Misplaced Pages

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Renamed user FoctULjDYf (talk | contribs) at 23:00, 28 June 2006 (added correct USMC info). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 23:00, 28 June 2006 by Renamed user FoctULjDYf (talk | contribs) (added correct USMC info)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Template:POV-expanded Template:Infobox Aircraft

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a United States Navy supersonic, twin-engine, swing-wing, two-seat interceptor. Its primary mission was fleet defense, though it also performed tactical reconnaissance, air superiority, and later acquired precision strike and close air support capabilities in the 1990's. It entered service in 1972 with the USN, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. It was later exported to the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) in 1976. The USN is replacing the F-14 with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in 2006. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) will remain the only air arm flying F-14s.

Origins

In the 1960s, U.S. Navy doctrine for fleet defense against nuclear missile-armed Soviet bombers, was defense in depth. As originally envisioned, the outer ring of this defense consisted of interceptors armed with long range missiles. This was originally to be fulfilled by the F6D Missileer, a slow, straight-winged jet, and Bendix AAM-N-10 Eagle missiles, but both projects were cancelled. A supersonic alternative would have to accommodate the contradictory demands of high speed, long range, and low landing speeds for carrier operations. Variable geometry wings offered a solution to this conundrum.

Defense Secretary Robert MacNamara believed commonality would save money over buying a variety of different aircraft for different services and roles. After successfully directing the Air Force to adopt the Navy's F-4 and A-7, the Navy's new interceptor would be based on the Air Force's new strike fighter the TFX (Tactical Fighter Experimental), later denoted the F-111. In popular media, the F-111 was proclaimed to be the most versatile fighter ever, slow enough to land on dirt fields, faster than almost any other fighter, delivering massive bomb loads, and clearing the skies of enemy fighters. That vision would not come to fruition, and it would be the F-4 Phantom, the plane that the F-111 was intended to replace, that would be the last US fighter to fly in all three American air arms, excelling in all fighter and bomber roles.

The navalized variant of the F-111, the F-111B, had the single mission of fleet air defense - it would orbit on station, then dash to meet oncoming targets and clear the sky with its 6 heavy AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. Since General Dynamics had little experience with carrier aircraft, they teamed with Grumman for the F-111B. However, the compromises involved in producing a common airframe rendered the F-111B a poor fit for the Navy's requirements. It had a smaller radar than the Navy required, and was drastically overweight, rendering the aircraft underpowered and ill-suited to carrier operations. Its visibility for carrier landings was poor.

The final undoing of McNamara's vision would be the one factor ommitted from the TFX specification, that had been decisive in every prior air war. What was thought to be obsolete by the missle age was maneuverability in a dogfight. In 1965, the fighter community was shocked when the F-111's forerunner, the supersonic F-105 was shot down by post-Korean war vintage Mig-17s which were slow but nimble. The Sparrow medium range missle was unreliable and ineffective at close range, but guns, deleted as excess weight from the F-4, often were effective. When the Navy ordered Grumman to study the effectivess of the F-111B in such a scenario, they concluded it was much less maneuverable than the F-4, and would not survive, much less win in a dogfight. The F-111B was cancelled in 1968, but the silver lining was that the F-111s dogfight performance was so abysmal, and the accountants approach to fighter design was so discredited, that both the Navy and USAF embarked on studies on what would become a generation of 4 new air superiority fighters. The Navy would soon start realistic air combat training that would become Top Gun, and the F-14 would be the first of the famous teen-series fighters that embraced a new philosiphy that incorporated agility as at least one of the primary design goals. Ironically the F-111A would prove to be an excellent single-role bomber, and the Australian Air Force will be flying their F-111s long after the retirement of the F-14 in 2006.

Following the cancellation, the Navy had the opportunity to start from scratch, unburdened by the competing demands of the Air Force for air superiority and ground strike. The Navy issued an RFP for the VFX(Navy Fighter Experimental) in July 1968 for a fleet air defense fighter. Though later offered to the Air Force, their FX would be a single seat, fixed wing fighter unburdened by heavy Phoenix missles that put daylight air superiority ahead of long range interception, the F-15 Eagle.

