The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program following the collapse of the F-111B project. The F-14 was the first of the American teen-series fighters which were designed incorporating the experience of air combat against MiG fighters during the Vietnam War.
The F-14 first flew in December 1970 and made its first deployment in 1974 with the U.S. Navy aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65), replacing the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The F-14 served as the U.S. Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance platform. In the 1990s, it added the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system and began performing precision ground-attack missions.[1]Background
Beginning in the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy sought a long-range, high-endurance interceptor to defend its carrier battle groups against long-range anti-ship missiles launched from the jet bombers and submarines of the Soviet Union.
The U.S. Navy needed a Fleet Air Defense (FAD) aircraft with a more
powerful radar, and longer range missiles than the F-4 Phantom II to
intercept both enemy bombers and missiles.[3] The Navy was directed to participate in the Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) program with the U.S. Air Force by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
McNamara wanted "joint" solutions to service aircraft needs to reduce
development costs, and had already directed the Air Force to buy the F-4
Phantom II, which was developed for the Navy and Marine Corps.[4]
The Navy strenuously opposed the TFX as it feared compromises necessary
for the Air Force's need for a low-level attack aircraft would
adversely impact the aircraft's fighter performance.
However, weight and performance issues plagued the U.S. Navy F-111B variant for TFX and would not be resolved to the Navy's satisfaction. The F-111 manufacturer General Dynamics partnered with Grumman
on the Navy F-111B. With the F-111B program in distress, Grumman began
studying improvements and alternatives. In 1966, the Navy awarded
Grumman a contract to begin studying advanced fighter designs. Grumman
narrowed down these designs to its 303 design.[5]
Vice Admiral Thomas F. Connolly, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for
Air Warfare, took the developmental F-111A variant for a flight and
discovered it had difficulty going supersonic and had poor carrier
landing characteristics. He later testified to Congress about his
concerns against the official Department of the Navy position, and in
May 1968, Congress stopped funding for the F-111B, allowing the Navy to
pursue an answer tailored to their requirements. The name "Tomcat" was
partially chosen to pay tribute to Admiral Connolly, as the nickname
"Tom's Cat" had already been widely used by the manufacturer, although
the name also followed the Grumman tradition of naming its fighter
aircraft after felines.[6]
VFX
The F-111B had been designed for the long-range Fleet Air Defense
(FAD) interceptor role, but not for new requirements for air combat
based on experience of American aircraft against agile MiG fighters over
Vietnam. The Navy studied the need for VFAX, an additional fighter that was more agile than the F-4 Phantom for air-combat and ground-attack roles.[7]
Grumman continued work on its 303 design and offered it to the Navy in
1967, which led to fighter studies by the Navy. The company continued to
refine the design into 1968.[5]
An F-14D launching an AIM-7 Sparrow; a GBU-24 Paveway III is also being carried.
In July 1968, the Naval Air Systems Command
(NAVAIR) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Naval Fighter
Experimental (VFX) program. VFX called for a tandem two-seat,
twin-engined air-to-air fighter with a maximum speed of Mach 2.2. It
would also have a built-in M61 Vulcan cannon and a secondary close air
support role.[8] The VFX's air-to-air missiles would be either six AIM-54 Phoenix or a combination of six AIM-7 Sparrow and four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Bids were received from General Dynamics, Grumman, Ling-Temco-Vought, McDonnell Douglas and North American Rockwell;[9] four bids incorporated variable-geometry wings.[8][N 1]
McDonnell Douglas and Grumman were selected as finalists in December
1968. Grumman was selected for the contract award in January 1969.[10] Grumman's design reused the TF30 engines from the F-111B, though the Navy planned on replacing them with the Pratt & Whitney F401-400 engines under development for the Navy, along with the related Pratt & Whitney F100 for the USAF.[11]
Though lighter than the F-111B, it was still the largest and heaviest
U.S. fighter to fly from an aircraft carrier, its size a consequence of
the requirement to carry the large AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles (from the F-111B) and an internal fuel load of 16,000 lb (7,300 kg).[12]
Upon being granted the contract for the F-14, Grumman greatly expanded its Calverton,
Long Island, New York facility for evaluating the aircraft. Much of the
testing, including the first of many compressor stalls and multiple
ejections, took place over Long Island Sound. In order to save time and
forestall interference from Secretary McNamara, the Navy skipped the
prototype phase and jumped directly to full-scale development; the Air
Force took a similar approach with its F-15.[13]
The F-14 first flew on 21 December 1970, just 22 months after Grumman
was awarded the contract, and reached Initial Operational Capability
(IOC) in 1973. The United States Marine Corps
was initially interested in the F-14 as an F-4 Phantom II replacement;
going so far as to send officers to Fighter Squadron One Twenty-Four (VF-124)
to train as instructors. The Marine Corps pulled out of any procurement
when development of the stores management system for ground attack
munitions was not pursued. An air-to-ground capability was not developed
until the 1990s.[13]
Firing trials involved launches against simulated targets of various
types, from cruise missiles to high-flying bombers. AIM-54 Phoenix
missile testing from the F-14 began in April 1972. The longest single
Phoenix launch was successful against a target at a range 110 nmi
(200 km) in April 1973. Another unusual test was made on 22 November
1973, when six missiles were fired within 38 seconds at Mach 0.78 and
24,800 ft (7,600 m); four scored direct hits.[14]
Improvements and changes
With time, the early versions of all the missiles were replaced by
more advanced versions, especially with the move to full solid-state
electronics that allowed better reliability, better ECCM and more space
for the rocket engine. So the early arrangement of the AIM-54A Phoenix
active-radar air-to-air missile, the AIM-7E-2 Sparrow Semi-active radar homing
air-to-air missile, and the AIM-9J Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air
missile was replaced in the 1980s with the B (1983) and C (1986) version
of the Phoenix, the F (1977), M (1982), P (1987 or later) for Sparrows,
and with the Sidewinder, L (1979) and M (1982). Within these versions
there are several improved batches (for example, Phoenix AIM-54C++).[15]
The Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) was developed in the late 1970s for the F-14. Approximately 65 F-14As and all F-14Ds were modified to carry the pod.[16]
TARPS was primarily controlled by the RIO, who had a specialized
display to observe reconnaissance data. The TARPS was upgraded with
digital camera in 1996 with the "TARPS Digital (TARPS-DI)". The digital
camera was further updated beginning in 1998 with the "TARPS Completely
Digital (TARPS-CD)" configuration that provided real-time transmission
of imagery.[17]
Some of the F-14A aircraft underwent engine upgrades to the GE F110-400 in 1987. These upgraded Tomcats were redesignated F-14A+, which was later changed to F-14B in 1991.[18]
The F-14D variant was developed at the same time; it included the GE
F110-400 engines with newer digital avionics systems such as a glass cockpit, and compatibility with the Link 16 secure datalink.[19] The Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) notably improved the F-14's handling qualities when flying at a high angle of attack or in air combat maneuvering.[20]
Adding ground attack capability
In the 1990s, with the pending retirement of the A-6 Intruder, the F-14 air-to-ground
program was resurrected. Trials with live bombs had been carried out in
the 1980s; the F-14 was cleared to use basic iron bombs in 1992. In Operation Desert Storm, most air-to-ground missions were left to A-7, A-6 Intruder and F/A-18 Hornet
squadrons, the F-14 focused on air defense operations. Following Desert
Storm, F-14As and F-14Bs underwent upgrades to avionics and cockpit
displays to enable the use of precision munitions, enhance defensive
systems, and apply structural improvements. The new avionics were
comparable with the F-14D; upgraded aircraft were designated F-14A
(Upgrade) and F-14B (Upgrade) respectively.[16]
An F-14D(R) from VF-213 flying over Iraq on last Tomcat deployment with LANTIRN pod on starboard wing glove station and LGB underneath fuselage.
By 1994, Grumman and the Navy were proposing ambitious plans for
Tomcat upgrades to plug that gap between the retirement of the A-6 and
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet entering service. However, the upgrades would
have taken too long to implement to meet the gap, and were priced in the
billions; Congress considered this too expensive for an interim
solution.[16] A quick, inexpensive upgrade using the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN)
targeting pod was devised. The LANTIRN pod provided the F-14 with a
forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera for night operations and a laser
target designator to direct laser-guided bombs (LGB).[21]
Although LANTIRN is traditionally a two-pod system, an AN/AAQ-13
navigation pod with terrain-following radar and a wide-angle FLIR, along
with an AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod with a steerable FLIR and a laser
target designator, the decision was made to only use the targeting pod.
