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A Tornado on Display at Volandia

On the 7th of September, 2025, the Tornado IDS MM7057 arrived at the "Parco e Museo del Volo Volandia" from the Cameri Air Base. The former 6th Stormo aircraft was reassembled by the Cameri-based 1st Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli and put on display as of October 8. The two-seat, variabile geometry Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) was produced from the late 'Seventies by the Panavia consortium consisting of the British Aircraft Corporation (United Kingdom), Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (West Germany) and Aeritalia. The agreement assigned 42,5% of production work to BAC (forward fuselage and tail), the same share to MBB (central fuselage) and the remaining 15% to Aeritalia (wings). The three companies set up their own final assembly lines. A further consortium, Turbo Union was formed to produce the engines for the Tornado with the following shareholders: MTU (West Germany) 40%, Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom) 40% and FIAT Aviazione (Italy) 20%.

The Italian Air Force received a total of 104 Tornado aircraft (2 prototypes, a pre-series item (line number PS.14 later converted to operational service as MM7001) and 88 of the IDS (Interdiction Strike) version. Thirteen IDS were dual control aircraft for the operational conversion of pilots and system operators. Six of them were assigned to the TTTE (Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment) at RAF Cottesmore, formed on May 8, 1979 and disbanded on March 31, 1999. The dual control IDS aircraft were also operated by the IAF's 10th Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).

From 1998 on, beginning with the prototype numbered MM7079, 15 more Tornado IDS aircraft were modified to the ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance) version and were assigned to the 155th Gruppo "The Panthers" of the 50th Stormo at Piacenza / San Damiano Air Base. In 2016, the 50th Stormo was disbanded and the 155th Gruppo, with their "shark-mouth" Tornadoes, was transferred to Ghedi Air Base and incorporated into the 6th Stormo.

Finally, from 2004 on, deliveries of a number of items modernized in three different phases of the MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) programme began: MLU first upgrade, IT full MLU stage B and RET 8 IT full MLU. This progressive upgrading included new avionics and armament such as the integration of the Storm Shadow cruise missile and the satellite guided JDAM bombs. At the moment the phase-out of the IAF's Tornadoes is planned to conclude in 2027.

In the picture: Panavia Tornado IDS MM7057 / 6-04 (IS056) of the Italian Air Force on display at Volandia from October, 2025. (Paolo Stanchina / Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, September 2025)