Development

In 1967, seeing the writing on the wall for the F-111B, Grumman began preparing an advanced design, the G-303. The basic goals were to make a plane superior to the McDonnell F-4 Phantom, "particularly in the air superiority, escort fighter, and deck-launched interception role". When the Navy decided for cost and time reasons to keep the AN/AWG-9 radar, AIM-54 Phoenix missile, and the Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines from the failed F-111B, this biased the competition heavily in favor of Grumman, which had been working closely with General Dynamics on the F-111B. Grumman's swing-wing design was selected in 1969.

Grumman was given the contract for the F-14 in January 1969. 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.

The Tomcat is said to be named for the late Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly, whose testimony before the Senate was critical to the cancellation of the TFX project. Connolly's call sign was "Tomcat," hence the popular name which also conformed with the Navy's tradition of giving feline names to Grumman fighters. In addition, "Tomcat" was first suggested for the Grumman F7F Tigercat in 1943, but it was rejected by the Navy as being inappropriately suggestive.

To facilitate the rapid entry of the F-14 into service and lower development costs, the Navy planned to recycle the engine and avionics from the F-111B for the initial version, and progressively introduce new avionics and weapons systems into the airframe. The designation F-14A was assigned to the airframe equipped with updated TF-30 engines and the AN/AWG-9 weapons system from the F-111B. It first took flight December 21, 1970. The original plan was to only build a few F-14As, as the TF30 was known to be a troublesome engine. In addition, the engine was not designed for rapid thrust changes or a wide flight envelope and only supplied 74% of the intended thrust for the F-14. An F-14B would follow in November 1987 using the engine from the advanced technology engine competition. The F-14C was intended to denote a variant implementing a replacement for the AN/AWG-9. However, it was delayed, and this variant was never produced. When it finally arrived as the AN/APG-71, the designation assigned to the new aircraft was F-14D, which first flew November 24, 1987. Though the Marine Corps initially sent instructors to VF-124 to train as instructors, the Corps pulled out of the program in 1976, after deciding the F-14 was too expensive for their needs.

Operational History

United States Navy

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). In 1995, an upgrade program was initiated to incorporate new digital avionics and weapon system improvements to strengthen its multi-mission competitive edge. The F-14D, delivered in 1990 in reduced numbers, was a major upgrade with F-110 engines, new AN/APG-71 radar system, Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) and Infrared Search and Track (IRST). Additionally, all F-14 variants were given precision strike capability using the LANTIRN targeting system, night vision compatibility, new defensive countermeasures systems and a new digital flight control system. At the end of its life, the F-14 Tomcat was upgraded with ROVER, a system which allows a Forward Air Controller on the ground to see real-time images acquired by the aircraft's sensors by transmitting these images to the FAC's laptop.

Imperial Iranian Air Force (later Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force)

The sole foreign customer for the Tomcat was the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) during the reign of the Shah of Iran. Due to the F-14's cost, lack of ground attack capacity, and the US government's preference to champion the F-15 for export, it was an unpopular export aircraft.

A total of 80 aircraft were ordered, 79 of which were delivered between 1976 and 1978. Due to the overthrow of the Shah, the last unit was embargoed and turned over to the United States Navy. The weapons embargo on Iran also cut off spare parts and technical assistance for the aircraft. For many years it was thought from that point forward Iran used the fighter primarily as an airborne radar controller, escorted and protected by other fighters, but later information indicates this was incorrect.

There are reports that the aircraft was used extensively in the Iran-Iraq War and some claim it achieved over one hundred kills. Although information received about that war is notably sketchy and some sources may be suspect, a phenomenon from the early part of the Gulf War, as well as U.S. AWACS surveillance of Iranian F-14 operations tends to lend some credibility to these claims. In the Gulf War conflict U.S. F-14s were used primarily for strike package escort and reconnaissance due to the way the Air Tasking Orders were set up. The emissions from the AWG-9/APG-71 are instantly recognizable, due to its very powerful transmitter. 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.

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. There were also rumors that suggested that Iran's Tomcat fleet would be upgraded with avionics derived from the MiG-31 Foxhound. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force officials and pilots are definite, that Soviets were never allowed near the F-14s and never received any F-14 or AIM-54 technology. Also, the AIM-54 missile was never out of service in the IRIAF, though the stocks of operational missiles were low at times. Clandestine deliveries from US sources and black market purchases supplied spares to top up the Phoenix reserves during the war, and spares deliveries from the USA in the 1990s have also helped. Furthermore, an attempt was made to adapt the MIM-23 HAWK surface-to-air defense missiles that were also a carryover from the pre-revolution period to be used as air-to-air missiles for the F-14, and at least two F-14s have been successfully integrated.

