| Tornado IDS | Tornado MFG | Tornado ECR |
The Panavia Tornado ECR is a SEAD aircraft available to West German and NATO decks. The Tornado ECR was introduced in Wargame: Red Dragon.
History[]
The Panavia Tornado is a twin-engine, two-seat, swing-wing multi-role fighter used by Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. It was developed in three main variants: IDS (Interdictor/Strike), ADV (Air Defense Variant), and ECR (Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance). The genesis of the Tornado dates to the 1960's, where West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada began examining potential replacements for their F-104 Starfighter aircraft. The Multi-Role Combat Aircraft team saw several changes by 1969, Canada dropping out of the project for political reasons, Belgium deciding to purchase Mirage aircraft from France, and the Netherlands deciding the aircraft being developed was too complicated. Panavia GmbH was formed by the United Kingdom, West Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands (before they left the project) to produce the Tornado.
The ECR or "Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance" variant of the Tornado is operated by West Germany and Italy specifically for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) mission. First delivered in 1990, the ECR features powerful ECM, threat warning receivers, and compatibility with the AGM-88 HARM. 35 Tornado ECRs were delivered to the German Luftwaffe, which also featured improved RB199 Mk.105 engines, but which eliminated the internal Mauser BK-27 cannon. These were used by Jagdbombergeschwader 32
Overview[]
Red Dragon[]
The Tornado ECR is a SEAD aircraft available to West German and NATO decks. Equipped with exceptional ECM (50%), Medium Stealth and a 1000km/h top speed, the ECR can get to its intended target area quickly, and do so even against advanced SAMs or long-range AAMs. Its four AGM-88 HARMs make the ECR deadly to enemy air defenses, and although it lacks a cannon, the Tornado ECR carries four AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, allowing the type to defend itself against enemy fighters close in, or to attack enemy helicopters operating in its area.
The main drawbacks of the Tornado ECR are its high cost and lack of a cannon. Although fairly safe from long range missiles thanks to the combination of ECM and stealth characteristics, the ECR can still be swarmed and splashed by relatively inexpensive fighters if it stays over enemy territory for too long. The lack of a cannon leads to some tactical inflexibility, however given the type's primary SEAD mission, shouldn't be too noticeable a drawback.
Weapons[]
Red Dragon[]
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | ARM | AAM | No Weapon |
| Name | AGM-88 HARM | AIM-9L Sidewinder | |
| Caliber | Antiradar [HEAT] [F&F] [SEAD] |
Infrared [AoE] [F&F] |
|
| Ammo | x 4 | x 4 | |
| Range | Ground = 5250 m Helicopters = N/A m  Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = N/A m Helicopters = 1750 m Airplanes = 3150 m
|
|
| Accuracy | 65% | 50% | |
| Stabilizer | 65% | 50% | |
| AP Power | 20 | N/A | |
| HE Power | N/A | 4 | |
| Suppression | 150 | 160 | |
| Rate of fire | 2s r/min | 2s r/min |
Gallery[]
See also[]
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