New computer gear for Tornadoes

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LONDON, June 25 (UPI) -- New hardware for handling new operational flight programs of Britain's Tornado GR4 aircraft are being supplied by BAE Systems.

The contract for the new hardware kits is worth about $24.9 million, with hardware and software updates for the programs to be delivered in early 2014.

"For anyone who is a computer gamer it's a familiar story," BAE Systems said. "Advances in software development provide real advantages but inevitably you need the latest hardware if you want to play the games at blistering speeds.

"Well it's pretty much the same with today's combat aircraft -- operational flight programs are becoming more capable as functionality is added but you need some pretty powerful kit to play it on."

The kits will include a new main display processor (Computer Symbol Generator) and a new operational flight program to fully utilize expanded processing capability. The result will be improved situational awareness and more capable data-links.