						1
* Bombs on hardpoint 6 cannot be equipped in conjunction with dual bomb mounts on hardpoints 4-8 † AS.34 Kormoran missiles on hardpoints 4/8 cannot be equipped in conjunction with bombs on hardpoints 4-8

Default weapon presets
2 x 1,500 l drop tanks 56 x large calibre countermeasures 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles 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 AS.34 Kormoran missiles 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

Air Realistic battles

If used in Air Realistic battles, the Tornado IDS MFG should be used as a bomber rather than a fighter. Thus you should take 12 x 1,000 lb bombs for bombing and 2 x AIM-9Ls if needed. It is also recommended to take the 58 x countermeasures with you, as these will be your only option for evading a missile. Since the Tornado is very fast, you can quickly fly into the battlefield with afterburners turned on. While flying, you should watch out for enemy planes and missiles. It is best to fly low to the ground - less than 60 m above it - as you will often face Pulse-Doppler radar with missiles such as AIM-7s and R-24R. The combination of the radar with these strong missiles will most likely kill you if you don’t pay enough attention.

Once you are close enough to the base, quickly fly up so you can drop your bombs. To get the most out of your IDS MFG, drop half of your bomb load (6 bombs) and keep the other half for another base. Once the bombs are away, you should fly down again to avoid being detected or getting missiles. Then fly to another base and repeat the process.

If you‘re out of bombs, you can either fly back to base and rearm or make use of your missiles and engage enemy planes. Fire the missiles at unsuspecting targets, which are either in a fight or seem to not pay attention (e.g. when flying back to their airfield in a consistent straight line). 

Also, always make sure to look around using your assigned button, since any engagement with an enemy fighter like the F-16, MiG-23 or MiG-29 will put you at a high risk of dying!

Ground Realistic battles

If used in Ground realistic battles, the Tornado can be lethal to enemy tanks due to its great armament. It is advisable to take the same weaponry as in Air battles (see above) since you will need the bombs to destroy ground targets and the AIM-9Ls and Flares/Chaff for any air engagement.

While flying into the battlefield, it is best to - again - fly low to the ground, as enemy fighters or SPAAs can easily shoot you down. So when you spawn, dive down immediately!

When over the battlefield, quickly drop your bombs and fly away as fast as possible. If you want to make another run, because you haven’t dropped all of your bombs yet, make sure to avoid detection while turning in the air. If you see on your RWR that SPAAs like the Pantsir-S1 are present, fly back to your airfield and rearm - even if you still have bombs.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good acceleration and excellent top speed
  • Higher bomb load and speed than SU-22
• Mauser BK27 guns have decent hitting power and ammunition capacity
• Unlike other Tornado versions, has anti-ship equipment (missiles and radar)
• Access to two AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles stock
• Can act as a fighter when necessary
  • Variable wing sweep allows it to turn better when at low speeds, or during an emergency at high speed (at the risk of destroying itself)
  • Radar assisted gun makes intercepting incoming or leaving planes easier

Cons:

• Bad manoeuvrability makes air-to-air combat challenging, low air-to-air missile amount to compensate unlike other attacker options
• No access to guided bombs unlike other Tornados
• Unstable wings, plane can rip itself apart when bombing at maximum speed at low altitude or when doing negative G manoeuvres
• AS.34 Kormoran missiles are rather unreliable weapon even against the ships, the anti-ship search radar cannot locate planes
• Tracking radar (ACM) is limited to 5°x6° until the target is locked

History

Concept

In 1967, the countries of Great Britain, Belgium, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, and West Germany decided to jointly develop a multirole fighter aircraft to replace the F-104 Starfighter. In 1968, the Netherlands, Canada, and Belgium left the project and the remaining nations signed an initial agreement. The definition phase began in 1969, requirements were placed on the new aircraft. The aircraft should be able to perform conventional and nuclear attacks, as well as aerial reconnaissance and naval warfare. To perform these tasks, the aircraft should have high survivability and be able to fly at extreme low altitudes, with high weapon accuracy in all weather conditions.

Development

In 1969, Rolls-Royce was chosen as the manufacturer of the new twin-jet engine.

Britain prevailed over Germany on the crew: Germany demanded one seat, as they did in the Starfighter. Ultimately, however, the decision was made to have two seats.

Production was split between nations, with being Britain responsible for the cockpit and tail, as well as the vertical stabilizer.

Germany made the center fuselage and air intakes, and Italy made the wings. Final assembly took place from 1973 on the three lines in Warton (Great Britain), Manching (Germany), and Turin (Italy). In 1976, the aircraft, previously known as the MRCA, was given the name Tornado. The first flight took place on August 14, 1974 in Manching (Germany). A total of 10 prototypes and six pre-production aircraft were built, of which the prototype P08 sadly crashed in 1979.

Service

The equipment of the task forces in Great Britain and Germany began in 1982, followed in 1984 by Italy, and in 1986 the only export customer, Saudi Arabia.

From 1990 to 1991, the German Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance variants (ECR) were produced. In 1995, 339 Tornado combat aircraft were in service with the German Armed Forces (Air Force and German Navy). The device unit price (aircraft costs) was estimated at that time at 55 million DM. In 1999, the last newly built Tornado was delivered to the Saudi Arabian Air Force. A total of 977 aircraft were manufactured.

Germany received 359 tornadoes from 1980 to 1991.

The Bundeswehr Navy used the variants IDS, Recce, and ECR.

Media

Skins

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

Videos

Tornado IDS Marineflieger: A Quick Review - Tims Variety

See also

Related development

• Tornado IDS ASSTA1 (Germany)
• Tornado IDS (1995) (Italy)

Other jet planes with variable sweep wings

• MiG-23 (Family)
• Su-17/22 (Family)
• F14 (Family)
• F-111A

External links

• [Marine-Flieger] MRCA Tornado PA200
• [Devblog] Winter event vehicles: Tornado IDS Marineflieger