F-14 Tomcat

The F-14 Tomcat was a carrier-based, variable-sweep wing fighter in service with the US Navy during the Cold War. It was developed by the American aircraft company Grumman for United States Navy to replace the F-4 Phantom II fighter, which had already carried out many combat missions in Vietnam. The Tomcat first rolled out on December 14, 1970 and it flew for the first time a week later, on December 21.

Designed both as an air superiority fighter and a long-range naval interceptor, the Grumman F-14 was a twin-engine, two-seat aircraft fitted out with variable sweep wings. It entered service with the US Navy in September 1974, being deployed aboard the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier. The Tomcat was the biggest and heaviest carrier-based fighter in the US Navy history.

Below, the F-14A front view.

The F-14 Tomcat had its baptism of fire on August 19, 1981, over the Gulf of Sidra in what is known as the Gulf of Sidra incident after two F-14s from VF-41 Black Aces were engaged by two Libyan Su-22 "Fitters". The F-14s evaded the short range heat seeking AA-2 "Atoll" missile and returned fire, downing both Libyan aircraft. US Navy F-14s once again were pitted against Libyan aircraft on January 4, 1989, when two F-14s from VF-32 shot down two Libyan MiG-23 "Floggers" over the Gulf of Sidra in a second Gulf of Sidra incident. Of course, the Soviet-made fighters were not fitted out with the modern Soviet avionics of the day. The F-14 would also see combat action in the 1991 Operation Desert Storm in the ground-attack role.

Serving with the US Navy, the F-14 was upgraded more than once. In the 1990s it added the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system and began performing precision strike missions. The F-14 was retired from the active US Navy fleet on September 22, 2006, having been replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The US Government, under Jimmy Carter’s Administration, unfortunately sold 44 F-14A aircraft to the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose air force used this US-built supersonic fighter until 2016, when it was also retired as they lacked spare parts.

Specifications

Engine: two General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans.
Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h)
Combat radius: 575 miles (926 km)
Ferry range: 1,840 mi (2,960 km)
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,200 m)
Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.1 m)
Wingspan: spread: 64 ft (19.55 m); swept: 38 ft (11.58 m)
Empty weight: 43,735 lb (19,838 kg)
Avionics: Hughes AN/APG-71 radar.
Crew: two (pilot and radar intercept officer)
Armament: one 20mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan Gatling Gun with 675 rounds; two AIM-54 Phoenix, three AIM-7 Sparrow, two AIM-9 Sidewinder air to air missiles.
Variants: F-14A, F-14B, F-14D

Below, the F-14B in flight with its wings fully swept back.

Another frontal view of the Tomcat but in flight, exhibiting its air-to-air missiles.

The F-14A's underbelly carrying AIM-54 missiles.

 Below, the F-14A, with extended wings, in 1977.