Saudi ADV Tornados withdrawn and stripped of usable parts

[Frosty]

The Saudi Arabian ADV (Air Defence Variant) Tornados have all been stripped of usable parts, engines etc, and the fuselages are sitting on the ground with the undercarriage retracted, gathering dust at Tabuk...

ADV Tornados have all been replaced by the Typhoons KSA have contracted for.

Such a shame to see them end up like that.. Those beautiful Tornados :c

 

[Asian.Century]

The Airframes looked to be in top shape as well, a lot of life left in them. What a shame, they could have sold the old equipment to some third world country in Africa, or India or some-where else.

 

[marbella]

rich countries also reuse scrap. recycling makes world a better place.

 

[Juggernautjatt]

The Airframes looked to be in top shape as well, a lot of life left in them. What a shame, they could have sold the old equipment to some third world country in Africa, or India or some-where else.

For India buying used Tornados will be pointless. It will create logistical problems for IAF as they are already in talks with France for Rafales. Apart from that India never buys second hand fighter jets nowdays.
Secondly I don't see any likely customer in Africa for these twin engine jets. Strangely why Pakistan haven't tried for these ADV Tornados ?

 

[Asian.Century]

For India buying used Tornados will be pointless. It will create logistical problems for IAF as they are already in talks with France for Rafales. Apart from that India never buys second hand fighter jets nowdays.
Secondly I don't see any likely customer in Africa for these twin engine jets. Strangely why Pakistan haven't tried for these ADV Tornados ?

I think main reason is the twin engine, which PAF has less preference for. And Pakistanis donot think British as a more reliable seller, and the F16s according to PAF is much better plane than the Tornadoes.

Pakistan do not have any British logistical, supply or overhaul facility for ADV Tornados, so these seems pointless.

Better off giving these planes to Iraq, Yemen, Libya or Bangladesh, as trainer or little attack planes.

India tried to negotiate used Mirage 2000-5 / 09 earlier, so inducting as a 'stopgap' these Tornadoes with enough life in them wouldn't been a problem, while the existing logistical base you already have got flying the current Tornadoes. Mind you Rafales first squadron are to be active around 2017 and later.

Saudi Arabia should have thought better about utilizing these jets ?

 

[Echo_419]

I think main reason is the twin engine, which PAF has less preference for. And Pakistanis donot think British as a more reliable seller, and the F16s according to PAF is much better plane than the Tornadoes.

Pakistan do not have any British logistical, supply or overhaul facility for ADV Tornados, so these seems pointless.

Better off giving these planes to Iraq, Yemen, Libya or Bangladesh, as trainer or little attack planes.

India tried to negotiate used Mirage 2000-5 / 09 earlier, so inducting as a 'stopgap' these Tornadoes with enough life in them wouldn't been a problem, while the existing logistical base you already have got flying the current Tornadoes. Mind you Rafales first squadron are to be active around 2017 and later.

Saudi Arabia should have thought better about utilizing these jets ?

Nah you can have them,we are not stupid to induct a totally new type of Aircraft just as a top gap
Oh wait for that you need money

 

[Zarvan]

The Saudi Arabian ADV (Air Defence Variant) Tornados have all been stripped of usable parts, engines etc, and the fuselages are sitting on the ground with the undercarriage retracted, gathering dust at Tabuk...

ADV Tornados have all been replaced by the Typhoons KSA have contracted for.

Such a shame to see them end up like that.. Those beautiful Tornados :c

Saudi Air Force was not using so they got rid of them their choice

 

[Juggernautjatt]

I think main reason is the twin engine, which PAF has less preference for. And Pakistanis donot think British as a more reliable seller, and the F16s according to PAF is much better plane than the Tornadoes.

Pakistan do not have any British logistical, supply or overhaul facility for ADV Tornados, so these seems pointless.

Better off giving these planes to Iraq, Yemen, Libya or Bangladesh, as trainer or little attack planes.

India tried to negotiate used Mirage 2000-5 / 09 earlier, so inducting as a 'stopgap' these Tornadoes with enough life in them wouldn't been a problem, while the existing logistical base you already have got flying the current Tornadoes. Mind you Rafales first squadron are to be active around 2017 and later.

IAF dosen't have any version of Tornados in its inventory. I think you are confused with Jaguars.
India tried to negotiate used Mirage 2000 but only for two seater version because Dassult had closed production lines of Mirage 2000 & India had no option. IAF has shortage of mirage 2000 trainer version because of crashes.
I am not sure about yemen but Iraq needs only ground attack jets now & these are Air Defence Variants & Bangladesh has already ordered 24 YAK-130 for trainer or little attack role.

 

[Archie]

these tornadoes could have served till 2030 had they been gone through MLU

but Since Saudis are cash rich, they can afford to scrap them and buy more Typhoons and F15SA

I believe IAF had shown interest in the Tornadoes during the 1980s , but they were not offered to us due to our close proximity with the Soviets
hence we had to settle for a combination of Jaguars and Mirages

 

[Gasoline]

I hope that was the best decision for those pretty tornadoes,

 

[Hyperion]

Beautiful planes, what a shame. They could have been cocooned, fully overhauled, locked and loaded at a storage facility. Just in case!

 

[Penguin]

The F3 (Tornado ADV) is an interceptor, not a dogfighter. It has inferior agility compared to other fighters e.g. F-15, Su-27 etc. The F3 instead is a long-endurance interceptor to counter the threat from Cold War bombers. 80% parts commonality with the Tornado IDS version. Saudi Airforce operates 87 IDS., Given the availability of better (dog)fighters, the interceptor version can be stricken and the parts used to sustain the IDS fleet, which are being upgraded.

 

[Kompromat]

If it was a ground attack aircraft, it could've offered good utility to PAF. We currently lack a true blooded ground strike aircraft.

 

[airmarshal]

I dont think these Tornadoes were not air worthy. they could have been sold instead of stripped off and junked.

When are they doing the same to its IDS version?

 

[Sinnerman108]

The Saudi Arabian ADV (Air Defence Variant) Tornados have all been stripped of usable parts, engines etc, and the fuselages are sitting on the ground with the undercarriage retracted, gathering dust at Tabuk...

ADV Tornados have all been replaced by the Typhoons KSA have contracted for.

Such a shame to see them end up like that.. Those beautiful Tornados :c

why not donate them to students ?

students like myself too

btw , what is the story ? should we travel to Tabuk is there is chance for up close photo shoot ?