After the Gulf War of 1990, No Fly Zones (NFZ) were established over northern and southern Iraq and the Tornado GR 1 force stepped up to operations over the southern NFZ.
The Tornado GR 4 took responsibility for RAF combat air operations in Afghanistan from the Harrier force in 2009, and in 2011 was involved in missions against the Gaddafi regime in Libya. The unique multirole capabilities of the aircraft enabled it to support ground operations with the Raptor reconnaissance pod, Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV laser-guided bombs until withdrawal in 2014. The Tornado GR 4 was also used for operations over Iraq and Syria against the ISIL terrorist organisation. Intensive air operations were flown between 2014 and 2019, when the Tornado GR 4 was finally withdrawn from RAF Service.
This volume, written by former RAF pilot Michael Napier, provides detailed first-hand accounts of the missions undertaken by the Tornado crews during the most recent conflicts over the Middle East and the Balkans.
Autorentext
Michael Napier joined the RAF in 1978 as a University Cadet and studied Aeronautical Engineering at the Imperial College, London. He qualified as a fast jet pilot in 1985, and his military flying career encompassed both the Cold War and operations over Iraq after the Gulf War. Michael left the RAF in 1997 and joined British Airways, first as a First Officer and later as a Captain.
Michael has written articles for aviation magazines including Aircraft Illustrated, Flypast, Aeroplane Monthly and Cross & Cockade. He is the author of various books published by Osprey including In Cold War Skies, Korean Air War and RAF Tornado Units of Gulf War I in the Osprey Combat Aircraft series. Michael lives near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.
Inhalt
Introduction
Chapter 1
Iraq 1992-99
Chapter 2
Air Defence Operation 1992-2011
Chapter 3
Kosovo 1999
Chapter 4
Iraq 2000-09
Chapter 5
Afghanistan and Libya 2009-14
Chapter 6
Iraq and Syria 2014-19
Appendices
Colour Plates Commentary
Index