F-14 Tomcat

Description: The F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place fighter designed to attack and destroy enemy aircraft at night and in all weather conditions.	Features The F-14 can track up to 24 targets simultaneously with its advanced weapons control system and attack six with Phoenix AIM-54A missiles while continuing to scan the airspace. Armament also includes a mix of other air intercept missiles, rockets and bombs.	Background The Grumman F-14, the world's premier air defense fighter, was designed to replace the F-4 Phantom II fighter (phased out in 1986). F-14s provided air cover for the joint strike on Libyan terrorist targets in 1986. The F-14A was introduced in the mid-1970s. The upgraded F-14A+ version, with new General Electric F-110 engines, now widespread throughout the fleet, is more than a match for enemy fighters in close-in, air combat. About the name: During the development of the F-14 the responsible person was Admiral Tom Collory. Because of his first name the plane was nicknamed "Tom's Cat" long before the official name was given.
History: The development of the F-14 started in the late 1960's. The task was to create an aircraft that should be able to attack 6 different targets at one time. Respective tests took place at the Naval Missile Test Center at Point Mugu, Calif. in November of 1973. One of these test was the launch of 6 AIM-54 Phoenix missiles on 6 different targets. Only one missile missed the aim. In 1974, the first two squadrons, VF-1 Wolfpack and VF-2 Bounty Hunters were commissioned and assigned to the USS ENTERPRISE. The only problem of the F-14 were the Pratt and Whitney TF-30 engines which were difficult to maintain and lacked power. They were replaced by the F110-GE-400 engines. The first success of the F-14 took place on August 19, 1981, when two F-14s from USS NIMITZ shot down two Lybian SU-22 fighter after they had been attacked by them.

The F-14 Tomcat today:

The F-14 Tomcat continues to be a premier long-range strike-fighter as evidenced by its superb performance in Operation Allied Force and the strikes in Operation Southern Watch. While the Navy provided only eight percent of the total dedicated aircraft in Operation Allied Force, the Navy was credited with 30 percent of the validated kills against fielded forces in Kosovo as a result of the superb performance of the Tomcat in the Forward Air Controller (Airborne) (FAC(A)) role. Another revolutionary feature of the Tomcat is the recent Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting InfraRed at Night (LANTIRN) system software update that enables the Tomcat to acquire mensurated target coordinates that are accurate enough for GPS weapons, which is unique to the Tomcat. The Tomcat's "Roadmap for the Future" - a plan to incorporate significant performance improvements during the next four years, including through-the-weather precision strike capability - makes it the platform of choice for all-weather, day or night, deep strike. The F-14 will enable the Navy to maintain the desired force structure of strike-fighter aircraft on each carrier deck until it is replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

The Tomcat has been configured as a potent precision strike-fighter with the incorporation of the LANTIRN system. With LANTIRN, the Tomcat has an accurate, autonomous designation and targeting capability for the delivery of laser-guided bombs. This system is effective at high altitude, day or night, and also functions as an important reconnaissance tool for the battle group or task force commander. All deploying battle groups have LANTIRN-capable Tomcats.

In addition to its precision strike capability, the F-14 is being outfitted with enhanced defensive countermeasure systems (e.g., chaff and AN/ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver), night vision capability, GPS and Fast Tactical Imagery (FTI). FTI provides day/night, stand-off imagery transmission and reception capability, which is essential for network-centric warfare. These systems significantly enhance the capability of the Tomcat in the strike-fighter role. The F-14 outfitted with the Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) will continue to provide a manned tactical reconnaissance capability. The F-14's "Roadmap" includes the incorporation of a digital imaging and data link capability in 24 TARPS pods to provide battle group, joint force, and allied commanders with near real-time imagery for the detection and identification of tactical targets, and immediate threat and bomb damage assessment. In early 2000, the first battle group is deployed with TARPS CD which is a more capable digital camera that provides high-resolution, digital, battlefield imagery transmitted real-time to the Battle Group Commander while flying over a target area.

The F-14's critical role in maintaining air superiority and its ability to launch precision-guided munitions has ensured that the aircraft will remain a vital player in the Navy's inventory until its retirement.

Thirty aircraft underwent depot modification in FY 2000 with an additional 27 aircraft scheduled for FY 2001-03. Seventy-five LANTIRN systems have been procured, and 51 have been delivered with final deliveries due in June 2001. Two TARPS pods have been modified to the TARPS CD configuration and a $25 million congressional add to the FY 2000 budget provided four additional pods and receiving stations.

Description:

Features

Background

About the name:

History: