Tornado ECR - what is this knob for?

[Pellson]

As the headline says - what is the purpose of this thingy? The knob in question is the small black one under the nose just behind the jaws painting. It does look a bit like a EO/laser ball, but it is so small, and I've seen ECR's carrying TIALD's, so not likely such.

Anyone knows?

[Gondor]

Not a clue although the black part does looks like some kind of sensor, possibly rotatable. You also have me wanting to know what it is as well so I can add one to an Italian ECR Tonka as well.

Gondor

[scooter]

My educated guess is that it has something to do with its SEAD mission like a radar receiver, given the pair of HARMs on the hardpoints.

[jcf]

FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) sensor.

You cannot view this attachment.
Tornado Variants

The page also shows RAF versions with the various updates.

[Gondor]

FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) sensor.

You cannot view this attachment.
Tornado Variants

The page also shows RAF versions with the various updates.

That's all very well excepth the aircraft in question is Italian and does not have the Infer Red Line Scan equipment, in fact there is a cone roughly where the centre of IRLS would be.

Gondor

[jcf]

Yeah, but the FLIR sensor is obviously the same, just ignore the other bit of kit.

Lutwaffe ECR
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Italian ECR.
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[Pellson]

FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) sensor.

You cannot view this attachment.
Tornado Variants

The page also shows RAF versions with the various updates.

Thanks! Useful indeed!