View source for Grumman F-14 Tomcat

{{Short description|Carrier-based multi-role fighter aircraft family}}
{{Redirect|F14}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = F-14 Tomcat
| image = File:US Navy 051105-F-5480T-005 An F-14D Tomcat conducts a mission over the Persian Gulf-region.jpg
| image_caption = A [[U.S. Navy]] F-14D conducts a mission over the [[Persian Gulf]] region in 2005.
| aircraft_type = [[Interceptor aircraft|Interceptor]], [[air superiority fighter|air superiority]], and [[multirole combat aircraft|multirole]] fighter
| national_origin = United States
| manufacturer = [[Grumman]]
| first_flight = {{Start date and age|1970|12|21|df=yes}}
| introduction = {{Start date and age|1974|09|22|df=yes}}
| retired = {{Start date and age|2006|09|22|df=yes}} ([[United States Navy]])
| status = In service with Iran
| primary_user = [[United States Navy]] (historical)
| more_users = {{plainlist|
* [[Air force history of Iran|Imperial Iranian Air Force]] (historical)
* [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]]
}}
| number_built = 712
| produced = 1969–1991
| variants = 
}}

The '''Grumman F-14 Tomcat''' is an American [[aircraft carrier|carrier]]-capable [[supersonic aircraft|supersonic]], [[twinjet|twin-engine]], [[Tandem#Aviation|tandem]] two-seat, twin-tail, all-weather-capable [[variable-sweep wing]] [[fighter aircraft]]. The Tomcat was developed for the [[United States Navy]]'s Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program after the collapse of the [[General Dynamics–Grumman F-111B|General Dynamics-Grumman F-111B]] project. A large and well-equipped fighter, the F-14 was the first of the American [[Teen Series]] fighters, which were designed incorporating [[aerial warfare|air combat]] experience against smaller, more maneuverable [[List of Mikoyan and MiG aircraft|MiG fighters]] during the [[Vietnam War]].

The F-14 first flew on 21 December 1970 and made its first deployment in 1974 with the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}}, replacing the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]]. The F-14 served as the U.S. Navy's primary maritime [[air superiority fighter]], fleet defense [[interceptor aircraft|interceptor]], and tactical [[aerial reconnaissance]] platform into the 2000s. The Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night ([[LANTIRN]]) pod system was added in the 1990s and the Tomcat began performing precision ground-attack missions.<ref name="USN_FF">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060402215910/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1100&ct=1 |archive-date=2 April 2006 |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1100&ct=1 |title=F-14 Tomcat fighter fact file |publisher=United States Navy |date=5 July 2003 |access-date=20 January 2007}}</ref> The Tomcat was retired by the U.S. Navy on 22 September 2006, supplanted by the [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]. Several retired F-14s have been put on display across the US.

Having been exported to [[Pahlavi Iran]] under the [[Western Bloc|Western-aligned]] Shah [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]] in 1976, F-14s were used as land-based interceptors by the [[Air force history of Iran#Imperial era|Imperial Iranian Air Force]]. Following the [[Iranian Revolution]] in 1979, the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]] used them during the [[Iran–Iraq War]]. Iran claimed their F-14s shot down at least 160 Iraqi aircraft during the war (with 55 of these confirmed),<ref name="Persian Cats"/> while 16 Tomcats were lost, including seven losses to accidents.<ref name="Persian Cats"/><ref>Cooper, Tom and Farzad Bishop. ''Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat'', p. 84. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2004. {{ISBN|1 84176 787 5}}.</ref>

==Development==

===Background===
[[File:F-111B NAN7-65.jpg|thumb|The [[F-111B]] was designed to fulfill the carrier-based interceptor role, but had weight and performance problems, and was not suited to the types of aerial combat that were predominant over Vietnam.]]

Beginning in the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy sought a long-range, high-endurance interceptor to defend its [[carrier battle group]]s against long-range [[anti-ship missile]]s launched from the jet bombers and submarines of the [[Soviet Union]]. They outlined the idea of a Fleet Air Defense (FAD) aircraft with a more powerful radar and longer range missiles than the [[F-4 Phantom II]] to intercept both enemy bombers and missiles at very long range.<ref>Thomason 1998, pp. 3–5.</ref> Studies into this concept led to the [[Douglas F6D Missileer]] project of 1959, but this large subsonic aircraft would have limited ability to evade supersonic fighters or defend itself once it fired its missiles, and the project was canceled in December 1961.<ref>{{cite book|last=Simonsen|first=Erik|title=A Complete History of U.S. Combat Aircraft Fly-Off Competitions: Winners, Losers, and What Might Have Been|year=2016|publisher=Specialty Press|location=Forest Lake, MN|isbn=978-1-58007-227-4 |page=108}}</ref>

