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Grumman F-14 Tomcat

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Template:Infobox Aircraft The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. During its active service in the United States Navy (1972-2006) the F-14 Tomcat was the Navy's primary air superiority fighter and tactical reconnaissance platform. It later performed precision bombing in close air support roles.[1] It was developed after the collapse of the F-111B project, and was the first of the American teen-series fighters which were designed incorporating the experience of air combat in Vietnam against Migs.

It entered service in 1972 with the Navy, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. It was later exported to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in 1976. It was retired from the U.S. Navy fleet on 22 September 2006, having been replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.[2] As of 2006, only the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force still flies the aircraft.

Origins

Main article: History of the F-14 Tomcat

The F-14 Tomcat was created as a replacement for the stillborn F-111B, the Navy variant of the Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX). The Navy requirement was for a fleet defense fighter with the primary role of intercepting Soviet bombers before they could launch missiles against the carrier group. The Navy strenuously opposed the TFX, which incorporated the Air Force's requirements for a low-level attack aircraft, fearing the compromises would cripple the aircraft. These fears were confirmed when Admiral Connolly took the developmental F-111A for a ride and discovered it was unable to go supersonic and had poor landing characteristics. In May 1968, the Navy convinced Congress to kill funding for the F-111B, and shortly issued an RFP for the Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX), a tandem two-seat fighter with maximum speed of Mach 2.2 and a secondary close air support role. Of the five companies that submitted bids (four of which incorporated variable-geometry wings as on the F-111), McDonnell Douglas and Grumman were selected as finalists in December 1968, and Grumman won the contract in January 1969. Grumman had been a partner on the F-111B, and had started work on an alternative when they saw the project heading south, and so had an edge on its competitors. Their early design mockups and cost projections were floated among Navy brass as an alternative to the F-111B.[3]

For cost savings, the winning Grumman design reused the TF30 engines and AWG-9 / AIM-54 Phoenix weapons system from the F-111B. Though lighter than the F-111B, it was still the largest and heaviest U.S. fighter of the era, its size a consequence of the requirement to carry the large AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 missiles. To reduce costs, the F-14 would also share the landing gear, air ducts, and wing of the Grumman A-6 Intruder.

Upon being granted the contract for the F-14, Grumman greatly expanded its Calverton, Long Island, New York facility to test and evaluate the new swing-wing interceptor. Much of the testing was in the air of the Long Island Sound as well as the first few in-flight accidents, including the first of many compressor stalls and ejections. 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.[4]

The F-14 first flew on December 21, 1970, just 22 months after Grumman was awarded the contract, and reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 1973. While the Marine Corps was interested in the F-14 and went so far as to send pilots to VF-124 to train as instructors, they were never fully sold on the aircraft and pulled out when the stores management system for ground attack munitions was left undeveloped, leaving the aircraft incapable of dropping air-to-ground munitions (these were later developed in the 1990's).[4]

Operational history

United States Navy

See also: Combat history of the F-14
An F-14A of VF-84 Jolly Rogers, in the old color scheme from the beginning of its service.

The F-14 began replacing the F-4 Phantom II in USN service starting in September 1974 with squadrons VF-1 Wolfpack and VF-2 Bounty Hunters aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and participated in the American withdrawal of Saigon. The F-14 had its first kills 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 were engaged by two Libyan Su-22 Fitters. The F-14s evaded the short range heat seaking AA-2 Atoll missile and returned fire, downing both Libyan aircraft. U.S. 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.

The F-14 received its first of many major upgrades in March 1987 with the introduction of the F-14A+. Although various systems were upgraded, the biggest improvement of all was the replacement of the TF30 engines with the General Electric F110-400. All F-14A+ were redesignated F-14B on May 1, 1991. Along with the F-14B program another upgrade program was initiated to incorporate new digital avionics and weapon system improvements to strengthen its multi-mission competitive edge. The F-14D, born from that program was delivered in 1991 in reduced numbers, was a major upgrade with General Electric F110-400 engines like the F-14B, new AN/APG-71 radar system, Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) and new digital flight control system.

An F-14A Tomcat from VF-114 intercepting a Soviet Tu-95RT Bear D maritime patrol aircraft.

In late 1994, all F-14 variants were given precision strike capability using the LANTIRN targeting system, night vision compatibility, and new defensive countermeasures through the LAU-138 BOL Chaff dispersing launch rail. Even at the end of its life, the F-14 Tomcat continued to be upgraded.

