Aircraft

Steps to prepare the UK Royal Air Force's Panavia Tornado GR4 strike aircraft to deploy Raytheon Systems' Paveway IV precision-guided bomb have reached an advanced stage, with BAE Systems having recently flown a demonstrator carrying two of the 226kg (500lb) weapons.

Originally scheduled to enter service with the GR4 in 2011, the Paveway IV is now being integrated with its second airframe type under an urgent operational requirement (UOR) deal worth up to £4 million ($5.4 million). This will enable the Tornado to use the weapon during a forthcoming deployment to Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan.

RAF GR4s will replace a long-standing detachment to Kandahar by the UK's Joint Force Harrier, which deployed the Paveway IV operationally for the first time late last year. Its Harrier GR9/9As are due to return from Afghanistan in early April.

"In conjunction with BAE Systems, the UK Ministry of Defence is currently conducting work to integrate the Paveway IV onto the Tornado GR4," says the MoD in a statement issued to Flight International. "This capability marks a considerable step forward for Britain's frontline fighter jets in future operations."

© Peter Foster

"Having already successfully conducted ground and flight trials, BAE Systems declares that the [UOR] programme is progressing extremely well and is on track to meet the Ministry of Defence's aspirations for time and cost," the company says.

Both parties declined to confirm when the accelerated integration effort will be completed.