Posted on 09/10/2025 10:33:24 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111
The US Navy wanted the F-14 Tomcat for long-range fleet defense against Soviet bomber threats, requiring a large radar, powerful air-to-air missiles, and the ability to operate across a wide range of airspeeds to carry heavy ordnance and maintain maneuverability.
The variable-sweep wing design, combined with advanced fire-control systems and the AIM-54 Phoenix missile, made the F-14 capable of engaging multiple targets at long distances while still being able to perform close-in combat and dogfighting.
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The F-14 was a maintenance nightmare. Navy replaced the F-14 hanger queens in favor of the F-18 which was cheaper to operate and easier to maintain.
The early version F-14’s had TF30 engines which were originally designed for the cancelled subsonic F6D Missileer. The TF30 was adapted with an afterburner and used in the F-111 and early versions of the F-14 (F-14A) and A-7.
The F-14 Tomcat was way cool, though.
The swing-wing design meant that it was good at both subsonic and supersonic speeds, but not excellent at them either. At subsonic speed an F-18 is probably better.
<< The F-14 was a maintenance nightmare >>
Especially for Iran, who’ve been without spare parts since 1979.
Correct and your guess at the F-18 is also correct. In a dog fight, F-18 wins. But the Tomcat wasnt really designed for that. It was designed to carry the Phoenix missile system. A great idea in the 70’s that never saw practical use and eventually its mission went away with the USSR.
As I thought. I would also guess that at long-distance fighting, which is what the F-14 is more designed for, it stands an advantage. It can fire it’s Phoenix missiles and be out of there faster than the F-18.
The standoff with a Phoenix was longer, but both can/could shoot fire and forget weapons.
The FB-111 was supposed to have a carrier variant. The F-14 was a scaled-down version in some respects.
The need for long-range fleet defense supposedly ended with the Cold War, but I guess the Chinese are now joining the game. I would assume drones or missiles are now cheaper and more effective than big, non-stealthy swing-wing aircraft.
My Father used to build them. At the Grumman plant on Stewart Ave. in Garden City, NY. I remember going over there for family day or something and seeing a multitude of them on an assembly line like so many Chevy’s being built. Yes, way cool.
The F-14 had the coolest name ever.
And the Grumman F6F Hellcat
I don’t remember the year, but when they demonstrated an F-14 and its new Phoenix missile system, it hit fix of six targets.
$100 catch-up bump from Alabama.
My man!
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