The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a multi-mission fighter aircraft. Originally designed as an air
superiority fighter to outperform any potential threat to the carrier battle group, it has adopted
many other important missions today like Ground Attack (incl. Laser Guided Bombs) and Tactical
Air Reconnaissance.
In the air superiority role the F-14 has an unmatched weapon: The AIM-54 Phoenix missile with a
range in access of 100 miles. Six of these missiles can be shot at aerial targets and home in on
incoming cruise missiles or enemy bombers independantly. Other air-to-air weapons are the
standard AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seaking short range missile, the AIM-7 Sparrow medium range
missile, the AIM-120 AMRAAM (advanced medium range air-to-air missile) and of course the M61A
Vulcan cannon firing 6000 rounds a minute.The F-14 with its TARPS reconnaissance pod is the only aircraft in the Navy to fly photo missions and just recently the TARPS was modified to digitally transmit gathered images in near real-time to the fleet commanders. An invaluable instrument in any war scenario.
The air-to-ground Capability was long time not trained in the F-14 community. Even though the original 1970s design included air-to-ground capability, only in recent years the F-14 became again a fighter-bomber. Not only iron bombs and cluster bombs can be delivered, but also latest laser-guided ammunition. Doing this, the F-14 can also identify and mark its own targets using the LANTIRN (low altitude navigation and targeting infra-red, night) pod.
So even after more than 25 years in service with the U.S. Navy the F-14 Tomcat is - even though an aging - a most capable fighter aircraft.
Graphics: © Torsten Anft, 1999
For a most detailed description of the F-14 visit the HOME OF M.A.T.S. F-14 Reference Work Website.
