The Panavia Tornado fighter upgraded to the ASSTA 3.0 standard made its first flight, Defense Aerospace reports. The plane took off on February 8, 2012, but this became known only now. Thanks to modernization carried out in the interests of the German Air Force, Tornado fighters will be able to remain in service until at least 2025. Delivery of the first modernized aircraft to the customer is scheduled for the middle of this year.

Over the next few months, Cassidian intends to test new modifications of the combat aircraft and software. As a result of modernization, the updated Tornado received a multifunctional MIDS information distribution system with support for the Link 16 protocol, communication equipment and a digital video and voice recording system. The aircraft's range of weapons was replenished with adjustable LJDAM bombs.

Cassidian is currently developing the next Tornado upgrade package - ASSTA 3.1. Meanwhile, the German Air Force is already armed with Tornado fighters of the ASSTA 2 standard, the first of which was put into service in April 2010. The Luftwaffe is armed with 148 Tornado fighters of various versions and standards. According to the current plan of the Ministry of Defense, by the end of 2015, 85 Tornado fighters should remain in service.

The Panavia Tornado, developed in the 1970s, was produced in two main versions - fighter-bomber and interceptor. The aircraft with variable sweep wings is capable of reaching speeds of up to 2.4 thousand kilometers per hour and flying over a distance of up to 3.8 thousand kilometers. The Tornado is armed with a 27mm cannon and has seven hardpoints for missiles, bombs and external fuel tanks.

Upgraded Tornado fighter makes its first flight