Panavia Tornado IDS (MM7057 / 6-04) from the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) at the RIAT 2019, RAF Fairford (United Kingdom)
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by Italy,
the United Kingdom, and West Germany. There are three primary Tornado variants: the Tornado IDS (InterDiction / Strike) fighter-bomber,
the suppression of enemy air defences Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat / Reconnaissance) and the Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant) interceptor aircraft. The aircraft was originally designed to intercept Soviet bombers if they came in from the East to strike the United Kingdom.
As with the type's other operators, the Italian Air Force has reduced its Tornado fleet, to which it has given the official designation A-200, in the last few years. It has implemented a comprehensive mid-life upgrade on the remaining aircraft. Three operational squadrons now fly the Tornado IDS (known as the A-200) attack versions, and one the Tornado ECR (known as the EA-200B) specialised in the suppression of enemy air defences.
The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July,
usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.
The show typically attracts a total of 150.000 to 160.000 spectators over the weekend.