Turbo-Union RB199
Turbo-Union RB199 is a three-spool, reheated turbofan family developed collaboratively by Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines, and Avio Aero for the Panavia Tornado. It entered service in 1979, delivered more than 2,500 engines, accumulated over 7 million flight hours, and reaches about 16,000 lb thrust with reheat; its compact high-thrust-to-weight design was tailored to the Tornado. The family currently supports German, Italian, and Saudi Tornado fleets, while the RAF Tornado fleet has retired. Exact RB199-34R variants and Tornado relationships remain separate identities.
Identity
- Aliases
- RB199Turbo-Union RB199Turbounion RB199
- Domains
- aviation
- Identity Level
- family
- Kind
- turbofan
- Name
- Turbo-Union RB199
- Status
- active
Details
- Air Breathing Specs
- Spool Count
- 3
- Description
- Turbo-Union RB199 is a three-spool, reheated turbofan family developed collaboratively by Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines, and Avio Aero for the Panavia Tornado. It entered service in 1979, delivered more than 2,500 engines, accumulated over 7 million flight hours, and reaches about 16,000 lb thrust with reheat; its compact high-thrust-to-weight design was tailored to the Tornado. The family currently supports German, Italian, and Saudi Tornado fleets, while the RAF Tornado fleet has retired. Exact RB199-34R variants and Tornado relationships remain separate identities.
- Developers
- Manufacturers
- Service Entry Date
- 1979
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 6, 2026 at 18:44:06 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 14, 2026 at 19:27:13 UTC
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- Rolls-Royce identifies RB199 as a three-spool afterburning turbofan for all Tornado variants, with more than 7 million flight hours and current German, Italian, and Saudi operator support; RAF Tornado has retired.
- Publisher
- Rolls-Royce
- Title
- RB199
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- Rolls-Royce records 1979 entry into service, 2,500 engines delivered, 7M+ flying hours, and approximately 16,000 lbf thrust with reheat on Tornado.
- Publisher
- Rolls-Royce
- Title
- 40 years of outstanding performance
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- MTU documents the Turbo-Union development and production collaboration with Rolls-Royce and Avio Aero and the three-shaft afterburning Tornado engine.
- Publisher
- MTU Aero Engines
- Title
- RB199 — Powering the Tornado