On Thursday 6 June, at Piacenza Airport, the first example of the RET8 program was delivered. The RET8 contract between the NETMA agency and the PANAVIA consortium provides for the upgrade of 25 Tornado aircraft, 15 ECR and 10 IDS, to the IT FULL MLU (Mid-life upgrades) standard. This configuration upgrade will allow the aircraft that entered service in 1982 to remain in service with adequate operational capability, operational safety and improved logistical sustainability, thereby particularly enabling the Tornado ECR MLU aircraft to operate more effectively in SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence) operations. The Tornado ECR MLU is equipped with an integrated IN-GPS navigation system, supported by a Multi Mode Receiver (MMR) for instrument ILS and MLS approaches. The communication and identification system has been updated to the latest standards, including secure communication capabilities and the introduction of the ability to transmit and receive data via data link (MIDS), which incorporates the TACAN navigation functionality. The pilot and navigator cockpits are equipped with a new multifunction display suite to improve the human-machine interface and reduce the workload of the crew; the navigator’s cockpit has been equipped with new TAB TV displays with color LCD screens replacing the previous monochrome displays. The interior and exterior lighting systems are compatible with the use of night vision systems (NVG). Furthermore, the electronic reconnaissance capability that characterizes the mission of the aircraft has been improved, introducing new features related to the recognition and localization of threats (ELS multi ship ranging), a capability that is at the core of the operational mission of the Tornado ECR.
The new software, specially developed for this aircraft, allows the integration of new sensors and avionics systems and provides the aircraft, in addition to the ability to use anti-radiation missiles (HARM) and conventional drop weapons, with the ability to attack the ground using GPS-guided precision weapons (JDAM).
