Above: The Litening III pod has transformed the ability to attack with precision. It is used to generate co-
ordinates or transmit a live picture to a JTAC via the ROVER downlink. Jamie Hunter
Below: While back at Marham, crews rely on a blend of live flying and synthetic training in the simulator
to maintain their currencies. Jamie HunterTORNADO TRIBUTE //Officer Commanding No 31 Squadron
‘Goldstars’, Wg Cdr Matt Bressani, said:
“I came through the OCU [Operational
Conversion Unit] in 2000-01 on the
GR1 and so much has changed since
then. The weapons are probably the
area where we’ve evolved the most.
“When I first went on operations in 2001
we had the TIALD pod and Paveway II.
Now we have the Litening III pod and
Paveway IV plus DMS Brimstone, and these
have been game-changing capabilities.”
Having been away from the Tornado
for a few years, on his return Bressani
was struck by the further enhancements.
“Now we’ve got the Link 16, which gives
us superb situational awareness, plus
the new SCOT secure communications
and TARDIS [Tornado Advanced Radar
Display and Information System] that gave
us a digital moving map – on the outside
the jet is similar in many ways but what
we can do now is far more advanced.”
Looking out across the hardened aircraft
shelters in the Tornado’s operational corner
at the Norfolk base, he added: “Everything
now is geared towards sustaining Operation
Shader. While we’re here at Marham it’s
about getting the crews ready for deploying
on operations. Plus we have a little spare
headroom to make sure we can maintain
contingency for those high-end operations.”
Even in its final year, and while still
committed to serving the UK’s needs, the
Tornado GR4 and its experienced crews
and engineers are still ensuring they can
adapt and deliver when the call comes.AFM