Characteristics

The Tomcat consists of a high forward nacelle containing the radar and cockpits, and two widely spaced engines arranged around a flat fuselage that contains the variable geometry mechanism. The fuselage alone forms over half of the aircraft's lifting surface. The space between the engines allows for underbody carriage of many external stores. The F-14 retains conformal underbody carriage of 4 Sparrow missles, two under the forward, and two under the center fuselage. Unlike the complex swivelling pylons on F-111B which cannot carry a full load at full sweep, all load stations are on fixed pylons under the body, or the fixed wing glove, and are fully useable at all wing sweeps. In addition, external fuel tanks can be mounted under each engine. The F-111 was limited to four swivelling and two fixed wing pylons, and an internal weapons bay.

While a Rand report notes that the Navy was not willing to sacrifice the heavy Phoenix missle system as did the Air Force to optimize the air superiority role, its swing wings made the F-14 the most maneuverable fighter in the world at its introduction, and competitive throughout its service life. The F-14 mets its design goal of exceeding the slatted F-4J. Compared to the F-4, the F-14A has an improvement of 21% in acceleration and sustained G-Force, 20% increase in rate of climb, 27% increase in maneuvering capability and 40% in turning radius. It also handily beat A-4 Skyhawk aggressors simulating the Mig-17 which had caused so many problems over Vietnam, and sealed the fate of the F-111B. Skilled pilots could fight smaller fighters such as the F-16 which have a higher roll rate to a draw.

The flat, pancake-like section between the engines acts as an airfoil to provide additional lift, giving the Tomcat an effective wing area about 40% greater than its actual wing dimensions. This results in relatively low effective wing loading. The Tomcat also has a Mach Sweep Programmer (MSP) that automatically adjusts the wing angle for optimum flight performance (the only VG aircraft so equipped — a similar system was tested but not used for the Panavia Tornado ADV). Movable glove vanes extended to offset the migration of the center of lift rearwards as airspeed increased, and these were even implemented on 1/72 plastic models of the era. However for maintainability given the amount of time actually spent at high Mach, they were subsequently removed.

Unlike most variable-geometry aircraft that are optimized for fast, low-altitude attack, the Tomcat uses its swing wings forward for tight turning at low speeds to enhance maneuverablity. Despite the Tomcat's considerable size, its agility compares well to many other fighters.

Sometimes called underpowered, it lacked advanced technology to give a 1:1 combat thrust-to-weight ratio desired in later fighters. As the first operation use of supersonic afterburning turbofan engines, the TF30 turbofans gave long range and loiter times, but were troublesome and were not well adapted for air combat, They were subject to compressor stalls in violent maneuvers or high alpha and provided only a slight thrust to weight advantage over the Phantom II. Once the F110 engines arrived which had power and reliability comparable to the F-15, the aircraft realized its full potential.

Although the F-14 is capable of Mach 2.4+ dashes in a clean configuration, very few operations have been conducted at Mach 2. Despite the low landing speed afforded by forward swept wings and flaps, the F-14 is considered to be notoriously difficult to land on a carrier deck and its service has been marred by numerous landing accidents.

The Tomcat was intended as an uncompromising air superiority fighter and interceptor, charged with defending carrier battle groups against Soviet Navy aircraft armed with cruise missiles. It carried the Hughes AN/AWG-9 long-range radar originally developed for the F-111B, capable of detecting bomber-sized targets at ranges exceeding 160 km (100 miles), tracking 24 targets and engaging six simultaneously. In a now famous test, an F-14 simultaneously shot down five of six target drones. However, what was not commonly disclosed is that the drones were flying dumb profiles; not jamming or evading the missiles, unlike an actual target would, and the Phoenix has rarely, if ever been used in service.

