Tornado against police laser device :-)

[genkideskan]

Cop this for a speeding ticket…

Two British traffic patrol officers from North Berwick were involved in an unusual incident, while checking for speeding motorists on the A-1 Great North Road.

One of the officers (who are not named) used a hand-held radar device to check the speed of a vehicle approaching over the crest of a hill, and was surprised when the speed was recorded at over 300mph. The machine then stopped working and the officers were not able to reset it.

The radar had in fact latched on to a NATO Tornado fighter jet over the North Sea, which was engaged in a low-flying exercise over the Border district.

Back at police headquarters the chief constable fired off a stiff complaint to the RAF Liaison office.

Back came the reply in true laconic RAF style. “Thank you for your message, which allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had automatically locked on to your ‘hostile radar equipment’ and sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, the Sidewinder Air-to-ground missiles aboard the fully-armed aircraft had also locked on to the target. Fortunately the Dutch pilot flying the Tornado responded to the missile status alert intelligently and was able to override the automatic protection system before the missile was launched”.

[tankgeezer]

I like that one, before I retired, I worked in the defense industry, and there we built most of the guidance, and weapon control systems used in the 2 gulf wars. Some of the tactical systems possessed the “auto engage” feature you spoke of, deciding which target was what, and which weapon to use against it, and unless countermanded by the pilot, would engage the target on its own. (wish I had one in my car,:twisted: ) But here in the States, we have the problem of frisky pilots in hand… :)

[Drake]

@genkideskan

…

Back came the reply in true laconic RAF style. “Thank you for your message, which allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had automatically locked on to your ‘hostile radar equipment’ and sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, the Sidewinder Air-to-ground missiles aboard the fully-armed aircraft had also locked on to the target. Fortunately the Dutch pilot flying the Tornado responded to the missile status alert intelligently and was able to override the automatic protection system before the missile was launched”.

:twisted: Sometimes I wish I had a fully armed Tornado under my butt for these modern robber barons. If the cop who received this message wanted to be a wiseass, he could’ve answered, that the sidewinder is no AGM and no radar seeking missile, though. :mrgreen:

[Nickdfresh]

@Drake

:twisted: Sometimes I wish I had a fully armed Tornado under my butt for these modern robber barons. If the cop who received this message wanted to be a wiseass, he could’ve answered, that the sidewinder is no AGM and no radar seeking missile, though. :mrgreen:

Yeah, this story is either an internet myth or the Tornado was a “Wild Weasel,” or equivalent…

And I’m not sure the ordinance would even be armed like that…

[redcoat]

Back came the reply in true laconic RAF style. “Thank you for your message, which allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had automatically locked on to your ‘hostile radar equipment’ and sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, the Sidewinder Air-to-ground missiles aboard the fully-armed aircraft had also locked on to the target. Fortunately the Dutch pilot flying the Tornado responded to the missile status alert intelligently and was able to override the automatic protection system before the missile was launched”.

Its a myth.
There is no way that the RAF would admit to anything like this.

ps, this story has been doing the rounds from at least 2001

[tankgeezer]

True, but it is a good yarn,sounds like something one would write in order to get someone else off your back,

[Cuts]

@redcoat

Its a myth.
There is no way that the RAF would admit to anything like this.

ps, this story has been doing the rounds from at least 2001

Make that the mid-70s, and I’d guess it was about before I read it.

[diverdoc]

related story…in college, my roomie was in the wisconsin air national guard, and had to do his weekend a month duty. he was the guy that fixed the missiles the planes used. he was based near madison and it was right next to interstate 90. he would test the radar guidance systems on the missiles by disconnecting the rocket motor and then turning on the guidance system. the missile would track semi trucks going by on the expressway, with the wing vanes moving and all. he always wondered what the truckers thought when their radar detectors went off and they didnt see the police!