Phil.....not at all. There is not a current fast jet in the world that has the capabilities of the Tornado. Despite its ageing design and airframe it performs the job incredibly well with some very up-to-date equipment.
Despite what that charlatan Ward claims, the Tornado did not require 24 hours notice of CAS missions in Afghan. I sat numerous GCAS (Ground Alert for CAS) and we were airborne in much less than 15 minutes from the alarm and I have HUD video of me at very low level too.
I also flew it in Gulf War 1 and the losses were mainly because the Tornado was never envisaged as a medium level weapons platform hence we had nothing in the bag of tricks for that so went low level instead where the Iraqis had some capability & a little luck too.
Its unique capabilities are needed in Syria where neither the French nor the Americans have one aircraft that combines the capabilities the Tornado does.
Please don't listen to Mr Ward, he is renowned for talking out of his.......
