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Originally designed and procured as an air superiority and fleet air defense fighter aircraft, the mighty Grumman F-14 Tomcat has, over the more recent years, been
used with extreme effectiveness as an air-to-ground strike aircraft. Capable of carrying a wide range of General Purpose and Laser Guided Bombs (LGB's) and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM),
the F-14 also has the LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) targeting system which allows the delivery of laser-guided bombs during precision, air-to-ground strikes.
The F-14 Tomcat has served with distinction in all of the major conflicts of recent years, including Desert Storm (1991), Southern Watch (1991-2003), Deliberate Force (1994),
Allied Force (1999), Enduring Freedom (2001) and Iraqi Freedom (2003).
The F-14 is an expensive type to operate, in fact it is the most expensive aircraft to operate in the US Navy inventory. It is a large aircraft which has impressive performance and the ability to carry a formidable quantity of ordinance,
including the legendary Phoenix missile system. However, the world has changed since the F-14's introduction to service back in 1972, the times when they were required to intercept Soviet fighters and bombers during the Cold War
are long gone. The F-14 has adapted well to it's newly acquired roles but the years of operating above the salt water and slamming onto carrier decks have also taken their toll.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom the F-14 served alongside it's selected replacement, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The Super Hornet is acknowledged as not only being a more capable
fighter and ground attack aircraft than the F-14 but can also provide an in-flight refuelling
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capability. It is not a 'perfect' aircraft and will undergo upgrades and refinements which other aircraft have had to go through, but the type
performed admirably in this it's first combat operations.
The fact that the F-14 can hold it's own against most other combat aircraft, including the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, is just not good enough in this time of shrinking budgets and cost justification.
As a result the F-14 Tomcat is now in it's last year or two of service. Examples of the type will be arriving at AMARC on a regular basis until the remaining
F-14 squadrons transition to the F/A-18 Hornet or are disbanded. It is planned that the remaining F-14B's and F-14D's will remain in service until 2006, operating with the following squadrons :
| Squadron | Nickname | Type | Planned transition to F/A18F |
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| VF-11 | Red Rippers | F-14B | May 2005 |
| VF-31 | Tomcatters | F-14D | September 2006 |
| VF-32 | Swordsmen | F-14B | November 2005 |
| VF-101 | Grim Reapers | F-14B/F-14D | Disbanding in September 2005 |
| VF-103 | Jolly Rogers | F-14B | March 2005 |
| VF-143 | Pukin' Dogs | F-14B | April 2005 |
| VF-213 | Black Lions | F-14D | May 2006 |
An aircraft type that was initially disliked by the pilots who flew them, the F-14 Tomcat has overcome quite a number of major flaws and has earned the respect from all those
who have served with them. They will miss the Tomcat's high-speed, endurance and long range capabilities, as well as the ability to find and engage aerial
targets at much longer ranges than other current fighter types.
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat project was initiated in 1968 in response to the US Navy's proposal for the VFX (Navy Fighter Experimental).
The VFX would challenge Grumman's aircraft designers with a long list of requirements including; two engines, two seats in tandem configuration, powerful radar, advanced weapons,
systems, internal gun, the ability to carry a wide variety of short, medium and long range missiles and the ability to land on an aircraft carrier fully loaded.
The requirements were so demanding that the US Navy levied a comprehensive set of financial penalties which Grumman would have to pay if their guarantees were not met.
The first F-14 flight took place on December 21, 1970 from Calverton, New York.
This program did not get off to a good start with the loss of the first prototype on December 30, 1970 due to hydraulics failure, fortunately without loss of life. In total, fourteen
F-14's were used during the test and proving programs.
On October 8th, 1972, the Fleet Replacement Squadron, VF-124, received their first F-14A. The first operational squadrons to receive the F-14, VF-1 and VF-2,
started to receive their aircraft during July 1973. The first deployment started in September 1974.
By the time the production line closed Grumman had produced a total of 710 F-14's, the last being delivered to
the US Navy on 20 July 1992.
Grumman F-14 Tomcat Database:
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Grumman F-14A Tomcat Specifications:
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Engines |
| Manufacturer | .............. | Pratt and Whitney |
| Number/Model | .............. | Two TF30-412A afterburning turbofans. |
| Max. Power | .............. | 20,900 lbs. static thrust per engine. |
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Performance |
| Maximum Speed | .............. | 1,585 mph at 40,000 feet, 800 knots at sea-level. |
| Maximum Altitude | .............. | 58,000 ft. |
| Climb Rate | .............. | 50,000 ft. per minute. |
| Ferry Range | .............. | 1,910 nautical miles |
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Crew |
| Two | .............. | Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer |
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Dimensions, External |
| Span (folded) | .............. | 68 ft. 8 in. (29 ft. 6 in.) |
| Length (folded) | .............. | 53 ft. 4 in. (49 ft. 5 in.) |
| Height (folded) | .............. | 22 ft. 9 in. (15 ft. 3 in.) |
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Weights |
| Max. Launch Weight | .............. | 52,539 lbs. |
| Max. Field Landing Weight | .............. | 45,900 lbs. |
| Max. Carrier Landing Weight | .............. | 37,700 lbs. |
| Weight | .............. | 34,000 lbs. |
| Internal Fuel | .............. | 1,933 gals./13,142 lbs. |
| External Fuel | .............. | 530 gals./3,604 lbs. |
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Armament |
| one 20 mm M61-A1 six-barrel cannon with 675 rounds. 14,500 lbs. of external stores beneath the fuselage and wing rack, including Aim-54C Phoenix missile, Aim-7 sparrow, Aim-9 Sidewinder, AMRAAM, Mk-83 and Mk-84 bombs, JDAM bombs, and TARPS reconnaissance pod.
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