Panavia Tornado ECR Aircraft Data
Photo ID 195339 by markus altmann. Germany Air Force Panavia Tornado ECR, 46 54
Operated by Germany and Italy, the ECR (Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance) is a Tornado variant devoted to SEAD missions. It was first delivered on 21 May 1990. The ECR is equipped with an emitter-locator system (ELS) which is designed to locate enemy radar sites and armed with the AGM-88 HARM. The Luftwaffe's 35 ECR’s were delivered new, while Italy received 16 converted IDS’s (also designated as Tornado ITECR, ITalian Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance).

The ECR retains the Cerberus jamming pod, BOZ-101 chaff/flare dispenser and AIM-9 self defence AAM’s of the IDS, but both cannons are deleted.

German ECR’s were equipped with a Honeywell infra-red imaging systems for reconnaissance, however operational experience lead to the removal of this system; It was considered impractical for one aircraft to be tasked with both SEAD and reconnaissance.

Italian ECR’s (ITECR) differ from the Luftwaffe aircraft in that they were never equipped with a reconnaissance capability and as IDS conversion they are equipped with RB199 Mk.103 engines. Luftwaffe ECR’s are equipped with RB199 Mk.105 which have a slightly higher thrust rating. The first ITECR was delivered on 27 February 1998, and formally accepted on 7 April 1998.
  • Country of Origin: United Kingdom / Germany / Italy
  • First Flight: 1988
  • Initial Service Date: 1990
  • No. Built: 50
  • No. In Service: 48
  • No. of Hardpoints: 8
  • Crew: 2

Power:

2× Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk. 101 turbofan at 8,475 lbf or 2× Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk. 103 turbofan at 8,650 lbf or 2× Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk. 105 turbofan at 9,555 lbf

Weapons:

Missiles:

Air-to-air missiles:
AIM-9 Sidewinder

Anti-radiation missiles:
4× AGM-88 HARM

Dimensions:

Length: 54 ft. 10 1/4 in.
Wing Span: 45.64 ft. / 28.22 ft in.
Wing Area: 286.33 sq.ft
Height: 19 ft. 6 1/4 in.
Empty Weight: 31,065 lbs
Max. Weight: 61,620 lbs
Max. Ordnance Load: 19,841 lbs
Internal Fuel: 10,273.53 lbs

Performance:

Max. Speed: 1,453 mph
Cruise Speed: 585 mph
Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft.
Normal Range: 750 nm
Max. Range: 2,100 nm

Operators:

Germany, Italy.

Random great photos of the Panavia Tornado ECR:

Photo ID 58343 by Eric Tammer. Germany Air Force Panavia Tornado ECR, 46 29
Photo ID 245891 by Rainer Mueller. Germany Air Force Panavia Tornado ECR, 46 23
Photo ID 259668 by Maximilian Mengwasser. Italy Air Force Panavia Tornado ECR, MM7054
Photo ID 207846 by flyer1. Germany Air Force Panavia Tornado ECR, 46 54
Photo ID 1811 by Jörg Pfeifer. Germany Air Force Panavia Tornado ECR, 98 03
Photo ID 111690 by Tobias Ader. Germany Air Force Panavia Tornado ECR, 46 46
More photos »