Saudi Tornado ADV takes off during Operation Desert Shield
Aeronautica Militare - Italy procured a total of 100 IDS aircraft, of which 99 were production models and one was a pre-series aircraft converted to production standard. Twelve of these were dual-control versions. Sixteen were subsequently converted to ECR aircraft.[2][3] In 1993, an agreement was reached with the United Kingdom to lease a total of 24 ADV aircraft, which were operated until 2004.[4][5] As of 2018, Italy operates 70 Tornado IDS and 5 Tornado ECR.[1]
156° Gruppo, 6° Stormo at
Ghedi, flying IDS. First operational with Tornados from 1984. Now inactive. Previously assigned to 36° Stormo specialised in antishipping and TASMO roles.
Royal Air Force - The United Kingdom obtained a total of 228 IDS aircraft; of these, 16 were subsequently converted to undertake the reconnaissance mission, alongside a further 14 new build airframes. Another 28 were converted for the anti-shipping mission.[16] In addition, a total of 165 ADV aircraft were obtained, comprising 18 F.2s and 147 F.3s.[17] The United Kingdom was the first country to completely phase out the Tornado when its last two units were disbanded in March 2019.[18]
No. 12 Squadron at
Lossiemouth, flying GR4/4A (~12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between September 1993 – 31 March 2014; 9 January 2015 – 14 February 2018.[24]
No. XIII Squadron at Honington then Marham, flying GR4/4A (12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 January 1990 – 13 May 2011.[25]
No. 14 Squadron at Brüggen then Lossiemouth, flying GR4/4A (12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 November 1985 – 1 June 2011.[26]
No. XV (Reserve) Squadron at Laarburch, then Honington (became GR4 Operational Conversion Unit) and Lossiemouth, flying GR4 (26 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 September 1983 – 31 March 2017.[27]
No. 16 Squadron at Laarbruch, flying GR1. Disbanded, operated between 13 December 1983 – 11 September 1991.[28]
No. XVII Squadron at Brüggen, flying GR1. Disbanded, operated between 1 March 1985 – 31 March 1999.[28][29]
No. 20 Squadron at Laarbruch, flying GR1. Disbanded, operated between 29 June 1984 – 31 July 1992.[28]
No. 23 (Fighter) Squadron at Leeming, flying F3. Disbanded, operated between 1 November 1988 – 28 February 1994.[28]
No. 31 Squadron at Brüggen then Marham, flying GR4/4A (~10 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between September 1984 – 14 March 2019.[32]
No. 41 (Reserve) Squadron at
Coningsby. The Typhoon & Tornado Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) (2 Aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 April 2006 – 16 November 2017
No. 617 Squadron at Marham then Lossiemouth, flying GR4/4A (12 aircraft). Disbanded, operated between 1 January 1983 – 28 March 2014.[37]
No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit (
No 65 (Reserve) Squadron) at Coningsby, flying F2/3. Renumbered 56(R) Sqn, operated between 1984 – 31 July 1992.[38]
No. 1435 Flight at
Mount Pleasant, flying F3 (4 aircraft). Replaced by Typhoon FGR4, operated between July 1992 – September 2009.[39]
F3 Operational Evaluation Unit at
Coningsby, flying F3.[40] Merged with SAOEU becoming FJWOEU, operated between 1987 – 2004.[41]
Fast Jet and Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit (FJWOEU) at Coningsby, flying F3/GR4. Redesignated as 41(R) Sqn, operated between 2004 – April 2006.[42]
Royal Saudi Air Force - Saudi Arabia initially obtained 72 Tornados, comprising 48 IDS and 24 ADV. A further 48 IDS aircraft were subsequently obtained.[44]
^
abcdLake World Air Power Journal Volume 32, p. 137.
Lake, Jon. "Aircraft of the RAF: Part 1 – Panavia Tornado". Air International, Vol. 74, No. 4, April 2008, pp. 24–29. ISSN 0306-5634.
Lake, Jon. "Tornado Variant Briefing: Part III: Tornado Operators". World Air Power Journal, Volume 32, Spring 1998, pp. 118–137. London: Aerospace Publishing.
ISBN1-86184-006-3. ISSN 0959-7050.
List, Friedrich. "German Air Arms Review". Air International, Vol. 70, No. 5, May 2006, pp. 50–57. ISSN 0306-5634.