The Tomcat's participation in the 1991 Operation Desert Storm was mainly restricted to strike package escort and reconnaissance with air superiority was tasked to USAF F-15 Eagles due to the way the Air Tasking Orders were set up. The emissions from the AWG-9/APG-71 are recognizable with a radar warning receiver. When Iraqi fighters were detected inbound, as soon as the Tomcats "lit up" the Iraqis would immediately abandon the attack while well out of range, perhaps indicating their familiarity with both the Tomcat and the AIM-54 from previous encounters with Iranian F-14s.[citation needed] The F-14 suffered its only loss from enemy action on January 21, 1991 when b/n 161430, an F-14A upgraded to an F-14B, 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 an ejection with the pilot being rescued by USAF Special Forces and the RIO being captured by and held by Iraqi troops as a POW until the end of the war.[5] The F-14 also achieved its final and only kill of the war on February 7, 1991 when a F-14A from VF-1 downed an Iraqi Mil Mi-8 helicopter with an AIM-9 Sidewinder.

An F-14D from VF-31, makes a near-supersonic low-level fly-by.

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 particiapted in Operation Desert Fox. On February 15, 2001 the Joint Direct Attack Munition or JDAM was added to the Tomcat's arsenal. On October 7, 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 March 11, 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 of 2003.[6] On December 10, 2005, the F-14Ds of VF-31 and VF-213 were upgraded with a ROVER downlink, a system originally designed for use with unmanned aerial vehicles which allows a Forward Air Controller (FAC) on the ground to see real-time images acquired by the aircraft's sensors by transmitting these images to the FAC's laptop.[7] The F-14s of VF-31 and VF-213 deployed on its last combat cruise on the USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2005.

Replacement of the F-14

An F-14 and F/A-18 prepare to launch from USS Enterprise (CVN-65), 1985.

While the F-14 had been developed as a light weight alternative to the 80,000 lb F-111B, the F-14 was still the largest and most expensive fighter in its time. VFAX was revived in the 1970s as a lower cost solution to replacing the Navy's fleet of USMC Phantoms, and A-7. VFAX would be merged with the USAF LWF fighter competition, from which the F/A-18 Hornet emerged as roughly a midsize fighter.

Main article: Super Hornet Replacement Controversy

The Navy and Secretary of Defense 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). Instead, the Navy elected to retire the F-14 and chose the F/A-18E/F to fill the roles of fleet defense and strike formerly filled by the F-14.

Decommissioning

The F-14 has completed its decommissioning from the U.S. Navy. It was slated to remain in service through at least 2008, but all F-14A and F-14B airframes have already been retired, and the last two squadrons, the VF-31 Tomcatters and the VF-213 Black Lions, both flying the "D" models, arrived for their last fly-in[8] at Naval Air Station Oceana on March 10, 2006.

The last American F-14 to fly a combat mission lands at Sherman Field on Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

The last F-14 combat mission was completed on February 8, 2006, when a pair of Tomcats landed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt after one dropped a bomb in Iraq. The plane was part of VF-31 and the last pilot credited with a bomb drop in combat was Lt. Bill Frank. An F-14D from VF-213 was the last F-14 to land on an aircraft carrier after a combat mission; it was piloted by Capt. William G. Sizemore. During their final deployment with the USS Theodore Roosevelt, VF-31 and VF-213 collectively completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours, and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance during reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On March 10, 2006, the 22 planes from these squadrons flew in formation into Naval Air Station Oceana, home from the last combat deployment of the F-14. VF-213 pilots and radar interception officers who have made the transition to the Super Hornet continued F/A-18F (double seat) training as of April 2006. The squadron is operational, or "safe for flight," as of September 2006. VF-31 pilots who were making the transition began F/A-18E (single seat) training in October 2006. VF-31 will be safe for flight in April 2007, making it the last official Tomcat squadron in the Navy.[9]

The last flight of the F-14 Tomcat in US service took place October 4, 2006, with the final flight retirement ceremony on September 21, 2006. Two F-14's were readied for the ceremonial final flight; after the primary plane experiencing mechanical problems, a backup was flown instead.[10] The failure was a reminder of one of the reasons for the retirement, high maintenance costs.[10] The F-14 Tomcat was officially retired on September 22, 2006 at Naval Air Station Oceana. The F-14 fleet is mothballed at the Davis-Monthan "Boneyard."

Link title=== Imperial Iranian Air Force / Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force ===

A "Top Gun" F-14A, painted to resemble an Iranian fighter for adversary training.

The sole foreign customer for the Tomcat was the Imperial Iranian Air Force (since 1979 Islamic Republic of Iran 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 on a search for an advanced fighter, specifically one to intercept Soviet MiG-25 reconnaissance flights. After a visit of US President Nixon in Iran, in 1972, during which Iran was offered the latest US military technology, the IIAF narrowed its choice to the F-14 Tomcat and McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. Following preliminary negotiations with the Pentagon, and basing their decision on the performance of the AWG-9 radar and weapons system, as well as the AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, the Iranians selected the Tomcat.[citation needed] Having no knowledge about Iranian selection, almost a year later, the Grumman Corporation issued a formal offer to the Shah of Iran, and eventually arranged a competitive demonstration of the Eagle against the Tomcat. Following a flying display of two fighters to the Shah, in January 1974, Iran issued an order for 30 F-14s and 424 AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, initiating the Project "Persian King", worth $300 million. Only a few months later, this was expanded by an order for 50 additional F-14As and 290 AIM-54s. The Iranian order for 80 Tomcats and 714 Phoenix missiles, spare parts, and replacement engines for ten years, complete armament package, and support infra-structure (including construction of the huge "Khatami Air Base", in the desert near Esfahan) finally totalled $2 billion, and was considered at the time to be the highest value, single foreign military sale in US history.[citation needed]

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 first groups of Iranian crews was underway in the USA, and one of these conducted a successful shoot-down of a drone flying at 50,000 feet with an AIM-54 missile. Additional tests were undertaken in 1977, and in October 1978, two Iranian Tomcats intercepted a Soviet MiG-25 underway along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea, convincing Moscow to stop overflights of Iran.[citation needed]

Following the overthrow of the Shah, the regime of Ayatollah Khomeini cancelled most of the Western arms orders. Large shipments of spares were held back, including the last Tomcat built for Iran. The 80th Tomcat was embargoed and turned over to the United States Navy. Most Iranian F-14 pilots and technicians trained in the U.S. fled Iran, fearing their association with the Shah's regime, and their time in the U.S. would endanger them. Only two pilots out of the original flight class chose to remain in Iran. Their fears proved correct, and many of the original Iranian F-14 crews and technicians who remained were jailed or murdered by the new regime. Eventually, several F-14 pilots who were jailed were released when war broke out with Iraq.[citation needed] According to Tom Cooper, and contrary to some reports, Iranian F-14s were not sabotaged following the Shah's overthrow. However, several Hughes technicians did manage to sabotage 18 AIM-54 "ready to use" missiles before they were forced to leave Khatami AB in February 1979.[11]

Deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Iran lead to the arms embargo on Iran, which included parts for its western fighters and missiles. Accounts differ on the ability of the IIAF to obtain parts and operate the F-14 or its AIM-54 Missile. Some rumors suggest that a few of the AIM-54 Phoenix missiles supplied to Iran before the revolution were sold to the Soviet Union, where they may have strongly influenced the development of the similar Vympel AA-9 'Amos' long-range missile. In return, the Soviets may have assisted in returning the Phoenix to service in Iran. In the Project "Sky Hawk", the Iranians fitted MIM-23 HAWK surface-to-air missile on two of their Tomcats. Another similar attempt resulted in the IRIAF arming its F-14s with Mk.83-series bombs and deploying it as a fighter-bomber in combat.[11] It is also reported that at least one F-14 crew defected to Russia with their aircraft and that Russian scientists were allowed access to Iranian F-14's to aid in their maintenance and upgrade - including new Russian radars, engines, and avionics.[12] The Iranians deny this claim and insist all upgrades are domestically produced.[11]

The combat record of the F-14 in IRIAF service is much debated. In 1980, the downing of a Soviet-built Iraqi Tupolev Tu-22 "Blinder" bomber was observed by AWACS crews, while other incidents remain unconfirmed. Western estimates place the figure at four or five kills; Iran claims 35-45 kills.[12] Recent books by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop claim nearly 150 kills[1], though they are based on interviews with pilots and are unconfirmed against independent observers or camera footage of the engagements.

Variants

A total of 712 F-14's were built between 1969 and 1991 at Grumman's factory in Bethpage, New York on Long Island.[13]

  • YF-14A : Prototypes and pre-production aircraft. 12 built.
  • F-14A : The original production two-seat all-weather interceptor fighter version for the US Navy. Modifications late in its service life added precision strike munitions to its armament. 545 F-14A aircraft were delivered to the US Navy and 79 delivered Iran. The final 102 F-14A's were delivered with improved TF30-P-414A engines.[14] Additionally, an 80th F-14A was manufactured for Iran, but was delivered to the US Navy.[13]
  • F-14A + Plus or F-14B : Upgraded version of the F-14A with GE F110-400 engines. Much of the avionics as well as the AWG-9 radar were retained. Later re-designated F-14B. 38 new aircraft were manufactured and 48 F-14A were upgraded to B variants.[15] In the late 1990s, 67 F-14B were upgraded to extend airframe life and improve offensive and defensive avionics systems. The modified aircraft became known as F-14B Upgrade aircraft.[14]
  • F-14D Super Tomcat : The final incarnation of the F-14. 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 APG-71 radar. 37 new aircraft were constructed and 18 F-14A were upgraded to D variants.[15]

Operators

United States Navy (USN) squadrons

F-14, front view.