The F-14's weapon system was designed around the AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 Phoenix missile, capable of engaging and self-illuminating a target at up to 200 km (120 statute miles) with a fire or forget capability. It was retired from service in 2004, replaced by the lower-range AIM-120 AMRAAM. The F-14 was the only aircraft to carry the AIM-54. It could carry up to six of these large weapons on special underbody aerodynamic pallets and glove pylons. However, their heavy weight only enabled the F-14 to bring back 4 on a carrier. Medium-range armament was provided by the AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing missile. For short ranges, two AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared missiles are carried on the outer wing glove pylons.

A significant ommission on the F-4 was a gun, which were built into late F-4E USAF Phantoms. An M61 Vulcan 20 mm multibarrel cannon was restored on this design based on combat, and poor experience with pod mounted cannons. Some F-14s are also equipped to carry the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) pod, giving the Navy what was then its only manned tactical reconnaissance platform.

Sailors prepare an F-14 Tomcat for flight on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003).

The F-14 was originally designed with a potent strike capability with payload and range rivaling the A-6 from the outset. Payload is comparable to the Phantom, with a wide underbody and fixed pylons that can accomodate a variety of bomb loads and external tanks. But the F-111 debacle led to the common fighter community motto "Not a pound for air to ground". Planners deployed their most expensive fighters only for air superiority and fleet defence, as did the USAF, even though the ground attack capability was never actually removed from F-14s. Because of cost, the F/A-18 was developed as a the low end of a hi-lo mixed force, and was intended to be first dual-role fighter, with the F-14 tasked solely for air superiority. In addition, the Marine Corps elected to wait for the F-18 to replace the F-4 , in a tradition of retaining less expensive but still effective weapons like the AH-1 Cobra and M-60 tank.

Only in the 1990s after the Air Force adapted the F-15E as strike fighter, and the A-6 was being withdrawn, F-14s were fitted to carry the LANTIRN pod which enabled delivery of Laser-guided bombs. Such planes were often called "Bombcats". After the retirement of the A-6 Intruder attack aircraft, the F-14 was the longest range strike platform on U.S. supercarriers and used on long range missions over Afghanistan.

Decommissioning of the F-14

When the A-12 was canceled, the Navy opted to upgrade the Hornet to the F-18E/F as an alternate way to replace the strike capability of the A-6. This however this also brought the range and payload capability, and with the AMRAAM, BVR missle capabiity close to the F-14, and certainly a more complete capable replacement for the classic F-4. The Navy elected to build more Super Hornets over restarting a proposed advanced F-14 production line given trade offs in cost and combat capability.

Many have been critical of whether the Super Hornet will be able to deliver the quantity of munitions that the F-14 can over similar ranges. Unfortunately, without the ability to re-manufacture or replace the F-14 fleet, the tired and high-maintenance airframes and engines fitted mostly with technology from the 1970s are on their way out, though by many standards it is still superior to the fighters of many Air Forces. Regardless, the decision to incorporate the Super Hornet and decommission the F-14 is mainly due to the high amount of maintenance required to keep the Tomcats operational. On average, an F-14 requires nearly fifty maintenance hours for every flight hour, while the Super Hornet requires five to ten maintenance hours for every flight hour.

Grumman had submitted several 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) but the Super Hornet was chosen as the future Navy attack aircraft instead. Grumman was acquired by Northrop in 1994 (the F-14 was probably the only program keeping them in business), sealing the fate of the F-14.

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 at Naval Air Station Oceana on 10 March 2006. The F-14 Tomcat will be removed from service and officially stricken from the inventory in September of 2006.

The last F-14 Tomcat aircraft to fly a combat mission arrives on board Sherman Field at 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 (CVN 71) 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 (CVN 71), VFs-31 and -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 OIF. On March 10, 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 RIOs who are making the transition to the Super Hornet will begin F/A-18F (double seat) training in April, and the squadron will be operational, or "safe for flight," in September. VF-31 pilots who are making the transition will begin F/A-18E (single seat) training in October, and the squadron will be safe for flight in April 2007. This will make VF-31 the last official Tomcat squadron in the Navy.

Because of its popularity, and long service life, the Navy is attempting to place as many of its retired F-14s on public display as possible. Consequently, aircraft mothballed at the Davis-Monthan "Boneyard" will be retained for as long as possible while homes are found for them.

