F-14 Tomcat Images

The F-14 was developed for: air-defence of aircraft carriers, fighter escort, tactical air reconnaissance and air-to-ground attack fighter. The F-14 Tomcat has been developed by the American company Northrop Grumman to replace the F-4 Phantom by the US Navy on the aircraft carriers.
The first aircraft F-14A (basic model) came into service in the 70ths with the United States Navy. The company has manufactured 632 F-14's for the US Navy.


The aircraft has a 20mm vulcan Gatling board-canon and can be equipped with: phoenix, sparrow and sidewinder air-to-air missiles and Mk80 series general purpose bombs, laser guided bombs and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). For the guided ammunition the Tomcat is equipped with the LANTERN targeting pod.
F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat Image

F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat Image


Electronics
The F-14D version has a Infrared Search and Track System (IRSTS) and a Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). There have been modernized around the 400 F-14A tomcats to the F-14D standard. The F-14D version had some updates which includes: GEC Marconi Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) and after a update of the computer software the F-14 will also be able to carry Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air missiles (AIM-120 AMRAAM).
F-14 Tomcat Image


Iran
In the 70 years, Iran has bought 77 F-14A Tomcat fighter jets. These were used during the Iran-Iraq war. Iran used them also as a kind of mini-AWACS airplanes. Iraq used the Mirage F1-EQ fighter jets. These fighter jets were be able to fly beneath the radar range of the Iranian tomcats, then they could destroy the F-14's with air-to-air missiles.
About 1987 there were still 10 of the 77 F-14 Tomcats available for usage. This came due to the maintenance and that the US Government has made a ban of delivering weapons to Iran.
About 2000 there were maybe 20 F-14A Tomcats airworthy. 35 F-14's where stripped to spare parts.
Air Power experts are saying that the Iranian Air Force has no more than 7 piece F-14 Tomcats for use. Iran claims that it has F-14's equipped with I-Hawk air-to-air missiles.
Future
The American F-14's, are subdivided over 7 squadrons but will be slowly replaced by the new F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet.
F-14 Tomcat Image


Versions
The newest version is the F-14D. The F-14D has improved engines, more advanced digital radar and avionic systems.
F-14 Tomcat Image