Panavia Tornado F.3

The Tornado F.3 was designed to conduct long-duration combat air patrols. First flown in November 1985, and in training use with No. 229 OCU at Coningsby from July 1986, the Tornado F.3 entered Squadron service with No 29 Squadron, at RAF Coningsby, in April 1987.

Designed to protect UK airspace and able to engage several targets simultaneously, the Tornado F.3 can patrol for over three hours at 300 nautical miles from base. The Tornado successively replaced the Lightning and Phantom squadrons in the air defence role. Compared with the Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike) variant, the Tornado ADV has 80% commonality; however the ADV has faster supersonic acceleration, and a stretched body, permitting more internal fuel capacity.