Variants

  • 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
  • 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 redesignated F-14B.
  • F-14D Super Tomcat : The final incarnation of the F-14. The troublesome TF30 engines were replaced with GE F110-400 engines, giving the F-14 the thrust the airframe was originally designed for (F-14Bs also received the GE F110). Also "Digitized" and fitted with a "Glass" cockpit as well as the new AGP-71 radar.

Operators

United States Navy (USN) squadrons

  • VF-1 Wolfpack (Disestablished September 30, 1993)
  • VF-2 Bounty Hunters (Redesignated VFA-2 with F/A-18F July 1, 2003)
  • VF-11 Red Rippers (Redesignated to VFA-11 with F/A-18F in May, 2005)
  • VF-14 Tophatters (Redesignated VFA-14 with F/A-18E December 1, 2001)
  • VF-21 Freelancers (Disestablished January 31, 1996)
  • VF-24 Fighting Renegades (Disestablished August 20, 1996)
  • VF-31 Tomcatters (Active; scheduled for redesignation to VFA-31 with F/A-18E in Sept 2006)
  • VF-32 Swordsmen (Redesignated VFA-32 with F/A-18F on October 1, 2005)
  • VF-33 Starfighters (Disestablished October 1, 1993)
  • VF-41 Black Aces (Redesignated VFA-41 with F/A-18F, December 1, 2001)
  • VF-51 Screaming Eagles (Disestablished March 31, 1995)
  • VF-74 Bedevilers (Disestablished April 30, 1994)
  • VF-84 Jolly Rogers (Disestablished October 1, 1995)
  • VF-101 Grim Reapers (Disestablished September 15, 2005)
  • VF-102 Diamondbacks (Redesignated VFA-102 with F/A-18F in May 1, 2002)
  • VF-103 Sluggers/Jolly Rogers (Redesignated VFA-103 with F/A-18F May 1, 2005)
  • VF-111 Sundowners (Disestablished March 31, 1995)
  • VF-114 Aardvarks (Disestablished April 30, 1993)
  • VF-124 Gunfighters (Disestablished September 30, 1994)
  • VF-142 Ghostriders (Disestablished April 30, 1995)
  • VF-143 Pukin' Dogs (Redesignated VFA-143 with F/A-18E in early 2005)
  • VF-154 Black Knights (Redesignated VFA-154 with F/A-18F October 1, 2003)
  • VF-191 Satan's Kittens (Disestablished April 30, 1988)
  • VF-194 Red Lightnings (Disestablished April 30, 1988)
  • VF-201 Hunters (Redesignated VFA-201 with F/A-18A January 1, 1999)
  • VF-202 Superheats (Disestablished December 31, 1999)
  • VF-211 Fighting Checkmates (Redesignated VFA-211 with F/A-18F October 1, 2004)
  • VF-213 Black Lions (Active; scheduled for redesignation to VFA-213 with F/A-18F in May 2006)
  • VF-301 Devil's Disciples (Disestablished December 31, 1994)
  • VF-302 Stallions (Disestablished December 31, 1994)
  • VX-4 Evaluators (Disestablished September 30, 1994)
  • VX-9 Vampires (Currently operates F/A-18C/D/E/F, EA-6B, AV-8B, & AH-1)

Iranian Air Force (IRIAF) squadrons

F-14 in combat

Main article: Combat history of the F-14

F-14s of the U.S. Navy have shot down five enemy aircraft for no losses. One has been lost to a surface-to-air missile. The combat record of the F-14 in IRIAF service is much debated. In 1980 the downing of a soviet built Iraqi Tu-22 "Blinder" bomber was observed by AWAC crews, while other incidents remain unconfirmed . Recent books by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop claim nearly 150 kills.

F-14 in fiction and popular culture

Specifications (F-14D Super 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

External links

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., ISBN 0-8306-8592-8. 1975 book discusses design of F-14 was centered around maneuvering air combat, selection of swing wing over fixed because of maneuverability, extensive ground attack capability, long range.
  • Modern Marvels: the F-14 (History Channel) The Navy had "a new set of requirements: Mach 2 speed, great maneuverability, powerful radar and the ability to carry a variety of weapons"


Related content

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

  1. U.S. Navy Fact File
  2. Rand report: Return of the Air Superiority Fighters
  3. Baugher F-14 history
  4. [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22325 TR Traps Last Tomcat from Combat Mission, from Navy Newsstand
Categories: