Which former-enemy companies worked together on the Tornado?

Short answer

Panavia Aircraft GmbH, set up in 1969, belonged to the British Aircraft Corporation, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm and Fiat Aviazione, which that same year became Aeritalia. For the RB199 engine, a separate company, Turbo-Union, was formed in June 1970 with Rolls-Royce, MTU and FIAT.

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Which former-enemy companies worked together on the Tornado?

120319 F-NQ744 002 Nicola Baumann, 2nd female fighter pilot of Luftwaffe (GAF) poses with her ECR Tornado during air show

A consortium born in 1969

On 26 March 1969, four partner countries — the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands — agreed to set up a multinational company, Panavia Aircraft GmbH. The Netherlands withdrew from the project in 1970, arguing that the aircraft was too complicated and technical for the RNLAF's preferences. Canada and Belgium had pulled out before any long-term commitment to the programme was made.

Dividing up the work

The United Kingdom and West Germany each took a 42.5% share of the workload, with the remaining 15% going to Italy. The forward fuselage and tail assembly were assigned to BAC, now BAE Systems, in the United Kingdom; the centre fuselage to MBB, now part of Airbus, in West Germany; and the wings to Aeritalia, now Leonardo, in Italy.

A second company for the engine

In June 1970 a separate multinational company, Turbo-Union, was set up to develop and build the aircraft's RB199 engines, with ownership split 40% to Rolls-Royce, 40% to MTU and 20% to FIAT.