In September 2006, British newspapers
estimated the cost of TSP at £2.5 billion
(about $4.66 billion), this total reportedly
covering the upgrade of 80 aircraft. Today,
TSP has evolved to encompass four
main phases.
TSP phase 1 concentrated on cockpit
improvements, with new avionics and
displays, a modernized communications
suite and GPS navigation. These upgrades
were embodied by local companies in
Saudi Arabia (mainly the Riyadh-based
Alsalam Aircraft Company), working in
partnership with BAE Systems. It’s unclear
exactly what this irst phase involved,but RSAF Tornados are all now equipped
with the Tornado Advanced Radar Display
Information System (TARDIS) system,
mirroring RAF GR4 cockpit upgrades.
When the 75th Squadron deployed
eight aircraft on Exercise ‘Saudi Green Flag’
at RAF Lossiemouth between August 28
and September 6, 2007, all of the visitors
were TSP 1-modiied aircraft. This was
the irst time Saudi Arabia had deployed
Tornados outside of the Gulf region.
Around the same time it was reported
that the RSAF had retired the Sea
Eagle anti-ship missile and the ALARM
anti-radiation missile, though reportsof ALARM’s demise seem to have been
premature and the weapon is still carried.
TSP phase 2 was intended to provide
the RSAF Tornado IDS leet with
provision for weapons and sensors
also in common with the RAF GR4s.
The initial priority was integrating the
Paveway II laser-guided and dual-mode
Enhanced Paveway II bombs, together
with the Thales Damocles targeting
pod. Storm Shadow cruise missiles and
Brimstone anti-armor missiles would be
integrated subsequently.
Three more RSAF Tornado IDS (serials
6611, 6612 and 6613) arrived at Warton
at the end of 2006. These became the
irst ‘production’ TSP Phase 2 upgrade
aircraft, alongside the original TSP
development aircraft continuing their
work. The irst Tornado to complete
Phase 2 modernization was returned to
Saudi Arabia in December 2007.
In February 2013, BAE Systems said,
‘the upgrade of the RSAF Tornado leet
is complete, with all of the contracted
aircraft having been delivered back
into the RSAF leet.’ The company had
earlier revealed that 73 aircraft had been
upgraded under Phases 1 and 2.
This force was suicient for three full-
strength squadrons. With the 66th havingIn February 2013, BAE Systems
said, ‘the upgrade of the
RSAF Tornado fleet is complete,
with all of the contracted aircraft
having been delivered back
into the RSAF fleet’
Above left:
RSAF Tornados
continue to fly
with the Sky
Shadow ECM pod.
This example
attended Exercise
‘Anatolian Eagle’
in 2016.
Tom Houquet
Below: A sharp
echelon of
Tornado IDS flies
off the eastern
coast of Saudi
Arabia during
a mission from
Dhahran.
RSAF/Fahad RihanTYPE REPORT // TORNADO IDS
32 December 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net