Grumman F-14 Tomcat - Master of the Sky

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. The F-14 was the United States Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance platform from 1974 to 2006. It later performed precision strike missions once it was integrated with the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night LANTIRN system.

The F-14 made its first combat debut flying cover during Operation Frequent Wind in April 1975. VF-1 and VF-2 deployed on board USS Enterprise (CVN-65) with Carrier Air Wing 14. The cruise began on September 17, 1974 and ended May 20, 1975. The two squadrons flew combat air patrols over South Vietnam during the operation but did not encounter any North Vietnamese MiGs, though they were fired upon by enemy anti-aircraft guns.

The F-14 had its first kills on 19 August 1981 over the Gulf of Sidra in what is known as the Gulf of Sidra incident after two F-14s from VF-41 Black Aces were engaged by two Libyan Su-22 "Fitters". The F-14s evaded the short range heat seeking AA-2 "Atoll" missile and returned fire, downing both Libyan aircraft. On April 15, 1986, VF-33 and VF-102, along with VF-74 and VF-103, participated in Operation El Dorado Canyon, a series of air strikes against Libyan targets due to their support of terrorism. 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.

The participation of the F-14 Tomcat 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. The F-14 also achieved its final kill, an Mil Mi-8 "Hip" helicopter, with an AIM-9 Sidewinder. A rumor says that the Iraqi fighter pilots preferred to reverse course and head for a save place when they were detected by a powerful F-14 radar.

In 1995, F-14s from VF-14 and VF-41 participated in Operation Deliberate Force as well as Operation Allied Force in 1998, and in 1999, VF-32 and VF-213 participated in Operation Desert Fox.

On 15 February 2001 the Joint Direct Attack Munition 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.

With its advanced weapons control system and array of missiles, rockets and bombs the F-14 can simultaneously track up to 24 targets. With a maximum speed of 1544 mph (2485 km/h), the F-14 has taken its place as one of the most powerful and lethal fighters in Navy history.

A total of 712 F-14s were built at Grumman's factory in Calverton on Long Island from 1969 to 1991.

The F-14 Tomcat was officially retired in September of 2006.

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[gtamodman122]

I am pretty sure that in the way tech evolves, the next fighter incorporating the F-35's lessons (if our Phantom II is the F-35, the next one will be the new F-14/15/16) will be a much much better design.

[gtamodman122]

My point is, give these guys a break.They're working on the most massive and sophisticated military program known to the world.You said it yourself, they're trying to make a completely new fighter that will incorporate stealth, will be available in 3 versions (including two that will have to put up with harsh sea water environment), it is the most digital plane to date, while at the same time it has to be downgraded, but still capable, in order to be exported.No such project has existed before

[gtamodman122]

Fighter Mafia took part in designing the F-16, it makes total sense that they reject a hog like the F-35 as a fighter.But keep in mind that every single major design faced problems in its development (anything new).The F-4, for example, is one such case.It was a new design, and because of that it had one hell of a problems in operation.Look at what happened the next decade though.F-14 and F-15.Incorporated the experience from the F-4.F-16 too.

[toolmantooltime]

No the plan is for the F 18 to be replaced by the F XX 6th generation Fighter around 2030. There is a video on youtube to verify the plan

[polecat987]

I know I'm getting in rough seas here, but the F-35 program is plagued by problems, the guys from the fighter mafia and former skunk works engineers have criticized it. It is in production and pilots are being trained right now while it has not been even tested fully. It has a problem of having 3 variants based on one design, only way to solve it is with money. Also is so reliant on tech that fixing a bug on hundreds of thousands of lines of code is a pain in the ass. If you have coded you know.

[José Gomes]

jesus crist you reply to mucht to brick walls, he is porbably some one that works for boing. is like Steven340able on this video youtube.com/watch?v=UQB4W8C0rZ­I talking about that the f-18 e/f is better them the tomcat

[F F]

fUk  all who oppose .........................

[goldpegasusfantasy]

F-14 TomCat A BADASS MOTHERFUCKER!