German Tornado jets deployed for Anti-ISIS-Mission not capable to do RECCE

[Penguin]

Die Einsatz- und Ausbildungsverbände der Luftwaffe verfügen über insgesamt 85 Tornados. Grundsätzlich teilt sich die deutsche Tornado- Flotte in den Jagdbomber IDS (Interdiction Strike), und den TORNADO ECR (Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance) auf. Von den IDS ist ein Teil speziell zur optischen und Infrarot- Aufklärung befähigt (TORNADO Recce).

Tornado

85 Tornado's. Some IDS (interdiction-strike) version, others ECR (electronic combat and reconnaissance). Of the IDS variant, (only) a portion is specially equipped for optical and infrared reconnaissance (Tornado Recce). So, actually the original ECR version has lost its R while some of the IDS were put to work in recce .

Das Aufklärungssystem Recce-Tornado
Beginnend mit dem Jahr 1998 wurden die ersten Aufklärungsbehälter, zunächst der sogenannte GAF (German Air Force) -RECCE-Pod und seit 2000 der "GAF-TELELENS-Pod" an die Luftwaffe ausgeliefert. Zur Abdeckung der vielfältigen Aufklärungsforderungen ist der "GAF-RECCE-Pod" für den Tiefflugeinsatz und der TELELENS-Pod für den Einsatz in mittleren Höhen bis hin zur Dienstgipfelhöhe des RECCE Tornado (max. 15.000 m) optimiert.

Beide Aufklärungsbehälter sind mit jeweils zwei optischen Kameras und einem Infrarot- Line-Scanner (IRLS) ausgestattet, die modular an das jeweilige Missionsprofil angepasst werden können. Neben der erfolgreichen Bewährung während der Konflikte auf dem Balkan wurden die RECCE-Tornado des Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (AufklG 51 "I") aufgrund ihrer besonderen Fähigkeiten im Bereich der Abbildenden Aufklärung und der problemlosen Einordnung in bestehende Luftraumstrukturen, auch im Rahmen der Amtshilfe wiederholt erfolgreich eingesetzt.

Dies erfolgte zum Beispiel bei den Hochwasserkatastrophen der letzten Jahre an Rhein, Donau, Oder und Elbe sowie zur Unterstützung anderer Exekutivorgane des Bundes und der Länder. Seit 2005 führt das AufklG 51 "I" im Rahmen der Übernahme der Aufgabe "Seekriegführung aus der Luft" zusätzlich Aufklärungseinsätze über den Seegebieten zur Unterstützung der Marine durch.

Der RECCE-Tornado
Für die RECCE-Variante werden modifizierte Luftfahrzeuge des Waffensystems Tornado IDS eingesetzt, die zusätzlich mit einer Bedieneinheit, dem RECCE-Control-Panel (RCP) im hinteren Cockpit ausgerüstet sind. Dieses RCP erlaubt bereits im Flug eine Darstellung und Auswertung des Infrarotbildes des IRLS (Infrared Line Scanner System, Infrarot-Aufklärungsanlage) auf einem Monitor im hinteren Cockpit. Die Aufklärungsbehälter werden an der mittleren Aufhängevorrichtung unter dem Rumpf des Tornado angebaut. Das Potenzial des RECCE Tornado als Waffenplattform wird durch diese Zusatzausrüstung nicht beeinträchtigt und das Flugzeug kann jederzeit als Jagdbomber eingesetzt werden. Zum Selbstschutz verfügt der RECCE Tornado über zwei Bordkanonen und Luft-Luft-Lenkflugkörper vom Typ "SIDEWINDER". Zukünftig wird die "SIDEWINDER" durch den modernen Luft-Luft-Lenkflugkörper IRIS-T ersetzt.

Aufklärungs-Fähigkeiten der Luftwaffe im Einsatz am Beispiel Aufklärungs-Tornado

The Tornado Recce modification of the IDS used by ufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (AufklG 51 "I") has its own recce pods (GAF Recce Pod, GAF TELELENS Pod). Both reconnaissance pod are each having two optical cameras and an infrared line scanner (IRLS) equipped.

So, while perhaps not able to use the RecceLite pod, they should be bale to conduct recce using their own GAF pods.

GAF Recce Pod

GAF Telelens pod

 

[Taygibay]

That Penguin did his usual back to docs serious research.

While the lDS got the GAF Reece pod, the ECR Tornados had no recon capacity.
Before ASSTA, this was normal. When the plan came to keep only 85, the ECR were
to be re-equipped with RecceLite instead. That would be ASSTA 3.0 and 3.1 by 2018.
Supposedly, all variants should be able to do all work by the end of the refit/upgrade
using whichever pod they're qualified for. I.E. the end result being 85 multi-role Tonkas.
Germany Boosts Multirole Capability of Shrinking Tornado Fleet | Defense News | defensenews.com
Not all have completed the upgrade and thus remain solely tasked for one mission or
the other & those sent were erroneously picked from these. Or with the wrong pod!

