f14

The F-14 Tomcat is a carrier-based, supersonic fighter aircraft developed by Grumman for the United States Navy. It is a two-seat, twin-engine aircraft with variable-geometry wings, designed for long-range fleet air defense and air superiority. The F-14 first flew in 1970 and entered service in 1974; it remained with the U.S. Navy until 2006. Iran operated a large fleet of F-14s acquired before the 1979 revolution and continued to use them for decades.

The Tomcat uses a variable-sweep wing that can be adjusted in flight to balance speed, range, and maneuverability. It is crewed by a pilot and a radar intercept officer (RIO) who handles the radar and weapon systems. The aircraft was intended for fleet defense against high-speed bombers and for long-range engagements, leveraging advanced sensors and missiles.

Avionics and armament include the AN/AWG-9 radar (later variants used the APG-71). Its primary air-to-air armament consisted of the AIM-54 Phoenix long-range missiles, along with AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. The F-14 also carries an internal 20 mm M61A Vulcan cannon for close-range defense.

Variants and retirement: The F-14A was equipped with Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines; later F-14B and F-14D variants used General Electric F110 engines and upgraded avionics. The Tomcat saw extensive service through deployments in the 1980s and 1990s, including the Gulf War era. The U.S. Navy retired the F-14 in 2006, replacing it with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; some international operators, notably Iran, continued to operate remaining aircraft for years after.