Panavia Aircraft GmbH

Within Industry, the Tornado programme is managed as a consortium led by Panavia Aircraft GmbH as the Tornado management company and with Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems and EADS as Panavia Partner Companies. The partner companies and Shareholders Alenia Aeronautica SpA (15%), BAE SYSTEMS plc (42,5%) and EADS Deutschland GmbH (42,5%) function as national main contractors to Panavia which is located near Munich Airport. The programme is guided and monitored on behalf of the British, German and Italian Governments by NAMMO (NATO MRCA Management and Production Organisation) whose executive agency. NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and TORNADO Management Organisation, former NAMMA) is also located in the Munich area. Panavia is the tri-national Prime Contractor to NETMA.

Alenia Aeronautica (ALN), BAE Systems (BAES) and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) are both partner companies and main subcontractors of Panavia. On Panavia´s behalf they are responsible in their respective countries for the development, production and procurement of the Tornado equipment and components. ALN has the responsibility for the wings, BAES for the front and rear fuselage including the empennage and EADS for the centre fuselage. Similarly, tri-national worksharing is used for engines, general and avionic equipment. Single source is utilised as the main and most cost-effective worksharing principle. Joint Ventures such as the Tornado programme offer lower cost to each participating nation than purely national programmes while industry remains competitive in the state of the art technology through sharing of research, development and production investment cost among the participants.

anavia has industrial management responsibility for the complete Weapons System including overall design authority and airworthiness. Panavia discharges its responsibilities in co-operation with and through the three Panavia Partner Companies. Since the foundation of the Panavia Consortium, the Tornado management structure and the associated multi-national procedures have proven themselves effective for participating Governments and Industry throughout the whole Weapon System Life Cycle including development, production, upgrade and In-Service Support. It has also established multi-national work sharing principles that continue to be the foundation for the programme. Close international co-operation between the Tornado Customers/Operators and Industry continues to provide technological and economical benefits.