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January 6th 1982 saw the first of more than 220 Tornados enter service with the RAF; making IX Squadron (then based at RAF Honington in Suffolk) the first operational Tornado GR1 squadron.
The Tornado was produced by a consortium of aerospace industries in the United Kingdom , Germany and Italy and on entering service replaced a number of older RAF aircraft including the Buccaneer and Vulcan as low-level attack aircraft.
The Tornado GR4 is the latest version of the RAF's primary attack aircraft equipping seven front-line squadrons at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and RAF Marham in Norfolk , in addition to the XV (R) Squadron Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). Capable of supersonic speeds and flight at low level, the aircraft is one of the most potent in the world today. A programme to upgrade over 140 of the GR1's to the GR4 standard was instigated in the late 1990's and completed in 2003 and under the present plans they are expected to remain in front-line service until 2025.
The Tornado, initially in its GR1 variant, and then as the upgraded GR4, has flown with distinction during various operations in the Middle East since the first Gulf War in 1991, when it helped to establish air supremacy by disabling Iraqi airfields during the first days of conflict.
Wing Commander Dave Waddington, Officer Commanding of IX Squadron at RAF Marham has flown the Tornado in both Gulf Wars and comments
