Grumman F-14A Tomcat Ver.1994 none

Description

With the coming of the jet age, following the Second World War, the U.S. Navy, having built their fleet around aircraft carriers, faced new problems in providing protection from hostile aircraft missiles. The Grumman Aircraft Corporation, well known for their tough naval aircraft, felt that the variable geometry concept (swing wing) had great potential for a carrier based jet fighter.Early in the 1950's Grumman produced an experimental XF-10F "Jaguar" which was extensively tested to explore and prove the swing wing concept. The TFX (Tactical Fighter Experimental – all services aircraft) program of the 1960's used XF-10F data to produce the F-111 Aardvark, which became a very viable U.S. aircraft. Grumman developed the F-14 Tomcat at the request of the Navy, as the TFX proved too heavy for carrier operations, and optimized the swing wing by incorporating a computer controlled system that automatically configured the aircraft, using speed and altitude inputs to the computer.First flown in December 1970, the Tomcat has been in front line service since then. The production version F-14A differs little from the prototype, demonstrating a superb basic design. A highly sophisticated and formidable weapons system includes the AWG-9 fire control system consisting of a pulse Doppler radar which controls the M-16 Vulcan cannon; AIM-9 Sidewinder; AIM-7 Sparrow; and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. To keep pace with the changing state of the art, the F-14A Tomcat has been provided with several modern improvements. The initial infrared sensor pod under the nose was replaced by a AN/AXX-1TCS (Television Camera Set). Threat warning radar was upgraded and enhanced. One noticable external refinement is the Vulcan cannon gun bay gas purging system. During cannon firing, spent gases were ingested into the left air intake and often caused an engine malfunction.During the early 1990's the Tomcat expanded its combat abilities by using the latest air-to-ground weapons systems. The F-14 Tomcat has won the confidence of its most demanding pilots, and it is expected to remain in service well into the 21st century.