Making its Farnborough debut is Alenia Aeronautica's Tornado Mid-Life Upgrade aircraft for the Italian Air Force (IT-MLU).
The upgrade is running in parallel with the EADS Mid-Life Improvement (MLI) for the Luftwaffe.
The example exhibited is from the Reparto Sperimentale Volo (RSV) test unit and is one of three examples involved in the programme.
The upgrade programme began in 2001 and will extend the operational life of all 90 remaining Italian Tornado Interdictor Strike (IDS) and Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance (ECRs) variants until around 2020.
Alongside this interim capability, the IT-Full MLU is in development, ultimately providing a revised cockpit, an advanced Defensive Aids Suite (DAS), MBDA Storm Shadow and IRIS-T air-to-air missiles.
Source: Flight Daily News