I Tornado deployed by the Luftwaffe in the anti-ISIS campaign, they cannot operate as they would like. From the pages of the German weekly "Stern" it is clear that the aircraft deployed by the Bundeswehr at the NATO base in Incirlik, Turkey, cannot conduct missions other than 'daytime' photographic reconnaissance.
The 16 Tornado IDS they completed their first mission against IS on 8 January. On that date 2 jets Panavia Tornado IDS 'RECCE' they conducted a daytime reconnaissance in hostile territory. The next step should have been to carry out night reconnaissance and offensive 'strikes' on pre-established targets in Syria and Iraq but due to technical problems encountered in the instrumentation no offensive or night reconnaissance mission can be conducted.
The problem would have arisen following a retrofit made to the cockpit lights of the appliances that cause annoying reverberations in the cockpit. These would produce reflections in the night vision goggles that could disturb the pilot and the navigator during take-off and landing operations, as well as in the acquisition of targets.
A spokesman for the German Air Force said: "This 'technical problem' was to be resolved as planned in October, but was postponed at the beginning of February. Date in which the aircraft will be 100% operational." on the aircraft will be brought at the same base of Incirlik, without having to replace the deployed aircraft.
The German Air Force owns a total of 85 Panavia Tornado fighter-bombers in the two basic versions: IDS (Interdiction and Strike) and ECR (Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance). Several Tornado IDS models, such as those mentioned above, have been set up in the 'Recce' reconnaissance version.
(photo: Bundeswehr)