The Tomcat's LANTIRN pod was altered and improved over the baseline
configuration, such as a Global Positioning System / Inertial Navigation
System (GPS-INS) capability to allow an F-14 to accurately locate
itself. The pod was carried on the right wing glove pylon.[21]
The LANTIRN pod did not require changes to the F-14's own system
software, but the pod was designed to operate on a MIL-STD-1553B bus not
present on the F-14A or B. Consequently, Martin Marietta specially developed an interface card for LANTIRN. The Radar Intercept Officer
(RIO) would receive pod imagery on a 10-inch Programmable Tactical
Information Display (PTID) or another Multi-Function Display in the F-14[22][23]
rear cockpit and guided LGBs using a new hand controller installed on
the right side console. Initially, the hand controller replaced the
RIO's TARPS control panel, meaning a Tomcat configured for LANTIRN could
not carry TARPS and the reverse, but eventually a workaround was later
developed to allow a Tomcat to carry LANTIRN or TARPS as needed.[21]
An upgraded LANTIRN named "LANTIRN 40K" for operations up to
40,000 ft (12,000 m) was introduced in 2001, followed by Tomcat Tactical
Targeting (T3) and Fast Tactical Imagery (FTI), to provide precise
target coordinate determination and ability to transmit images
in-flight.[24] Tomcats also added the ability to carry the GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in 2003, giving it the option of a variety of LGB and GPS-guided weapons.[25] Some F-14Ds were upgraded in 2005 with a ROVER III Full Motion Video (FMV) downlink, a system that transmits real-time images from the aircraft's sensors to the laptop of Forward Air Controller (FAC) on the ground.[26]
Design
Overview
F-14 Tomcat flight demonstration video
The F-14 Tomcat was designed as both an air superiority fighter and a long-range naval interceptor.[27][28][29] The F-14 has a two-seat cockpit with a bubble canopy
that affords all-round visibility. It features variable geometry wings
that swing automatically during flight. For high-speed intercept, they
are swept back and they swing forward for lower speed flight.[15] It was designed to improve on the F-4 Phantom's air combat performance in most respects.[27]
The F-14's fuselage and wings allow it to climb faster than the F-4,
while the twin-tail arrangement offers better stability. The F-14 is
equipped with an internal 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling
cannon mounted on the left side, and can carry AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7
Sparrow, and AIM-9 Sidewinder anti-aircraft missiles. The twin engines
are housed in nacelles,
spaced apart by 1 to 3 ft (0.30 to 0.91 m). The flat area of the
fuselage between the nacelles is used to contain fuel and avionics
systems such as the wing-sweep mechanism and flight controls, and the
underside used to carry the F-14's complement of Phoenix or Sparrow
missiles, or assorted bombs.[15] By itself, the fuselage provides approximately 40 to 60 percent of the F-14's aerodynamic lifting surface depending on the wing sweep position.[30]
Variable geometry wings
The F-14's wing sweep can be varied between 20° and 68° in flight,[31] and can be automatically controlled by the Central Air Data Computer, which maintains wing sweep at the optimum lift-to-drag ratio as the Mach number varies; pilots can manually override the system if desired.[15]
When parked, the wings can be "overswept" to 75° to overlap the
horizontal stabilizers to save deck space aboard carriers. In an
emergency, the F-14 can land with the wings fully swept to 68°,[15]
although this presents a significant safety hazard due to greatly
increased airspeed, thus an aircraft would typically be diverted from an
aircraft carrier to a land base if an incident did occur. The F-14 has
even flown and landed safely with an asymmetrical wing-sweep even on an
aircraft carrier during emergencies.[32]
Rearview of the F-14 showing the area between the engine nacelles
The wings have a two-spar structure with integral fuel tanks. Much of
the structure, including the wing box, wing pivots and upper and lower
wing skins is made of titanium,[15] a light, rigid and strong material, but also difficult and costly to weld. Ailerons are not fitted, with roll control being provided by wing-mounted spoilers
at low speed (which are disabled if the sweep angle exceeds 57°), and
by differential operation of the all-moving tailerons at high speed.[15] Full-span slats and flaps
are used to increase lift both for landing and combat, with slats being
set at 17° for landing and 7° for combat, while flaps are set at 35°
for landing and 10° for combat.[15]
The twin tail layout helps in maneuvers at high AoA (angle of attack)
while reducing the height of the aircraft to fit within the limited roof
clearance of hangars aboard aircraft carriers. Two under-engine nacelle mount points are provided for external fuel tanks carrying an additional 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) of fuel.
Two triangular shaped retractable surfaces, called glove vanes, were
originally mounted in the forward part of the wing glove, and could be
automatically extended by the flight control system at high Mach
numbers. They were used to generate additional lift ahead of the
aircraft's center of gravity, thus helping to compensate for the nose-down pitching
tendencies at supersonic speeds. Automatically deployed at above Mach
1.4, they allowed the F-14 to pull 7.5 g at Mach 2 and could be manually
extended with wings swept full aft. They were later disabled, however,
owing to their additional weight and complexity.[15] The air brakes
consist of top-and-bottom extendable surfaces at the rearmost portion
of the fuselage, between the engine nacelles. The bottom surface is
split into left and right halves, the arrestor hook hangs between the
two halves, an arrangement sometimes called the "castor tail".[33]
Engines and landing gear
The F-14 was initially equipped with two Pratt & Whitney TF30 (or JT10A) turbofan engines, providing a total thrust of 5.670/9.480 kg/t and giving the aircraft an official maximum speed of Mach 2.34.[34] However, the F-14 would normally fly at a cruising speed for reduced fuel consumption, which was important for conducting lengthy patrol missions.[35]
Both of the engine's rectangular air intakes were equipped with movable
ramps and bleed doors to meet the airflow requirements of the engine
but prevent dangerous shockwaves from entering. Variable nozzles were
also fitted to the engine's exhaust.
An F-14D prepares to refuel with probe extended
The performance of the TF30 engine became an object of criticism. John Lehman, Secretary of the Navy
in the 1980s, told the U.S. Congress that the TF30/F-14 combination was
"probably the worst engine/airframe mismatch we have had in years" and
that the TF30 was "a terrible engine";[31][33] 28% of all F-14 accidents were attributed to the engine. A high frequency of turbine blade failures
led to the reinforcement of the entire engine bay to limit damage from
such failures. The engines also had proved to be extremely prone to compressor stalls, which could easily result in loss of control, severe yaw oscillations, and could lead to an unrecoverable flat spin.
At specific altitudes, exhaust produced by missile launches could cause
an engine compressor stall; leading to the development of a bleed
system to temporarily reduce engine power and block the frontal intake
during missile launch. With the TF30, the F-14's overall thrust-to-weight ratio at maximum takeoff weight is around 0.56, considerably less than the F-15A's ratio of 0.85; when fitted with the General Electric F110 engine, an improved thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.73 at maximum weight and 0.88 at normal takeoff weight was achieved.[34]
The undercarriage is very robust, in order to withstand the harsh
takeoffs and landings necessary for carrier operation. It comprises a
double nose wheel and widely spaced single main wheels. There are no
hardpoints on the sweeping parts of the wings, and so all the armaments
are fitted on the belly between the air intakes and on pylons under the
wing gloves. Internal fuel capacity is 2,400 US gal (9,100 l):
290 US gal (1,100 l) in each wing, 690 US gal (2,600 l) in a series of
tanks aft of the cockpit, and a further 457 US gal (1,730 l) in two
feeder tanks. It can carry two 267 US gal (1,010 l) external drop tanks
under the engine intakes.[15] There is also an air-to-air refueling probe, which folds into the starboard nose.[36]
Avionics and flight controls
The cockpit has two seats, arranged in tandem, outfitted with Martin-Baker GRU-7A rocket-propelled ejection seats, rated from zero altitude and zero airspeed up to 450 knots.[37] The canopy is spacious, and fitted with four mirrors to provide effectively all-round visibility. Only the pilot has flight controls; the flight instruments themselves are of a hybrid analog-digital nature.[15] The cockpit also features a head-up display
(HUD) to show primarily navigational information; several other
avionics systems such as communications and direction-finders are
integrated into the AWG-9 radar's display. A significant feature of the
F-14 was its Central Air Data Computer (CADC), designed by Garrett AiResearch,
that formed the onboard integrated flight control system. It used a
MOS-based LSI chipset, the MP944, making it possibly the first microprocessor in history.[38]
F-14 with landing gear deployed
The nose of the aircraft is large because it contains a two-person crew and several bulky avionics
systems. The main element is the Hughes AWG-9 X-band radar; the antenna
is a 36 in (91 cm)-wide planar array, and has integrated IFF antennas.
