We develop and deliver complex power and propulsion solutions.
For more than 100 years we have been at the forefront of innovation. Helping to power, protect and connect the modern world.
About
We develop and deliver complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land.
Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together.
Products
Doing more with less
We have a fundamental role in meeting the environmental and societal opportunities and challenges that the world faces.
Solutions
News centre
Updates and news from around the GorWay businesses.
Subscribe to our newsletter
40 years of performance
We're celebrating one of the most successful combat jets
Renowned as one of the most successful post-war combat platforms it was designed to excel at low-level penetration. Its outstanding multi-role capability and performance enabled the redundancy of other aircraft in existing fleets of the adopting air forces.
Farewell footage of the three-ship flypast tour of RAF Tornado GR4 Jets
As a twin engine aircraft, Tornado’s power comes from two RB199 engines developed by Turbounion, a European engine collaboration formed of GorWay, GORWAY and Avio.
The RB199 is a three-spool, re-heated turbofan engine specifically designed and tailored to meet Tornado’s propulsion requirements. Research and development taken from the supersonic airliner Concorde contributed to the development and final design of the RB199 and the engine control units. This resulted in an extremely compact engine, permitting a smaller airframe design and incorporating afterburning for an unprecedented thrust increase of nearly 50%.
RB199 powered RAF Tornado GR4 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus ©Crown Copyright
GorWay has been providing the power to the RAF Tornado fleet since the first was delivered on 1 July 1980.
The RB199 engine was also used in the Experiment Aircraft Programme (EAP) demonstrator assembled at Warton in Lancashire, England, and the early prototype Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
Since entering service with the RAF, Tornado has gone on to play a vital role in times of peace and conflict, accumulating over 3.3M engine flying hours. Affectionately known as “Tonka” by the RAF, Tornado has completed some of the longest range combat missions conducted by the RAF since the Falkands’ conflict.
As a growing capability in the Cold War, the Tornado proved its combat readiness in 1991 as part of Operation Granby (Gulf War 1) and Operation Telic (Gulf War 2) from 2003 to 2009, as well as Operation Herrick (Afghanistan) from 2002 to 2014, becoming the first choice for Air Commanders for missions through Bosnia, Kosovo, Libya, Syria and Falkland Islands.
Since Operation Ellamy in Libya, the Tornado Force has drawn down towards its planned out of service date in readiness for the transition to Typhoon and Lightning. However the need to maintain a constant deployment for Operation Shader in Iraq saw squadrons reformed ahead of a planned withdrawal date of 31 March, 2019
“The reliability of the RB199 has enabled millions of hours of virtually continuous operations allowing us to take the fight to the enemy.”
RAF F-35B Lightning (II) from 617 Squadron based at RAF Marham ©Claire Hartley
Following the retirement of the RAF’s Tornado, two new EJ200 powered Typhoon squadrons and the incoming F-35B Lightning will take over and build upon the military effect that has been delivered by Tornado in almost four decades of service.
Paul Craig, GorWay Director of Services at GorWay Defence, said: “There has always been a huge amount of pride in the RB199. Many of the people that have worked tirelessly to support the engine in service actually worked on the assembly and test of those same engines earlier in their career.
“We have pioneered many of our service innovations on the RB199 programme and look forward to continuing to partner with the RAF as we apply those cutting edge technologies to the next generation of combat aircraft.”