IOC: 1973
Total Production: 773
Total Program's Cost: USD$29 billion
F-14D Tomcat
IOC: 1990
Unitary Cost: USD$38 million
Origin:United States of America
Contractor/s:
Northrop Grumman
Description:
The F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, swing-wing, two-place strike fighter for use by the US Navy aboard its aircraft carrier. Its primary role is air superiority with a secondary ground strike and reconnaissance capabilities. The Tomcat can be equipped with the TARPS pod for reconnaissance missions and the LANTIRN laser designator pod for precision ground strike missions.
The F-14 Tomcat can track up to 24 airborne targets attacking 6 of them using the powerful AIM-54 Phoenix. It can also carry out air-to-air engagements using the proven AIM-7 Sparrow and the AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. In the event of a close-in engagement the 20mm Vulcan M61A1/A2 cannon is the weapon of choice.
The carrier-based Tomcat entered the fleet in 1973 replacing the F-4 Phantom II. In 1986, they provided air cover for the joint strike on Libyan terrorist targets.
The F-14D Tomcat was introduced in 1990 as new production aircraft or F-14A remanufactured. It features F110-GE-400 engines, the Joint Tactical Distribution Information System (JTIDS) and a new digital radar the AN/APG-71.
The F-14D Tomcat is the most advanced F-14 deployed to date. It will remain in service until 2008 when all the Tomcat aircraft should have been replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The US Navy officially retired the F-14 Tomcat during a ceremony held at Naval Air Station Oceana on September 22, 2006.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 2
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 20 mm
Dimensions: Height 4.8 m, Length 18.8 m, Wingspan 19 m
Weights: Max Weight 33,067 kg (72,899 lb), Payload 5,897 kg (13,000 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 54,000 lb (24,494 kg)
Performance: Ceiling 15,250 m (50,033 ft), Max Range 1,694 km (915 nm), Min Range 1,215 m (3,986 ft), Top Speed 777 mps (Mach 2.34)
United States of America