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RAF weapon Aircraftmen arm up, safe Tornado for success

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Shad Eidson
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  A small section of a detachment at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia executes a not-so-small part of their unit's mission -- loading and arming weapons and targeting pods onto the Royal Air Force Tornado GR4.

The armament section is part of the current Tornado Detachment, or TORDET, that deployed here last December from the 9th Bomber Squadron at RAF Marham in Norfolk, Britain.

The armament crew ensures all the safety devices have been removed from weapons and the aircraft. In a deployed environment, they also perform composite duties including preflight checks when needed -- all panels secured, no leaks or other negative indicators.

"The final check essentially is a last chance check to make sure the aircraft is fit for flight," said Sgt. Paul Day, armament section sergeant with the TORDET.

Last checks, often called end of runway checks, are at the end of a long list that is followed to ensure the safe flight and success of the mission. The checks are done whether under cover, exposed to the elements and even during an attack.

On occasion, an item is found that prevents an aircraft from taking off, Sergeant Day said. This presents no problem however as the TORDET keeps a spare aircraft standing by at all times. This action allows the aircrew to continue on with the mission and is a primary factor of the unit maintaining a 100-percent mission-launch rate.

Their work continues through to the end of the mission. Once returning aircraft are marshaled to the chocks and the aircrew departs, the armament crew are the first ones in to make the weapons safe so any recovery maintenance work can be carried out, said Sergeant Day.

"The armourers who work for me, I couldn't ask more from them," said Sergeant Day, who is on his second visit here and nearing his 20th deployment in his career. "Any of the other senior NCOs would say the same thing about the guys."

While the 9 BS has rotated deployments here since 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, they have been flying missions in the theater since 1990 and, rather than step back, the Tornado fleet is due to increase its operational focus later this year by taking over responsibility for United Kingdom offensive air operations in Afghanistan while maintaining current OIF commitments.

This rotation, the TORDET has completed more than 90 missions, Sergeant Day said. That number is possible because the TORDET launches missions at any time, 24-hours-a-day, living up to their motto, "Per noctum volamus -- Throughout the night we fly."

According to the RAF website, the Tornado's capabilities permit it to carry a variety of weapons and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance instruments. It has become a flexible platform allowing it to launch for short notice missions. On occasion while in route to a mission, Tornados have received requests to support a different mission and have been able to accomplish the new objectives without needing to land for a new configuration.

These capabilities have been modified over the years to adapt it to changing missions, Sergeant Day said. The Tornado is scheduled to stay in the RAF inventory until 2025.

The tornado detachment here is providing more close air and tactical reconnaissance support to British and coalition forces on the ground, especially the U.S. Army forces, the sergeant said.

"The weapons tradesmen of 9th (Bomber) Squadron have successfully integrated Urgent Operations Requirement 4274. This UOR introduced an enhanced missile and bomb capability to the Tornado aircraft," said Armament Trade Manager Chief Tech Kev Forshaw.

The TORDET expanded the Tornado's capabilities through the first operational flight of the new Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone Missile Dec. 18, 2008 here. The DMS Brimstone enhances the GR4's capability to engage static and fast-moving targets with better accuracy than the legacy Brimstone currently in service.

"Having a lighter payload and improved targeting, (the missile) allows the tornado to engage smaller and faster targets. It also decreases the chance of collateral damage," Sergeant Day said.

The TORDET has satisfied 100 percent of their taskings this rotation highlighting their hard work. Their commitment is a reflection that shows in the unit's history, where the squadron has earned no less than 21 battle honors since it was formed at Saint Omer, France in 1914.