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) squadrons

  • 72nd TFS: F-14A, 1976 - 1980
  • 73rd TFS: F-14A, 1977 - until mid-1990s
  • 81st TFS: F-14A, 1977 - until today
  • 82nd TFS: F-14A, 1978 - until today
  • 83rd TFS: F-14A, re-named former 73rd TFS[16]

Specifications (F-14D Super Tomcat)

Orthographically projected diagram of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
Orthographically projected diagram of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
An F-14 launches an AIM-7 Sparrow.

General characteristics

Performance

Armament
13,000 lb (5,900 kg) of ordnance including:

Avionics

Unit cost
  • Unit Cost: US$38 million

F-14 in fiction and popular culture

The F-14 inspired a number of pop cultural uses worldwide. In 1980, the time-travel film The Final Countdown featured the VF-41 "Black Aces" and VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" F-14 fighter squadrons aboard the USS Nimitz. The F-14s of the "Jolly Rogers" were also a primary inspiration for the VF-1 Valkyrie in the 1982-1983 Japanese animated TV series The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (adapted outside Japan as part of Robotech).[17][18] In 1986, Top Gun featured the F-14, spawning a surge in U.S. Navy recruiting[19] as well as a video game franchise. The 1995–2005 TV series JAG featured a qualified F-14 pilot as a lead character and a retired F-14 airframe in several episodes. The F-14 was also featured in numerous video games.

Notes

  1. ^ F-14 Tomcat fighter. U.S. Navy Fact File. July 5, 2003.
  2. ^ Associated Press Article: F-14 Tomcat Makes Last Flight
  3. ^ Connolly, Admiral Thomas F. Connolly (1995). The TFX-One Fighter For All, in "Into the Jet Age". Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b Jenkins, Dennis R. (2000). F/A-18 Hornet: A Navy Success Story. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-134696-1. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos. Accessed September 30, 2006.
  6. ^ U.S. Navy's F-14D Tomcats Gain JDAM Capability. March 21, 2003.
  7. ^ ROVER System Revolutionizes F-14's Ground Support Capability. December 14, 2005.
  8. ^ Associated Press. U.S. Navy Retires 'Top Gun' Jets. March 10, 2006.
  9. ^ JO2 Stephen Murphy. TR Traps Last Tomcat from Combat Mission. Navy Newsstand. February 15, 2006.
  10. ^ a b Navy retires F-14, the coolest of cold warriors, a September 22, 2006 USA Today article
  11. ^ a b c Smithsonian Air & Space, Vol. 21 No. 3, September, 2006, "Persian Cats" by Tom Cooper p. 36-39.
  12. ^ a b AerospaceWeb: Iranian Air Force F-14
  13. ^ a b US Warplanes.net. F-14 Tomcat production numbers. Accessed September 30, 2006.
  14. ^ a b GlobalSecurity.org. F-14 Tomcat variants. Accessed September 30, 2006.
  15. ^ a b Torsten Anft. M.A.T.S. - The F-14 Tomcat Reference Work. F-14 Bureau Numbers. Accessed September 30, 2006.
  16. ^ Osprey Combat Aircraft No.49, Osprey, 2004, ISBN 1-84176-787-5
  17. ^ Kawamori, Shoji (2001). Shoji Kawamori Macross Design Works. Tokyo: Movic. ISBN 4-89601-512-6.
  18. ^ Editors of Koku Fan (2004). F-14 Tomcat. Japan: Bunrindo. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ "opendemocracy.net". Open Democracy Article. Retrieved 25 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

References

  • Tony Holmes (2005). US Navy F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Osprey Publishing Limited.
  • Lou Drendel (1977). F-14 Tomcat in Action, Squadron/Signal Publications
  • GRUMMAN F-14, Vol. 25 by J.P.Stevenson, Aero Series of Tab Books Inc., 1975. ISBN 0-8306-8592-8.
  • Jane's All The World's Aircraft.
  • Bill Gunston, Mike Spick (1983). Modern Air Combat, Crescent Books. ISBN 0-517-41265-9.

Related content

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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