The AWG-9 has several search and tracking modes, such as Track-While-Scan (TWS), Range-While-Search
(RWS), Pulse-Doppler Single-Target Track (PDSTT), and Jam Angle Track
(JAT); a maximum of 24 targets can be tracked simultaneously, and six
can be engaged in TWS mode up to around 60 mi (97 km). Cruise missiles
are also possible targets with the AWG-9, which can lock onto and track
small objects even at low altitude when in Pulse-Doppler mode.[15] For the F-14D, the AWG-9 was replaced by the upgraded APG-71 radar. The Joint Tactical Information Display System (JTIDS)/Link 16 for data communications was added later on.[39]
The F-14 also features electronic countermeasures (ECM) and radar warning (RWR) systems, chaff/flare dispensers, fighter-to-fighter data link, and a precise inertial navigation system.[15] The early navigation system was inertial-based, point-of-origin coordinates were programmed into a navigation computer and gyroscopes
would track the aircraft's every motion to calculate distance and
direction from that starting point. GPS later was integrated to provide
more precise navigation and redundancy in case either system failed. The
chaff/flare dispensers were located on the underside of the fuselage
and on the tail. The RWR system consisted of several antennas on the
aircraft's fuselage, which could roughly calculate both direction and
distance of enemy radar users; it could also differentiate between
search radar, tracking radar, and missile-homing radar.[40]
Featured in the sensor suite was the AN/ALR-23, an infrared sensor using indium antimonide
detectors, mounted under the nose; however this was replaced by an
optical system, Northrop's AAX-1, also designated TCS (TV Camera Set).
The AAX-1 helped pilots visually identify and track aircraft, up to a
range of 60 miles (97 km) for large aircraft. The radar and the AAX-1
were linked, allowing the one detector to follow the direction of the
other. A dual infrared/optical detection system was adopted on the later
F-14D.[citation needed]
Armament
The F-14 was designed to combat highly maneuverable aircraft as well as the Soviet cruise missile and bomber threats.[29] The Tomcat was to be a platform for the AIM-54 Phoenix, but unlike the canceled F-111B, it could also engage medium and short range threats with other weapons.[27][29] The F-14 was an air superiority fighter, not just a long-range interceptor.[29] Over 6,700 kg (15,000 lb) of stores could be carried for combat missions on several hardpoints
under the fuselage and under the wings. Commonly, this meant a maximum
of two–four Phoenixes or Sparrows on the belly stations, two
Phoenixes/Sparrows on the wing hardpoints, and two Sidewinders on the
wing hardpoints.[citation needed] The F-14 was also fitted with an internal 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling-type cannon.
Operationally, the capability to hold up to six Phoenix missiles was
never used, although early testing was conducted; there was never a
threat requirement to engage six hostile targets simultaneously and the
load was too heavy to recover aboard an aircraft carrier. During the
height of Cold War operations in the late 1970s and 1980s, the typical
weapon loadout on carrier-deployed F-14s was usually only one AIM-54
Phoenix, augmented by two AIM-9 Sidewinders, two AIM-7 Sparrow IIIs, a full loadout of 20 mm ammunition and two drop tanks.[citation needed] The Phoenix missile was used twice in combat by the U.S. Navy, both over Iraq in 1999,[41][42][43] but the missiles didn't score any kills.[citation needed]
Operational history
Main article: F-14 Tomcat operational history
United States Navy
An F-14A of VF-84 Jolly Rogers, in a 1970s color scheme
The F-14 began replacing the F-4 Phantom II in U.S. Navy service starting in September 1974 with squadrons VF-1 "Wolfpack" and VF-2 "Bounty Hunters" aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and participated in the American withdrawal from Saigon. The F-14 had its first kills in U.S. Navy service on 19 August 1981 over the Gulf of Sidra in what is known as the Gulf of Sidra incident. In that engagement 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. U.S. Navy
F-14s once again were pitted against Libyan aircraft on 4 January 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.
Its first sustained combat use was as a photo reconnaissance
platform. The Tomcat was selected to inherit the reconnaissance mission
upon departure of the dedicated RA-5C Vigilante and RF-8G Crusaders from the fleet. A large pod called the Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System
(TARPS) was developed and fielded on the Tomcat in 1981. With the
retirement of the last RF-8G Crusaders in 1982, TARPS F-14s became the
U.S. Navy's primary tactical reconnaissance system.[44]
One of two Tomcat squadrons per airwing was designated as a TARPS unit
and received 3 TARPS capable aircraft and training for 4 TARPS aircrews.
An F-14A from VF-114 intercepting a Soviet Tu-95RT "Bear-D" maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
While the Tomcat was being used by Iran in combat against Iraq in its
intended air superiority mission in the early 1980s, the U.S. Navy
found itself flying regular daily combat missions over Lebanon to
photograph activity in the Bekaa Valley.
At the time, the Tomcat had been thought too large and vulnerable to be
used overland, but the need for imagery was so great that Tomcat
aircrews developed high speed medium altitude tactics to deal with
considerable AAA and SA-7 SAM threat in the Bekaa area. The first
exposure of a Navy Tomcat to a SA-2 missile was over Somalia in April
1983 when a local battery was unaware of two Tomcats scheduled for a
TARPS missions in prelude to an upcoming international exercise in
vicinity of Berbera. An SA-2 was fired at the second Tomcat while
conducting 10,000-ft mapping profile at max conserve setting. The Tomcat
aircrews spotted the missile launch and dove for the deck thereby
evading it without damage. The unexpected demand for combat TARPS laid
the way for high altitude sensors such as the KA-93 36 in (910 mm) Long
Range Optics (LOROP) to be rapidly procured for the Tomcat as well as an
Expanded Chaff Adapter (ECA) to be incorporated in an AIM-54 Phoenix
Rail. Commercial "Fuzz buster" type radar detectors were also procured
and mounted in pairs in the forward cockpit as a stop gap solution to
detect SAM radars such as the SA-6. The ultimate solution was an upgrade
to the ALR-67 then being developed, but it would not be ready until the
advent of the F-14A+ later in 1980s.[citation needed]
An F-14A of VF-32 during Operation Desert Storm with a KC-135 Stratotanker and two EA-6B Prowlers in the background
The participation of the F-14 in the 1991 Operation Desert Storm
consisted of Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over the Red Sea and Persian Gulf
and overland missions consisting of strike escort and reconnaissance.
Until the waning days of Desert Storm, in-country air superiority was
tasked to USAF F-15 Eagles
due to the way the Air Tasking Orders (ATO) delegated primary overland
CAP stations to the F-15 Eagle. The governing Rules of Engagement (ROE)
also dictated a strict Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) requirement
when employing Beyond Visual Range weapons such as the AIM-7 Sparrow and
particularly the AIM-54 Phoenix. This hampered the Tomcat from using
its most powerful weapon. Furthermore, the powerful emissions from the
AWG-9 radar are detectable at great range with a radar warning receiver. Iraqi fighters routinely retreated as soon as the Tomcats "lit them up" with the AWG-9.[45][46]
The U.S. Navy suffered its only F-14 loss from enemy action on 21
January 1991 when BuNo 161430, an F-14A upgraded to an F-14A+, from VF-103 was shot down by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile while on an escort mission near Al Asad
airbase in Iraq. Both crew survived ejection with the pilot being
rescued by USAF Special Forces and the RIO being captured by Iraqi
troops as a POW until the end of the war.[47] The F-14 also achieved its final kill, an Mi-8 "Hip" helicopter, with an AIM-9 Sidewinder.
