Recce in the RAF

[Antoine]

I'd get today revell's 1/48 Eurofighter tiffie.

I was delighted to see that there were many weapons included in the box.

Then I thought about what I might build (A grey aircraft, or a grey aircraft?).

An RAF recce bird? But the pod is intended for German aircraft.

And then it occured to me that:

- I didn't know at all who is doing the tac recce in the RAF (The last time I heard about that, it was the Jag from 41 sqn, IIRW...). So who? Tournedos GR4 maybe?

- And are there any plan to get the job done by the tiffie?

- Then, with which kind of pod?

Sorry if those questions have already been asked, and for being so ignorant about the subject.

[spike7451]

Tornado can carry the Raptor pod.

[Antoine]

Ok.

Is there a specific squadron tasked with the mission, by the way?

[spike7451]

Dont think so.all GR4's can carry them.

[Armadillos]

From what i`ve seen GR4A`s are the recce birds with the camera ports on the fuselage sides.

And heres a piccy which clearly shows said camera port, this is located in the same position on both sides

[spike7451]

From what i`ve seen GR4A`s are the recce birds with the camera ports on the fuselage sides.

And heres a piccy which clearly shows said camera port, this is located in the same position on both sides

They are,but the Raptor pod allows any Tornado to be a recon platform,including real-time datalink & other stuff that the GR4A doe'nt have.

Edited January 29, 2009 by spike7451

[Antoine]

And plans for the tiffie, then?

[spike7451]

Eventually yes.

[John B (Sc)]

Ok.

Is there a specific squadron tasked with the mission, by the way?

To the best of my knowledge and belief it is still. No2 Squadron. They have been a Fighter Recce squadron for a long time, certainly going ba

ck to Swift & Hunter days at least.

They were originally a Recce Squadron in WW1. Became Army Co-operation after that. Their title is No. II (AC) Squadron because of that.

Currently equpped with Tornado GR4A, I expect they will be the main specialist recce outfit, possibly along with no.13 SQn. Other squadron's aircraft may be able to carry the reccekit, but they will be role practiced.

Edited January 29, 2009 by John B (Sc)

[canberraman]

Actually there is currently no dedicated Tornado squadron as most of the remaining GR sqns (II(AC), IX, XIII, 14 and 31) operate a mix of GR4 and GR4A aircraft. As at January 2009, II(AC)Sqn was equipped with 4 of each variant. The development of dedicated reconnaissance pods has resulted in Tornado Infra Red Reconnaissance System (TIRRS) installed in the GR4As being deactivated. Although they lack the single 27mm Mauser cannon on the starboard side of the Tornado GR4 they are now considered interchangeable and operate alongside each other in the sqns.

The primary reconnaisaance system for the Tornado GR Force is RAPTOR (Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado) which was formally accepted into RAF service at the end of 2007. Torndao GR4/4As also continue to use the Thales Digital Joint Reco=nnaissance Pod (DJRP), also carried by the Harrier as its primary reconnaissance system.

To the best of my knowledge and belief it is still. No2 Squadron. They have been a Fighter Recce squadron for a long time, certainly going ba

ck to Swift & Hunter days at least.

They were originally a Recce Squadron in WW1. Became Army Co-operation after that. Their title is No. II (AC) Squadron because of that.

Currently equpped with Tornado GR4A, I expect they will be the main specialist recce outfit, possibly along with no.13 SQn. Other squadron's aircraft may be able to carry the reccekit, but they will be role practiced.

[zipper]

When I was at Marham there was many a mission carried out with II(AC) and XIII taking on the RAPTOR, never saw IX or 31 with it but saying that all the Tonkas are made up of one big pool of airframes now and each Sqn borrows each others aircraft and the Sqn marking are slowly disappearing from each airframe.