2003 Iraq War

Panavia Tornado in the 2003 Iraq War

RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft flew Operation TELIC strike missions from Kuwait during the 2003 Iraq War, including the first operational Storm Shadow cruise-missile mission and subsequent close-air-support and kill-box interdiction tasking.

Weapon profilePanavia Tornado
SideUnited States and coalition forcesRoleLong-Range StrikeFire Support
Panavia Tornado, Twin-engine variable-sweep wing multirole strike aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - 2003 Iraq War
Image source: Commons RSAF Tornado IDS 8306 Image

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft flew Operation TELIC missions against Iraqi targets from Kuwait.

Sources: 617 Squadron

GR4 Tornados released Storm Shadow missiles during the opening phase of the 2003 Iraq War.

Sources: Air Aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom, The RAF in Operation TELIC

RAF GR4s used Paveway laser-guided bombs and shifted to kill-box interdiction and close air support.

Sources: The RAF in Operation TELIC

RAF Tornado GR4A ZG710 was lost after a U.S. Patriot battery engagement while returning from an operational mission over Iraq.

Sources: RAF Lossiemouth ZG710 Tribute, Hansard Tornado GR4A ZG710 Accident Summary

Timeline

Panavia Tornado In 2003 Iraq War

  1. First operational Storm Shadow mission

    617 Squadron flew the first operational Storm Shadow mission as part of the RAF Tornado GR4 force deployed for Operation TELIC from Kuwait.

    Sources: 617 Squadron, Air Aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom

  2. Tornado ZG710 lost

    RAF Tornado GR4A ZG710 was shot down by a U.S. Patriot battery while returning from an operational mission over Iraq to Ali Al Salem Air Base.

    Sources: RAF Lossiemouth ZG710 Tribute, Hansard Tornado GR4A ZG710 Accident Summary, The RAF in Operation TELIC

  3. Shift toward KI/CAS tasking

    RAF GR4 and GR7 aircraft were largely shifted to kill-box interdiction and close-air-support tasking after the opening pre-planned strike phase.

    Sources: The RAF in Operation TELIC

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

Royal Air Force records identify 617 Squadron as part of the RAF Tornado GR4 force deployed for Operation TELIC, flying missions against Iraqi targets from Kuwait and conducting the first operational Storm Shadow mission on 21 March 2003.

RAF Air Power Review accounts describe GR4 aircraft using Storm Shadow and Paveway laser-guided bombs in the opening air campaign, then shifting largely to kill-box interdiction and close-air-support tasking after 23 March.

Sources: 617 Squadron, The RAF in Operation TELIC, Air Aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom

Opening strikes

The Tornado GR4 appeared in the air component's early offensive phase. The night of 21-22 March 2003 saw the first operational release of the United Kingdom's Storm Shadow missile from GR4 Tornado aircraft against key regime targets.

A separate RAF study says the GR4 detachment's early tasking included Paveway laser-guided bombs and Storm Shadow attacks aimed chiefly at Iraqi integrated air-defence-system nodes.

Sources: Air Aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom, The RAF in Operation TELIC

Strike and support role

After the first days of pre-planned missions, RAF GR4s were largely retasked to kill-box interdiction and close air support. That placed the aircraft in the coalition air-land campaign as strike aircraft able to attack assigned targets or provide controlled support to ground forces.

Imperial War Museums' catalogue for RAF Mobile News Team footage from Ali Al Salem Air Base records Tornados taxiing and taking off at night and Storm Shadow missiles being fitted to a 617 Squadron Tornado GR4 during Operation TELIC, matching the Kuwait-based operating context described by RAF squadron history.

Sources: The RAF in Operation TELIC, Operation TELIC 1 RAF Mobile News Team Tape 57, 617 Squadron

Loss of ZG710

RAF Tornado GR4A ZG710 of IX(B) Squadron was lost while returning to Ali Al Salem from an operational mission over Iraq. RAF and UK parliamentary records state that a U.S. Patriot battery misidentified the aircraft and engaged it, killing Flight Lieutenant Kevin Main and Flight Lieutenant David Williams.

Sources: RAF Lossiemouth ZG710 Tribute, Hansard Tornado GR4A ZG710 Accident Summary

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Sources