Page 95 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

business as usual on the Tornado Force.
Indeed, current operations have seen the
GR4s operating again as mixed pairs with
the deployed Typhoon FGR4s. This is due to
an increased requirement for the Tornado’s
Dual Mode Seeker (DMS) Brimstone missiles,
which are now being integrated onto the
RAF Typhoon as part of Project Centurion.
Final chapter
The RIAT attendance gave show visitors one
last time to appreciate this combat veteran.
The jet was loaded with a trio of Enhanced
Paveway II laser-guided bombs, marking an
interesting juxtaposition with the Gulf War.
The GR1s only began flying with Paveway IIs
mid-way through the campaign, after a hasty
integration programme, and were cleared
to fly with just a limited number of Thermal
Imaging and Laser Designator (TIALD)
pods. They initially relied on Buccaneers
to ‘buddy-lase’ targets for them. Today, the
GR4s carry their own Litening III pod and
the latest Enhanced Paveway IV laser/GPS-
guided bombs, the lauded Brimstone plus
the Storm Shadow stand-off cruise missile.
Reflecting on the retirement of ZG750,
Wg Cdr Thomas says: “There’s not long left
for this one! It’s done plenty of combat
hours, so it has definitely done its job!
We will be on operational rotation with
the other two [Tornado squadrons] right
to the bittersweet end.” With 11 battle
honours on the tail, ZG750 has served
as the perfect ambassador for the latest
chapter in the RAF’s illustrious history. AFM
Below: Burners plugged in – ‘Pinky’ accelerates
away from the cameraship en route to RAF Fairford
for its last public appearance. Rich Cooper

www.airforcesmonthly.com #354 SEPTEMBER 2017 // 95