F-14D Tomcat Gains JDAM Capability

Released on Thursday, March 20, 2003

According to sources from the US Navy, the Navy's F-14D Tomcat aircraft have received a software upgrade that will enable them to carry and drop JDAM precision-guided bombs.

Operational test already in progress indicated that the new software was mature and stable. The test community has determined that with an acceleration of remaining critical tests, they could provide a recommendation for an early release of the JDAM capability.

The JDAM capability also means hardware modifications on the aircraft.

A F-14D Tomcat aircraft can carry up to 4 JDAM bombs, each weighing 2,000 pounds.

March 1, 2003 marked the first operational deployment of JDAM bombs from a US Navy's F-14D Tomcat.