As said in posts #11 & #13, still not acceptable, Tay.

P.S. Time wise, GAF as shown by Penguin is 1996, ASSTA 3 is 2008.

 

[Penguin]

That Penguin did his usual back to docs serious research.

While the lDS got the GAF Reece pod, the ECR Tornados had no recon capacity.
Before ASSTA, this was normal. When the plan came to keep only 85, the ECR were
to be re-equipped with RecceLite instead. That would be ASSTA 3.0 and 3.1 by 2018.
Supposedly, all variants should be able to do all work by the end of the refit/upgrade
using whichever pod they're qualified for. I.E. the end result being 85 multi-role Tonkas.
Germany Boosts Multirole Capability of Shrinking Tornado Fleet | Defense News | defensenews.com
Not all have completed the upgrade and thus remain solely tasked for one mission or
the other & those sent were erroneously picked from these. Or with the wrong pod!

As said in posts #11 & #13, still not acceptable, Tay.

P.S. Time wise, GAF as shown by Penguin is 1996, ASSTA 3 is 2008.

No, but if the refit schedule says 'by 2018' then it is no surprise some aircraft aren't done yet. What IS silly is to send those, and not some with said capability. That is not a matter of how much money is spent, imho, but of wise planning. Unless these first jets were sent because they were the only ones available on short notice (that could signal a maintenance funding problem).

Again, they should be able to do some recce, just not with that particular RecceLite pod. What the RecceLite pod advantage is? Most likely the realtime data transmission, networked?

 

[Taygibay]

^^^ Entirely agreed to above! Especially the planning part!

Good day mate, Tay.

 

[Khafee]

No, but if the refit schedule says 'by 2018' then it is no surprise some aircraft aren't done yet. What IS silly is to send those, and not some with said capability. That is not a matter of how much money is spent, imho, but of wise planning. Unless these first jets were sent because they were the only ones available on short notice (that could signal a maintenance funding problem).

Again, they should be able to do some recce, just not with that particular RecceLite pod. What the RecceLite pod advantage is? Most likely the realtime data transmission, networked?

Germans are meticulous with planning, I think it has more to do with funding. But I could be wrong.

 

[Penguin]

From the article

Allerdings gehe es zunächst darum, die fliegerischen Verfahren in der Türkei abzustimmen und zu erproben, sagte der Luftwaffensprecher. Dafür sei unerheblich, ob die Maschinen bereits die für den Einsatz nötige Konfiguration hätten. Erst bei den für später im Januar geplanten Einsätzen über Syrien würden Tornados gebraucht, die auch tatsächlich mit der Aufklärungstechnik fliegen könnten. Neben entsprechend aufgerüsteten ECR-Tornados aus Jagel sollen dazu auch Jagdbomber des Taktischen Luftwaffengeschwaders 33 aus Büchel nach Incirlik verlegt werden.

translated

However, the first thing to coordinate the aeronautical procedures in Turkey and to try, said the Air Force spokesman. Therefore it is irrelevant whether the machine already had the necessary for the application configuration. Only with the planned for later in January inserts Syria tornadoes were needed that could actually fly with the reconnaissance technology. Besides accordance upgraded ECR Tornados from Jagel are to be laid 33 from Büchel after Incirlik also fighter-bombers of the Tactical Air Force Squadron.

So, it is actually planned this way. The squadron flies machine that have and that have not been fitted for the RecceLite pod. These first two aren't AND DON'T NEED TO BE at this point. In January, other machines will have arrived that are so equipped and then - and only then - will combat sorties start.

A storm in a glass of water.

People that were waving fingers at the Luftwaffe will have to eat their words, it seems.

 

[Taygibay]

"Therefore it is irrelevant whether the machine already had the necessary for the application configuration. Only with the planned for ... January use in Syria of tornadoes ... that could actually fly with the reconnaissance technology."

... would it become necessary. Which was lost in translation.​

Source: German Tornado jets deployed for Anti-ISIS-Mission not capable to do RECCE | Page 2
About which :

serving an excuse that they never intended that full capacity before January anyway which
sort of make things OK since other coalition assets already provide what those [ 2 Tonkas ] would have?
I guess? *sigh*

I'll stick with my interpretation of the same as found above!

Tay.

 

[Penguin]

I'll stick with my interpretation of the same as found above!

Tay.

Obviously!

(My comment about eating words wasn't directed at you.)