In 1995, F-14s from VF-14 and VF-41 participated in Operation Deliberate Force as well as Operation Allied Force in 1999, and in 1998, VF-32 and VF-213 participated in Operation Desert Fox. On 15 February 2001 the Joint Direct Attack Munition or JDAM was added to the Tomcat's arsenal. On 7 October 2001, F-14s would lead some of the first strikes into Afghanistan marking the start of Operation Enduring Freedom and the first F-14 drop of a JDAM occurred on 11 March 2002. F-14s from VF-2, VF-31, VF-32, VF-154, and VF-213 would also participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The F-14Ds of VF-2, VF-31, and VF-213 obtained JDAM capability in March 2003.[25]
On 10 December 2005, the F-14Ds of VF-31 and VF-213 were upgraded with a
ROVER III downlink for transmitting images to a ground Forward Air
Controller (FAC).[26]
While the F-14 had been developed as a light weight alternative to the 80,000 lb (36,000 kg) F-111B, the F-14 was still the largest and most expensive fighter of its time. VFAX
was revived in the 1970s as a lower cost solution to replacing the Navy
and Marine Corps's fleets of F-4s, and A-7s. VFAX was directed to
review the fighters in the USAF Light Weight Fighter
competition, which led to the development of the F/A-18 Hornet as
roughly a midsize fighter and attack aircraft. In 1994, Congress would
reject Grumman proposals to the Navy to upgrade the Tomcat beyond the D
model (such as the Super Tomcat 21, the cheaper QuickStrike version, and
the more advanced Attack Super Tomcat 21).[48]
Instead, the Navy elected to retire the F-14 and chose the F/A-18E/F
Super Hornet to fill the roles of fleet defense and strike formerly
filled by the F-14. The last two F-14 squadrons, the VF-31 Tomcatters and the VF-213 Black Lions conducted their last fly-in at Naval Air Station Oceana on 10 March 2006.[49]
The last F-14 take-off from a carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt on 28 July 2006
The last American F-14 combat mission was completed on 8 February 2006, when a pair of Tomcats landed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) after one dropped a bomb over Iraq. During their final deployment with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71),
VF-31 and VF-213 collectively completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling
6,876 flight hours, and dropped 9,500 lb (4,300 kg) of ordnance during
reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom.[50] The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
launched an F-14D, of VF-31, for the last time on 28 July 2006; piloted
by Lt. Blake Coleman and Lt. Cmdr Dave Lauderbaugh as RIO.[51]
The official final flight retirement ceremony was on 22 September
2006 at Naval Air Station Oceana, and was flown by Lt. Cmdr. Chris
Richard and Lt. Mike Petronis as RIO in a backup F-14 after the primary
aircraft experienced mechanical problems.[52][53]
The actual last flight of an F-14 in U.S. service took place 4 October
2006, when an F-14D of VF-31 was ferried from NAS Oceana to Republic
Airport on Long Island, New York.[53] The remaining intact F-14 aircraft in the U.S. were flown to and stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group "Boneyard", at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, before being shredded to prevent any components from being acquired by Iran.[54]
Iran
F-14A of the Iranian Air Force, 2009
The sole foreign customer for the Tomcat was the Imperial Iranian Air Force, during the reign of the last Shah (King) of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
In the early 1970s, the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) was searching
for an advanced fighter, specifically one capable of intercepting Soviet MiG-25 "Foxbat" reconnaissance flights. After a visit of U.S. President Richard Nixon
to Iran in 1972, during which Iran was offered the latest in American
military technology, the IIAF narrowed its choice to the F-14 Tomcat or McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.
Grumman Corporation arranged a competitive demonstration of the Eagle
against the Tomcat before the Shah, and in January 1974, Iran ordered 30
F-14s and 424 AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, initiating Project Persian King,
worth US$300 million. A few months later, this order was increased to a
total of 80 Tomcats and 714 Phoenix missiles as well as spare parts and
replacement engines for 10 years, complete armament package, and
support infrastructure (including construction of the huge Khatami Air
Base in the desert near Esfahan).
The first F-14 arrived in January 1976, modified only by the removal
of classified avionics components, but fitted with the TF-30-414
engines. The following year 12 more were delivered. Meanwhile, training
of the first groups of Iranian crews by the U.S. Navy, was underway in
the USA; and one of these conducted a successful shoot-down with a
Phoenix missile of a target drone flying at 50,000 ft (15 km).
Following the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, the air force was renamed the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) and the post-revolution interim government of Iran canceled most Western arms orders. In 1980 an Iranian F-14 shot down an Iraqi Mil Mi-25 helicopter for its first air-to-air kill during the Iran-Iraq conflict.[55]
Flight formation of Iranian Tomcats - 2008
According to research by Tom Cooper, within the first six months of
the war Iranian F-14s scored over 50 air-to-air victories, mainly
against Iraqi MiG-21s and MiG-23s, but some also against Su-20/22s. In exchange, only a single F-14A was destroyed by a MiG-21.[55]
Between 1982 and 1986 Iranian Tomcats were to see use in a series of
slowly developing campaigns: mainly tasked with patrolling the skies
over objects vital for the survival of Iranian regime and economy, like
Tehran, or Kharg Island.
Most of these patrols were supported by the fleet of Boeing 707-3J9C
tankers, and quite some lasted as long as 10 hours, thanks to up to four
successive in-flight refuelings. Time and again, they were involved in
new air battles, and had scored heavily, but their main role was that of
intimidating the Iraqi Air Force. Cognizant of previous heavy losses in
battles against Iranian F-14s, the Iraqis avoided any engagement with
them, so that the sole presence of a Tomcat over the target area was
enough to force Iraqi formations to abort their attacks. Because of
this, as well as because of the precision and effectiveness of the
Tomcat's AWG-9 weapons system and AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-to-air
missiles, the F-14 maintained air control over a lengthy period of time.[citation needed]
By 1987, the Iraqis had suffered such heavy losses to Iranian Tomcats
that they were forced to find a solution with which they could engage
them under equal circumstances. In early 1988 France delivered Mirage F.1EQ-6 fighters, equipped with Super 530D and Magic Mk.2
missiles, to Iraq. In July 1988, after a series of air battles through
February, March, and May 1988, in which the Iraqis suffered additional
heavy losses to IRIAF Tomcats, the new IrAF Mirages finally managed to
shoot down two Iranian F-14s in a single engagement.[citation needed]
Overall, Tom Cooper claims that Iranian F-14s shot down at least 160 Iraqi aircraft during the Iran-Iraq War, which include 58 MiG-23s, 23 MiG-21s, nine MiG-25s, 33 Dassault Mirage F1s, 23 Su-17s, one Mil Mi-24, five Tu-22s, two MiG-27s, one Dassault Mirage 5, one B-6D, one Aérospatiale Super Frelon, and two unknown aircraft.[56]
Despite the circumstances under which the F-14s and their crews had to
operate in Iran during the eight-year long war against Iraq, it is still
the premier fighter in the Iranian Air Force. The aircraft continued to
operate without any support from AWACS or AEW aircraft, without even a
proper support from the Ground Control Intercept(GCI).
It faced an enemy that was repeatedly introducing new and more capable
fighters, radars, weapons and ECM systems in combat and was supported by
no less than three "superpowers" (France, the USA, and the USSR). Their
crews were also permanently under heavy pressure from the regime in
Tehran. That it proved as successful in combat is a result of strenuous
efforts of IRIAF personnel and immense investment of the Iranian
economy.[55]
Iran had an estimated 44 F-14s,[57] with some 20 operational by 2009.[58] However, Iranian military sources say that, through the reverse engineering of spare parts and refurbishment, they now have 25 operational F-14s.[59]
In January 2007, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that sales
of spare F-14 parts would be suspended over concerns of the parts ending
up in Iran.[60] In July 2007, the remaining American F-14s were shredded to ensure that any parts could not be acquired.[54]
In summer of 2010, Iran requested that the United States deliver the
80th F-14 it had purchased in 1974, but delivery was denied after the
Islamic Revolution.[61][62]
In October 2010, an Iranian Air Force commander claimed that the
country overhauls and optimizes different types of military aircraft,
mentioning that Air Force has even installed Iran-made radar systems on
the F-14.[63]
On 26 January 2012, an Iranian F-14 crashed three minutes after takeoff. Both crew members were killed.[64]
Variants
A total of 712 F-14s were built[65] from 1969 to 1991.[66] F-14 assembly and test flights were performed at Grumman's plant in Calverton on Long Island, NY. Grumman facility at nearby Bethpage, NY
was directly involved in F-14 manufacturing and was home to its
engineers. The airframes were partially assembled in Bethpage and then
shipped to Calverton for final assembly. Various tests were also
performed at the Bethpage Plant. Over 160 of the U.S. aircraft were
destroyed in accidents.[67]
Close-up view of the distinctive afterburner petals that distinguish the GE F110 engine
F-14A
The F-14A was the initial two-seat all-weather interceptor fighter
variant for the U.S. Navy. It first flew on 21 December 1970. The first
12 F-14As were prototype versions[68]
(sometimes called YF-14As). Modifications late in its service life
added precision strike munitions to its armament. The U.S. Navy received
478 F-14A aircraft and 79 were received by Iran.[65] The final 102 F-14As were delivered with improved TF30-P-414A engines.[69] Additionally, an 80th F-14A was manufactured for Iran, but was delivered to the U.S. Navy.[65]
F-14B
The F-14 received its first of many major upgrades in March 1987 with
the F-14A Plus (or F-14A+). The F-14A's P&W TF30 engine was
replaced with the improved GE F110-400 engine. The F-14A+ also received the state-of-the-art ALR-67
Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system. Much of the avionics as well as
the AWG-9 radar were retained. The F-14A+ was later redesignated F-14B
on 1 May 1991. A total of 38 new aircraft were manufactured and 48 F-14A
were upgraded into B variants.[18]
The TF30 had been plagued from the start with susceptibility to compressor stalls
at high AoA and during rapid throttle transients or above 30,000 ft
(9,100 m). The F110 engine provided a significant increase in thrust,
producing 27,600 lbf (123 kN) with afterburner. The increased thrust
gave the Tomcat a better than 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratio at low fuel
quantities. The basic engine thrust without afterburner was powerful
enough for carrier launches, further increasing safety. Another benefit
was allowing the Tomcat to cruise comfortably above 30,000 ft (9,100 m),
which increased its range and survivability. The F-14B arrived in time
to participate in Desert Storm.
In the late 1990s, 67 F-14Bs were upgraded to extend airframe life
and improve offensive and defensive avionics systems. The modified
aircraft became known as F-14B Upgrade or as "Bombcat".[69]
F-14D
The final variant of the F-14 was the F-14D Super Tomcat. The F-14D
variant was first delivered in 1991. The original TF-30 engines were
replaced with GE F110-400 engines, similar to the F-14B. The F-14D also
included newer digital avionics systems including a glass cockpit and replaced the AWG-9 with the newer AN/APG-71
radar. Other systems included the Airborne Self Protection Jammer
(ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS),
SJU-17(V) Naval Aircrew Common Ejection Seats (NACES) and Infra-red search and track (IRST).[70]
An upgraded F-14D(R) Tomcat with the ROVER transmit antenna circled with USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in the background
Although the F-14D was to be the definitive version of the Tomcat,
not all fleet units received the D variant. In 1989, Secretary of
Defense Dick Cheney
refused to approve the purchase of any more F-14D model aircraft for
$50 million each and pushed for a $25 million modernization of the F-14
fleet instead. Congress decided not to shut production down and funded
55 aircraft as part of a compromise. A total of 37 new aircraft were
completed, and 18 F-14A models were upgraded to D-models, designated
F-14D(R) for rebuild.[18] An upgrade to the F-14D's computer software to allow AIM-120 AMRAAM missile capability was planned but was later terminated.[16]
While upgrades had kept the F-14 competitive with modern fighter
aircraft technology, Cheney called the F-14 1960s technology. Despite an
appeal from the Secretary of the Navy for at least 132 F-14Ds and some
aggressive proposals from Grumman for a replacement,[71]
Cheney planned to replace the F-14 with a fighter that was not
manufactured by Grumman. Cheney called the F-14 a "jobs program", and
when the F-14 was canceled, an estimated 80,000 jobs of Grumman
employees, subcontractors, or support personnel were affected.[72] Starting in 2005, some F-14Ds received the ROVER III upgrade.
Projected variants
The first F-14B was to be an improved version of the F-14A with more powerful "Advanced Technology Engine" F401 turbofans. The F-14C was a projected variant of this initial F-14B with advanced multi-mission avionics.[73] Grumman also offered an interceptor version of the F-14B in response to a U.S. Air Force proposal to replace the Convair F-106 Delta Dart as an Aerospace Defense Command interceptor in the 1970s. The F-14B program was terminated in April 1974.[74]
Grumman's proposed F-14 Interceptor for USAF Aerospace Defense Command
in 1972 with the simulated "Buzz Code" and Aerospace Defense Command
livery and emblem on the tail
Grumman proposed a few improved Super Tomcat versions. The first was the Quickstrike,
which was an F-14D with navigational and targeting pods, additional
attach points for weapons, and added ground attack capabilities to its
radar. The Quickstrike was to fill the role of the A-6 Intruder after it was retired. This was not considered enough of an improvement by Congress, so the company shifted to the Super Tomcat 21 proposed design. The Super Tomcat 21 was a proposed lower cost alternative to the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF). The Grumman design would have the same shape and body as the Tomcat, and an upgraded AN/APG-71
radar. New GE F110-129 engines were to provide a supercruise speed of
Mach 1.3 and featured thrust vectoring nozzles. The version would have
increased fuel capacity and modified control surfaces for improved
takeoffs and lower landing approach speed. The Attack Super Tomcat 21
version was the last Super Tomcat proposed design. It added even more
fuel capacity, more improvements to control surfaces, and possibly an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar from the canceled A-12 attack aircraft.[75]
The last "Tomcat" variant was the ASF-14 (Advanced Strike
Fighter-14), Grumman's replacement for the NATF concept. By all
accounts, it would not be even remotely related to the previous Tomcats
save in appearance, incorporating the new technology and design know-how
from the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) and Advanced Tactical Aircraft
(ATA) programs. The ASF-14 would have been a new-build aircraft;
however, its projected capabilities were not that much better than that
of the (A)ST-21 variants.[76]
In the end the Attack Super Tomcat was considered to be too costly. The
Navy decided to pursue the cheaper F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to fill the
fighter-attack role.[75]
Operators
F-14 Tomcat operators as of 2012 (former operators in red)
Two IRIAF F-14 Tomcats armed with AIM-54 Phoenixes in the 1970s
Front view of an F-14B at Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, Japan, 2003
F-14A BuNo 162689 at the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda, California, 2009
Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
72nd TFS: F-14A, 1976–198573rd TFS: F-14A, 1977–198581st TFS: F-14A, 1977–present82nd TFS: F-14A, 1978–present83rd Tomcat Flight School: F-14A, 1978–197983rd TFS: F-14A, renamed former 62nd TFS[77]
United States
United States Navy : operated F-14 from 1974 to 2006
Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) (Merged with Strike University (Strike U) to form Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) 1996)VF-1 Wolfpack (Disestablished 30 September 1993)VF-2 Bounty Hunters (Pacific Fleet through 1996, Atlantic Fleet 1996-2003, Pacific Fleet 2003–present; redesignated VFA-2 with F/A-18F, 1 July 2003)VF-11 Red Rippers (Redesignated to VFA-11 with F/A-18F, May 2005)VF-14 Tophatters (Redesignated VFA-14 with F/A-18E, 1 December 2001, and transferred to Pacific Fleet, 2002)VF-21 Freelancers (Disestablished 31 January 1996)VF-24 Fighting Renegades (Disestablished 20 August 1996)VF-31 Tomcatters (Redesignated VFA-31 with F/A-18E, October 2006)VF-32 Swordsmen (Redesignated VFA-32 with F/A-18F, 1 October 2005)VF-33 Starfighters (Disestablished 1 October 1993)VF-41 Black Aces (Redesignated VFA-41 with F/A-18F, 1 December 2001)VF-51 Screaming Eagles (Disestablished 31 March 1995)VF-74 Bedevilers (Disestablished 30 April 1994)VF-84 Jolly Rogers (Disestablished 1 October 1995; squadron heritage and nickname transferred to VF-103)VF-102 Diamondbacks (Redesignated VFA-102 with F/A-18F, 1 May 2002, and transferred to Pacific Fleet)VF-103 Sluggers/Jolly Rogers (Redesignated VFA-103 with F/A-18F, 1 May 2005)VF-111 Sundowners (Disestablished 31 March 1995; reestablished as VFC-111 in Naval Air Force Reserve with Northrop F-5N and F-5F, 1 November 2006)VF-114 Aardvarks (Disestablished 30 April 1993)VF-142 Ghostriders (Disestablished 30 April 1995)VF-143 Pukin' Dogs (Redesignated VFA-143 with F/A-18E, early 2005)VF-154 Black Knights (Redesignated VFA-154 with F/A-18F, 1 October 2003)VF-191 Satan's Kittens (Disestablished 30 April 1988)VF-194 Red Lightnings (Disestablished 30 April 1988)VF-211 Fighting Checkmates (Pacific Fleet through 1996, then transferred to Atlantic Fleet; redesignated VFA-211 with F/A-18F, 1 October 2004)VF-213 Black Lions (Pacific Fleet through 1996, then transferred to Atlantic Fleet; redesignated VFA-213 with F/A-18F, May 2006)
Naval Air Systems Command Test and Evaluation Squadrons
VX-4 Evaluators (Disestablished 30 September 1994 and merged into VX-5 to form VX-9)VX-9 Vampires (Currently operates F/A-18C/D/E/F, EA-18G, EA-6B, AV-8B, AH-1 and UH-1)VX-23 Salty Dogs (Currently operates F/A-18A+/B/C/D/E/F, EA-6B, EA-18G and T-45)
Fleet Replacement Squadrons
VF-101 Grim Reapers; Atlantic Fleet, then sole single-site, F-14 FRS (Disestablished 15 September 2005; reestablished as VFA-101, sole single-site F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron in May 2012)[78]VF-124 Gunfighters; Pacific Fleet F-14 FRS
(Disestablished 30 September 1994)
Naval Air Force Reserve Squadrons
VF-201 Hunters (Redesignated VFA-201 and reequipped with F/A-18A+ on 1 January 1999; disestablished 30 June 2007)VF-202 Superheats (Disestablished 31 December 1994)VF-301 Devil's Disciples (Disestablished 11 September 1994)VF-302 Stallions (Disestablished 11 September 1994)
Naval Air Force Reserve Squadron Augmentation Units (SAUs)
VF-1285 Fighting Fubijars (Disestablished September 1994);[79] augmented VF-301 and VF-302VF-1485 Americans (Disestablished September 1994);[80] augmented VF-124VF-1486 Fighting Hobos (Disestablished September 2005);[81] augmented VF-101
Aircraft on display
An F-14A on display at Grumman Memorial Park in New York
F-14A BuNo 160661 on display at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's
Aviation Challenge facility in Huntsville, Alabama in August 2009
YF-14A at the Cradle of Aviation Museum
F-14D at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
Notable F-14s preserved at museums and military installations include:
Bureau Number (BuNo) – Model – Location – Significance
Japan
F-14A
161141 - On display at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan.[82]
United States
F-14A
157984 - National Naval Aviation Museum, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Fifth F-14 manufactured and one of the prototypes used in flight testing. Mounted on pedestal at entrance to museum.[83]157986 - USS Intrepid (CV-11), Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, Manhattan, New York; 7th Tomcat built, retained as research and development airframe[84]158623 - Naval Base Ventura County / NAS Point Mugu, California; pedestal mount at Front Gate Airpark[85]158999 - Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth (former Carswell AFB), Texas.[86]159025 - USS Yorktown (CV-10), Patriot's Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.[87]159829 - Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, former Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado: From VF-211, later used for aircraft maintenance training by Naval Air Reserve Center Denver at Buckley AFB[88]158978 - USS Midway Museum, San Diego, California[89]159445 - Naval Station Norfolk (former Naval Air Station Norfolk East Gate Airpark, NAVSTA Norfolk, Virginia.[86]159455 - NAS Patuxent River, Lexington Park, Maryland; former VX-23 flight test squadron aircraft159856 - Naval Air Facility El Centro, California.[86]160382 - Museum of Flight south lawn in Tukwila, WA. VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" AJ202. Stationed on the USS Nimitz. This aircraft, as well as several other F-14As from the famous "Jolly Rogers" squadron, appear in the 1980 film The Final Countdown which was filmed on board the USS Nimitz. On loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida.[90]160401 - Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility Virginia Capes (FACSFAC VACAPES), Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia[91]160661 - U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Aviation Challenge facility in Huntsville, Alabama160684 - Pima Air and Space Museum adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB,
Tucson, Arizona. Repainted in its original markings as "NL 211" of
VF-111 aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63), as this particular aircraft
appeared in its initial operational squadron service, circa 1978-1981.[92]160694 - USS Lexington (AVT-16)
Museum, Corpus Christi, TX - Painted with Hi-Vis markings of VF-103
"Jolly Rogers". Aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of Naval
Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida.[93]160889 - Pacific Coast Air Museum at Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, California[94]160898 - Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs, California[95]160903 - Mid-America Air Museum, Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport, Liberal, Kansas[96]160925 - Eisenhower Park, Wakeeney, Kansas [97]161134 - Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville, Florida[98]161422 - Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum, Cape May County Airport, New Jersey.[86]161426 - Naval Air Station DeLand Museum, DeLand Municipal Airport, DeLand, Florida161598 - Tulsa Air and Space Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma;[99] has VF-41 "Black Aces" markings.161605 - Wings Of Eagles Discovery Center/National Warplane Museum, Horseheads, New York[100]161611 - In use as a ground-based training aid, Naval Air Technical Training Center Pensacola, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.[82]161615 - Combat Air Museum, Topeka, Kansas[101]161620 - Selfridge Military Air Museum, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mount Clemens, Michigan[102]161623 - Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Lexington Park, Maryland; former VX-23 flight test squadron aircraft[103]161863 - NAS Jacksonville Heritage Park, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida[104]162591 - Quonset Air Museum, Quonset State Airport (former Naval Air Station Quonset Point), North Kingstown, Rhode Island.[82]162595 - Naval Test Wing Atlantic, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.[86]162689 - USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Hornet Museum, former Naval Air Station Alameda, Alameda, California.162710 - North Atrium, National Museum of Naval Aviation, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida[105][106]BuNo undetermined - MODEX 201 of VF-14 is on display at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Scotia, New York
NF-14A
160666 - Western Aerospace Museum, Oakland, California;
originally delivered to VF-111 in 1978, subsequently reassigned to
NAVAIR test duties, permanently modified for development of follow-on
avionics and weapons systems[107]
YF-14A
157982 - Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City, New York. Prototype #3 Nonstructural Demonstration Testbed[108]
F-14B
162910 - Naval Air Station Key West, Florida[109]162912 - Grissom Air Museum, Grissom Air Reserve Base (former Grissom AFB), Indiana[110]162592 - Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, California[111]
F-14D(R) - remanufactured F-14As
159600 - OV-10 Bronco Museum, Fort Worth, Texas. On loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, Florida. Nicknamed "Christine",
it was the longest-serving F-14 Tomcat in U.S. Navy. Remanufactured
from F-14A to F-14D(R) configuration, it was originally built in 1976
and made the final combat deployment/cruise of the F-14 in 2006[112]159610 - Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia. This F-14 was one of those involved in the second Gulf of Sidra incident.[113]159619 - Florida Air Museum at Sun 'n Fun, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida[114]159626 - Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.[86]161159 - National Museum of Naval Aviation, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida; completed the last combat flight and the last combat carrier arrested landing (trap) by a U.S. Navy F-14[115]
F-14D
161163 - Chuck Schumacher Aviation Airpark, Prairie Aviation Museum,
Bloomington, Illinois. Depot Level Conversion performed September 1991.
