Q&A · 27:11-27:39

What a carrier-capable Tornado would require

Carrier conversion changes more than the landing gear because arrest loads must travel through a reinforced airframe while deck handling constrains aircraft dimensions.

Question

Would catapult launch and arrested recovery require major changes to the Panavia Tornado?

Short answer

The airframe, especially aft, would need strengthening for a tailhook, and folding surfaces might be required for carrier stowage.

Notes

Structural reinforcement around the rear fuselage would be the first requirement. An arresting hook must transmit a violent deceleration into the aircraft without tearing its mounting away. Folding parts of the tail or wing structure could also reduce the space occupied aboard ship. Navalizing a land-based aircraft is an airframe and deck-integration problem.