ADV Tornado

[Crusader2000]

Does anybody believe the UK could find a export customer for its secondhand ADV Tornado's? If, so what country would be the likely buyer???

[Scorpion82]

Does anybody believe the UK could find a export customer for its secondhand ADV Tornado's? If, so what country would be the likely buyer???

I think that's more than unlikely. Who would like a low performing long range interceptor with just a few hours of service life being left. It's as would someone ask if anyone would buy the used F-15A-Ds in service with the USAF. The Tornado is not the cheapest aeroplane to operate, its performance is at best modest, though its electronic equipment and weapons aren't that bad, but that's it.

[Crusader2000]

I think that's more than unlikely. Who would like a low performing long range interceptor with just a few hours of service life being left. It's as would someone ask if anyone would buy the used F-15A-Ds in service with the USAF. The Tornado is not the cheapest aeroplane to operate, its performance is at best modest, though its electronic equipment and weapons aren't that bad, but that's it.


Oh, I think the Tornado's still could be operated for many years. Yet, you are correct in the fact that they're expensive to operate. Maybe the UK would give them away for free. In exchange for the customer paying the cost to upgrade them.........



How about the Philippine Air Force for example?

Which, is not to say I consider it likely. Just hate to see such modern aircraft go to waste....:(

[Scorpion82]

Oh, I think the Tornado's still could be operated for many years. Yet, you are correct in the fact that they're expensive to operate. Maybe the UK would give them away for free. In exchange for the customer paying the cost to upgrade them.........



How about the Philippine Air Force for example?

Which, is not to say I consider it likely. Just hate to see such modern aircraft go to waste....:(

I have no idea how much flight hours are left on those airframes, but the aircraft are between 17 and 22 years old. I don't expect the ADV to be designed to last longer than the IDS (4000 h). So you might squeeze out some more hours, but it's questionable if it makes much sense at all.Let alone that the Tornado ADV is a quite specialised aircraft. The Italians have phased them out earlier than expected, the RSAF has phased them out and the RAF will retire that type in 2011 according to current plans. So does it really make sense to continue operations with a new operator, just to replace them in another 10 years or so?

[Blue Streak]

[QUOTE=Crusader2000;181959]Does anybody believe the UK could find a export customer for its secondhand ADV Tornado's? Libya.