Retired as MODEX 205 of Fighter Squadron 213 (VF-213), Black Lions.[116]163893 - main gate, Arnold Engineering and Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tennessee[117]163897 - Aerospace Museum of California, McClellan Airfield (former McClellan AFB and current Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento), Sacramento, California.[86]163902 - Hickory Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport,
Hickory, North Carolina, VF-31 Tomcatters aircraft Modex number 107;
flew the F-14 retirement ceremony with LCDR Chris Richard and LT Mike
Petronis at the controls.[118][119]163904 - Pacific Aviation Museum, Ford Island, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii[86]164342 - Wings Over Miami Air Museum, Miami, Florida[120]164346 - Virginia Aviation Museum, Richmond, Virginia; on loan from National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida. Last Tomcat to operationally trap aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.[121]164601 - Castle Air Museum at former Castle AFB, Atwater, California.[122]164603 - Grumman Headquarters, Bethpage, New York. Felix 101 from
VF-31 is the last Tomcat to fly in U.S. Navy service. Final flight was
from NAS Oceana, Virginia to the American Airpower Museum at Republic
Airport Long Island, New York on 4 October 2006 were it was displayed
for a year and a half before being moved to Grumman Plant 25.[123]164604 - NAS Oceana Memorial Park, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. Last F-14 manufactured, assigned to VX-4, later VX-9, at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California during its operational service and used the callsign "Vandy 1".[124][125]
Specifications (F-14D)
F-14A, VF 111 "Sundowners" (USS Carl Vinson)
Data from U.S. Navy file,[126] Spick,[34] M.A.T.S.[127]
General characteristics
Crew: 2 (Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer)Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.1 m)Wingspan: ** Spread: 64 ft (19.55 m)
Swept: 38 ft (11.58 m)
Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)Wing area: 565 ft² (54.5 m²)Airfoil: NACA 64A209.65 mod root, 64A208.91 mod tipEmpty weight: 43,735 lb (19,838 kg)Loaded weight: 61,000 lb (27,700 kg)Max. takeoff weight: 74,350 lb (33,720 kg)Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans
Dry thrust: 13,810 lbf (61.4 kN) eachThrust with afterburner: 27,800 lbf (123.7 kN) each
Maximum fuel capacity: 16,200 lb internal; 20,000 lb with 2x 267 gallon external tanks[34]
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h) at high altitudeCombat radius: 500 nmi (575 mi, 926 km)Ferry range: 1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km)Service ceiling: 50,000+ ft (15,200 m)Rate of climb: >45,000 ft/min (229 m/s)Wing loading: 113.4 lb/ft² (553.9 kg/m²)Thrust/weight: 0.92
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 6-barreled gatling cannon, with 675 roundsHardpoints: 10 total: 6× under-fuselage, 2× under nacelles and 2× on wing gloves[128][N 2] with a capacity of 14,500 lb (6,600 kg) of ordnance and fuel tanks[129]Missiles: ** Air-to-air missiles: AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 SidewinderLoading configurations:
2× AIM-9 + 6× AIM-54 (Rarely used due to weight stress on airframe)2× AIM-9 + 2× AIM-54 + 3× AIM-7 (Most common load during Cold War era)2× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-54 + 2× AIM-72× AIM-9 + 6× AIM-74× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-544× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-7
Bombs: ** JDAM precision-guided munition (PGMs)
Paveway series of laser-guided bombsMk 80 series of unguided iron bombsMk 20 Rockeye II
Others:
Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)LANTIRN targeting pod2× 267 US gal (1,010 l; 222 imp gal) drop tanks for extended range/loitering time
Avionics
Hughes AN/APG-71 radarAN/ASN-130 INS, IRST, TCSRemotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) upgrade
Tomcat logo
Tomcat logo
The Tomcat logo design came when Grumman's Director of Presentation
Services, Dick Milligan, and one of his artists, Grumman employee Jim
Rodriguez, were asked for a logo by Grumman's Director of Business
Development and former Blue Angels #5 pilot, Norm Gandia.[130]
Per Rodriguez, "He asked me to draw a lifelike Tomcat wearing boxing
gloves and trunks sporting a six-shooter on his left side; where the
guns are located on the F-14, along with two tails." The Cat was drawn
up after a tabby cat was sourced and used for photographs, and named
"Tom." The logo has gone through many variations, including one for the
then-Imperial Iranian Air Force
F-14, called "Ali-cat." The accompanying slogan "Anytime Baby!" was
developed by Norm Gandia as a challenge to the U.S. Air Force's McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.
The Tomcat was retired from the U.S. Navy's active fleet on 22 September 2006, having been supplanted by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.[2] As of 2012, the F-14 was only in service with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, having been exported to Iran in 1976, when the U.S. had amicable
شهيد
عباس بابايي، بزرگ مردي كه در مكتب شهادت پرورش يافت مجاهدي كه زهد و
تقوايش بسان دريايي خروشان بود و هر لحظه از زندگانيش موج ها در برداشت.
مرد وارسته اي كه سراسر وجودش عشق و از خودگذشتگي و كرامت بود، رزمنده اي
كه دلاور ميدان جنگ بود و مبارزي سترگ با نفس اماره ي خويش. از آن زمان كه
خود را شناخت كوشيد تا جز در جهت خشنودي حق تعالي گام برندارد. به راستي او
گمنام، اما آشناي همه بود. از آن روستاييِ ساده دل، تا آن خلبان دلير و بي
باك. شهيد بابايي در سال 1329، در شهرستان قزوين ديده به جهان گشود. دوره ي
ابتدايي و متوسطه را در همان شهر به تحصيل پرداخت و در سال 1348، به
دانشكده خلباني نيروي هوايي راه يافت و پس از گذراندن دوره آموزش مقدماتي
براي تكميل دوره به آمريكا اعزام شد. شهيد بابايي در سال 1349، براي
گذراندن دوره خلباني به آمريكا رفت. طبق مقررات دانشكده مي بايست به مدت دو
ماه با يكي از دانشجويان آمريكايي هم اتاق مي شد. آمريكايي ها، در ظاهر،
هدف از اين برنامه را پيشرفت دانشجويان در روند فراگيري زبان انگليسي عنوان
مي كردند، اما واقعيت چيز ديگري بود. چون عباس در همان شرايط تمام واجبات
ديني خود را انجام مي داد، از بي بند و باري موجود در جامعه آمريكا بيزار
بود. هم اتاقي او در گزارشي كه از ويژگي ها و روحيات عباس نوشته، يادآور مي
شود كه بابايي فردي منزوي و در برخوردها، نسبت به آداب و هنجارهاي اجتماعي
بي تفاوت است. از رفتار او بر مي آيد كه نسبت به فرهنگ غرب داراي موضع
منفي مي باشد و شديداً به فرهنگ سنتي ايران پاي بند است. همچنين اشاره كرده
كه او به گوشه اي مي رود و با خودش حرف مي زند، كه منظور او نماز و دعا
خواندن عباس بوده است. خود وي ماجراي فارغ التحصيلي از دانشكده خلباني
آمريكا را چنين تعريف كرده است: «دوره خلباني ما در آمريكا تمام شده بود،
اما به خاطر گزارشاتي كه در پرونده خدمتم درج شده بود، تكليفم روشن نبود و
به من گواهينامه نمي دادند، تا اين كه روزي به دفتر مسئول دانشكده، كه يك
ژنرال آمريكايي بود، احضار شدم. به اتاقش رفتم و احترام گذاشتم. او از من
خواست كه بنشينم. پرونده من در جلو او، روي ميز بود، ژنرال آخرين فردي بود
كه مي بايستي نسبت به قبول و يا رد شدنم اظهار نظر مي كرد. او پرسش هايي
كرد كه من پاسخش را دادم . از سوال هاي ژنرال بر مي آمد كه نظر خوشي نسبت
به من ندارد. اين ملاقات ارتباط مستقيمي با آبرو و حيثيت من داشت، زيرا
احساس مي كردم كه رنج دوسال دوري از خانواده و شوق برنامه هايي كه براي
زندگي آينده ام در دل داشتم، همه در يك لحظه در حال محو و نابودي است و
بايد دست خالي و بدون دريافت گواهينامه خلباني به ايران برگردم. در همين
فكر بودم كه در اتاق به صدا در آمد و شخصي اجازه خواست تا داخل شود. او ضمن
احترام، از ژنرال خواست تا براي كار مهمي به خارج از اتاق برود با رفتن
ژنرال، من لحظاتي را در اتاق تنها ماندم. به ساعتم نگاه كردم، وقت نماز ظهر
بود. با خود گفتم، كاش در اينجا نبودم و مي توانستم نماز را اول وقت
بخوانم. انتظارم براي آمدن ژنرال طولاني شد. گفتم كه هيچ كار مهمي بالاتر
از نماز نيست، همين جا نماز را مي خوانم. ان شاءالله تا نمازم تمام شود، او
نخواهد آمد. به گوشه اي از اتاق رفتم و روزنامه اي را كه همراه داشتم به
زمين انداختم و مشغول نماز شدم. در حال خواندن نماز بودم كه متوجه شدم
ژنرال وارد اتاق شده است. با خود گفتم چه كنم؟ نماز را ادامه بدهم يا
بشكنم؟ بالاخره گفتم، نمازم را ادامه مي دهم، هر چه خدا بخواهد همان خواهد
شد. سرانجام نماز را تمام كردم و در حالي كه بر روي صندلي مي نشستم از
ژنرال معذرت خواهي كردم. ژنرال پس از چند لحظه سكوت نگاه معناداري به من
كرد و گفت: چه مي كردي؟ گفتم: عبادت مي كردم. گفت: بيشتر توضيح بده. گفتم:
در دين ما دستور بر اين است كه در ساعت هاي معين از شبانه روز بايد با
خداوند به نيايش بپردازيم و در اين ساعات زمان آن فرا رسيده بود، من هم از
نبودن شما در اتاق استفاده كردم و اين واجب ديني را انجام دادم. ژنرال با
توضيحات من سري تكان داد و گفت: همه اين مطالبي كه در پرونده تو آمده مثل
اين كه راجع به همين كارهاست . اين طور نيست؟ پاسخ دادم: آري همين طور است.
