Introduction
On 22 March 2003, Royal Air Force Tornado GR Mk4A ZG710 was returning to Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait when it was destroyed by a US Army Patriot surface-to-air missile. The aircraft was misidentified as an Iraqi Anti-Radiation Missile. Both crew members, a pilot and a navigator, were killed instantly upon impact.
Events Leading to the Accident
ZG710 was part of a pair of Tornados operating within a Coalition aircraft package during the early phase of the war in Iraq. The aircraft had completed its mission and was returning to Kuwait airspace. Prior to engine start, the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system was checked by groundcrew and confirmed working. During the return, the crew performed appropriate checks and noted that the IFF switches were set correctly. The pilot had begun a descent at an altitude of 17,938 feet when the Patriot missile struck.
Command and Control Arrangements
Command and control followed standard Allied and UK Joint Doctrine. Overall command of the war in Iraq was held by the Combined Operational Headquarters in Qatar, with a US four-star officer and a UK three-star National Contingent Commander. The air campaign was managed by the US-led Combined Air Operations Centre at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, commanded by a USAF three-star general with an RAF two-star as part of his team. Airspace coordination and tactical control of air defense were under this centre. The Land Component Commander at Camp Doha, Kuwait, held operational command of US Army ground-based air defense. Liaison elements were present in both Land and Air Component HQs and at the local USAF Control and Reporting Centre.
The Patriot Engagement
The Patriot battery crew was monitoring for Iraqi tactical ballistic missiles when ZG710 was tracked by their system. The radar symbol indicated an anti-radiation missile heading directly towards them. The track was interrogated for IFF but received no response. Meeting all classification criteria, the crew launched a missile in self-defense. The Patriot crew had complied with extant self-defense Rules of Engagement for dealing with anti-radiation missiles.
Survival Aspects
Examination of ejection seats and other equipment showed that neither crew member had initiated ejection, and both were killed instantly.
Investigation
The RAF Board of Inquiry conducted a parallel investigation with the US Army. Information was shared openly, and the RAF Board had access to the Accident Data Recorder, wreckage, and witness statements from both British and US personnel. The Board noted that without US cooperation, an accurate picture of events would not have been possible. This summary pertains only to the UK Board.
Determination of Cause
The immediate cause of the accident was that a Patriot missile destroyed ZG710. The Board identified several contributory factors: Patriot Anti-Radiation Missile classification criteria were too broad and based on generic threats; the Rules of Engagement for anti-radiation missiles were not robust enough to prevent engagement of a friendly aircraft; Patriot firing doctrine and crew training emphasized rapid engagement and trust in the system, with training focused on generic threats rather than specific Iraqi threats or false alarm identification; the Patriot battery operated autonomously without full communications equipment, limiting situational awareness; the battery lacked Mode 1 IFF codes; ZG710’s IFF had a fault (likely a power supply failure) that prevented a response, though the crew was unaware; aircraft routing and airspace control measures did not account for Patriot battery positions; and instructions regarding aircraft operating without IFF were misleading.
Recommendations
The Board made 12 recommendations, including further research into Tornado IFF failure modes, closer coordination between planning and operations for airspace usage, sharing the RAF Board report with US authorities, and using the report for lessons identified from the war in Iraq. The Commander-In-Chief RAF Strike Command agreed and made additional recommendations.