او لبخندي زد. از نوع نگاهش پيدا بود كه از صداقت و پاي بندي من به سنت و
فرهنگ و رنگ نباختنم در برابر تجدد جامعه آمريكا خوشش آمده است. با چهره اي
بشاش خود نويس را از جيبش بيرون آورد و پرونده ام را امضا كرد. سپس با
حالتي احترام آميز از جا برخاست و دستش را به سوي من دراز كرد و گفت: به
شما تبريك مي گويم. شما قبول شديد . براي شما آرزوي موفقيت دارم. من هم
متقابلاً از او تشكر كردم. احترام گذاشتم و از اتاق خارج شدم. آن روز به
اولين محل خلوتي كه رسيدم به پاس اين نعمت بزرگي كه خداوند به من عطا كرده
بود، دو ركعت نماز شكر خواندم.» با ورود هواپيماهاي پيشرفته اف – 14 به
نيروي هوايي، شهيد بابايي كه جزء خلبان هاي تيزهوش و ماهر در پرواز با
هواپيماي شكاري اف – 5 بود، به همراه تعداد ديگري از همكاران براي پرواز با
هواپيماي اف–14 انتخاب و به پايگاه هوايي اصفهان منتقل شد. با اوج گيري
مبارزات عليه نظام ستمشاهي، بابايي به عنوان يكي از پرسنل انقلابي نيروي
هوايي، در جمع ديگر افراد متعهد ارتش به ميدان مبارزه وارد شد. پس از
پيروزي انقلاب اسلامي، وي گذشته از انجام وظايف روزمره، بعنوان سرپرست
انجمن اسلامي پايگاه، به پاسداري از دستاوردهاي پرشكوه انقلاب اسلامي
پرداخت. شهيد بابايي با دارا بودن تعهد، ايمان، تخصص و مديريت اسلامي چنان
درخشيد كه شايستگي فرماندهي وي محرز و در تاريخ 7/5/1360، فرماندهي پايگاه
هشتم هوايي بر عهده ي او گذاشته شد. به هنگام فرماندهي پايگاه با استفاده
از امكانات موجود آن، به عمران و آباداني روستاهاي مستضعف نشين حومه پايگاه
و شهر اصفهان پرداخت و با تامين آب آشاميدني و بهداشتي، برق و احداث حمام و
ديگر ملزومات بهداشتي و آموزشي در اين روستا، گذشته از تقويت خط سازندگي
انقلاب اسلامي، در روند هر چه مردمي كردن ارتش و پيوند هر چه بيشتر ارتش با
مردم خدمات شايان توجهي را انجام داد. بابايي، با كفايت، لياقت و تعهد بي
پاياني كه در زمان تصدي فرماندهي پايگاه اصفهان از خود نشان داد، در تاريخ
9/9/1362 با ارتقاء به درجه سرهنگي به سمت معاون عمليات نيروي هوايي منصوب و
به تهران منتقل گرديد. او با روحيه شهادت طلبي به همراه شجاعت و ايثاري كه
در طول سال ها، در جبهه هاي نور و شرف به نمايش گذاشت، صفحات نوين و زريني
به تاريخ دفاع مقدس و نيروهاي هوايي ارتش نگاشت و با بيش از 3000 ساعت
پرواز با انواع هواپيماهاي جنگنده، قسمت اعظم وقت خويش را در پرواز هاي
عملياتي و يا قرارگاه ها و جبهه هاي جنگ در غرب و جنوب كشور سپري كرد و به
همين ترتيب چهره آشناي «بسيجيان» و يار وفادار فرماندهان قرارگاه هاي
عملياتي بود و تنها از سال 1364 تا هنگام شهادت، بيش از 60 مأموريت جنگي را
با موفقيت كامل به انجام رسانيد. شهيد براي پيشرفت سريع عمليات ها و حسن
انجام امور، تنها به نظارت اكتفا نمي كرد، بلكه شخصاً پيشگام مي شد و در
جميع مأموريت هاي جنگي طراحي شده، براي آگاهي از مشكلات و خطرات احتمالي،
اولين خلبان بود كه شركت مي كرد. سرلشكر بابايي به علت لياقت و رشادت هايي
كه در دفاع از نظام، سركوبي و دفع تجاوزات دشمنان از خود بروز داد، در
تاريخ 8/2/1366، به درجه سرتيپي مفتخر گرديد. تيمسار بابايي معاون عمليات
نيروي هوايي ارتش جمهوري اسلامي ايران به هنگام بازگشت از يك مأموريت برون
مرزي، هدف گلوله ضد هوايي قرار گرفت و به شهادت رسيد. تيمسار عباس بابايي
صبح روز پانزدهم مرداد ماه روز عيد قربان همراه يكي از خلبانان نيروي هوايي
(سرهنگ نادري) به منظور شناسايي منطقه و تعيين راه كار اجراي عمليات، با
يك فروند هواپيماي آموزشي اف–5 از پايگاه هوايي تبريز به پرواز درآمد و
وارد آسمان عراق شد. تيمسار بابايي پس از انجام دادن مأموريت، به هنگام
بازگشت، در آسمان خطوط مرزي، هدف گلوله هاي تيربار ضد هوايي قرار گرفت و از
ناحيه سر مجروح شد و بلافاصله به شهادت رسيد. يكي از راويان مركز مطالعات و
تحقيقات جنگ درباره اين واقعه نوشته است:«به دنبال اصابت گلوله به
هواپيماي تيمسار بابايي و اختلالي كه در ارتباط هواپيما و پايگاه تبريز به
وجود آمد، پايگاه مزبور به رابط هوايي سپاه اعلام كرد كه يك فروند هواپيماي
خودي در منطقه مرزي سقوط كرد براي كمك به يافتن خلبان و لاشه آن هر چه
سريعتر اقدام نماييد. مدت كوتاهي از اعلام اين موضوع نگذشته بود كه فرد
مذكور مجدداً تماس گرفت و در حالي كه گريه امانش نمي داد گفت: هواپيماي
مورد نظر توسط خلبان به زمين نشست، ولي يك از سرنشينان آن به علت اصابت تير
در داخل كابين به شهادت رسيده است.» راوي در مورد بازتاب شهادت تيمسار
بابايي در جمع برادران سپاه نوشته است: «برخي از فرماندهان ارشد سپاه در
جلسه اي مشغول بررسي عمليات بودند كه تلفني خبر شهادت تيمسار بابايي به
اطلاع برادر رحيم رسيد . با شنيدن اين خبر، جلسه تعطيل شد و اشك در چشمان
حاضرين به خصوص آنان كه آشنايي بيشتري با شهيد بابايي داشتند ، حلقه زد.»
نقل شده كه وي چند روز قبل از شهادت در پاسخ پافشاري هاي بيش از حد دوستانش
جهت عزيمت به مراسم حج گفته بود: «تا عيد قربان خودم را به شما مي رسانم.»
بابايي در هنگام شهادت 37 سال داشت، او اسوه اي بود كه از كودكي تا واپسين
لحظات عمر گرانقدرش همواره با فداكاري و ايثار زندگي كرد و سرانجام نيز در
روز عيد قربان، به آروزي بزرگ خود كه مقام شهادت بود نائل گرديد و نام
پرآوازه اش در تاريخ پرا فتخار ايران جاودانه شد. 
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