The Navy still sought long-range defensive aircraft, but with higher performance than the Missileer. The Navy was directed to participate in the [[TFX Program|Tactical Fighter Experimental]] (TFX) program with the [[U.S. Air Force]] (USAF) by [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Robert McNamara]], who favored versatile aircraft that could be shared by both services, reducing procurement and development costs. To this end, he had already directed the USAF to buy the F-4 Phantom II—which was developed for the Navy and could serve both as a [[fighter-bomber]] and an [[interceptor aircraft]]—instead of buying more [[F-105 Thunderchief]] and [[F-106 Delta Dart]] aircraft to fill each respective role.<ref>Dwyer, Larry. [http://www.aviation-history.com/mcdonnell/f4.html "The McDonnell F-4 Phantom II."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127154136/http://www.aviation-history.com/mcdonnell/f4.html |date=27 November 2011}} aviation-history.com, 31 March 2010. Retrieved: 24 March 2012.</ref>

The TFX had adequate speed, range and payload for the FAD role, but was designed primarily as a fighter-bomber and [[interdictor]] that lacked the maneuverability and overall performance that the Navy expected. The Navy strenuously opposed the TFX as it feared compromises necessary for the Air Force's need for a low-level attack aircraft would adversely impact the aircraft's performance as a fighter. Their concerns were overridden, and the project went ahead as the [[F-111B]]. Lacking recent experience in naval fighters, the F-111's main contractor, [[General Dynamics]], partnered with [[Grumman]] to provide the experience needed to develop a naval version. Weight and performance issues plagued the program, and with the F-111B in distress, Grumman began studying improvements and alternatives. In 1966, the Navy awarded Grumman a contract to begin studying advanced fighter designs. Grumman narrowed down these designs to its Model 303 design.<ref name=Spick_p71-2>Spick 2000, pp. 71–72.</ref>

Through this same period, experience in Vietnam against the more agile [[MiG]] fighters demonstrated that the Phantom lacked the maneuverability needed to win in any engagement. This led to the [[VFAX]] program to study new fighter aircraft that would either replace or supplant the Phantom in the fighter and ground-attack roles while the TFX worked the long-range interception role.<ref>Spangenberg, George. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120204215346/http://www.georgespangenberg.com/vf15.htm "Spangenberg Fighter Study Dilemma."]}} georgespangenberg.com. Retrieved: 24 March 2012.</ref> Grumman continued work on its 303 design and offered it to the Navy in 1967, which led to fighter studies by the Navy. The company continued to refine the design into 1968.<ref name=Spick_p71-2/>

Around this time, [[Thomas F. Connolly|Vice Admiral Thomas F. Connolly]], Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare, flew the developmental [[F-111A]] variant on a flight and discovered that it had difficulty going supersonic and had poor carrier landing characteristics. He later testified before Congress about his concerns against the official Navy position and, in May 1968, Congress stopped funding for the F-111B, allowing the Navy to pursue an answer tailored to its requirements.<ref>{{cite news |author=Thomas. Robert McG. Jr. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/09/us/thomas-connolly-86-top-gun-admiral-dies.html |title=Thomas Connolly, 86, Top-Gun Admiral, Dies |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=9 June 1996 |access-date=29 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111095405/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/09/us/thomas-connolly-86-top-gun-admiral-dies.html |archive-date=11 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===VFX===
Free to choose their solution to the FAD requirement, VFAX ended in favor of a new design that would combine the two roles. In July 1968, the [[Naval Air Systems Command]] (NAVAIR) issued a [[request for proposal]]s (RFP) for the Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program. VFX called for a tandem two-seat, twin-engine air-to-air fighter with a maximum speed of Mach 2.2.<ref>A Dictionary of Aviation, David W. Wragg. {{ISBN|0850451639}}, 1st Edition Published by Osprey, 1973 / Published by Frederick Fell, Inc., NY, 1974 (1st American Edition.), Page 123.</ref> It would also have a built-in 20&nbsp;mm [[M61 Vulcan]] cannon and a secondary close air support role.<ref name="Woolridge"/> The VFX's air-to-air missiles would be either six [[AIM-54 Phoenix]] or a combination of six [[AIM-7 Sparrow]] and four [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] missiles. Bids were received from General Dynamics, Grumman, [[Ling-Temco-Vought]], [[McDonnell Douglas]], and [[Rockwell International|North American Rockwell]];<ref name=Spick_p9-10>Spick 1985, pp. 9–10.</ref> four bids incorporated [[Variable-sweep wing|variable-geometry wings]].<ref name="Woolridge">Woolridge, Capt. E.T., ed. ''Into the Jet Age: Conflict and Change in Naval Aviation 1945–1975, an Oral History''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1995. {{ISBN|1-55750-932-8}}.</ref>{{refn|Admiral Thomas F. Connolly wrote the chapter, "The TFX – One Fighter For All".<ref name="Woolridge"/>|group=N}}

The name "Tomcat" was partially chosen to pay tribute to Connolly, as the nickname "Tom's Cat" had already been widely used within the program during development to reflect Connolly's involvement, and now the moniker was adapted into an official name in line with the Grumman tradition of giving its fighter aircraft feline names. Changing it to ''Tomcat'' associated the aircraft with the previous Grumman aircraft [[Grumman F4F Wildcat|Wildcat]], [[Grumman F6F Hellcat|Hellcat]], [[Grumman F7F Tigercat|Tigercat]], and [[Grumman F8F Bearcat|Bearcat]] propeller fighters along with the [[Grumman F9F Panther|Panther]], [[Grumman F-9 Cougar|Cougar]], and [[Grumman F-11 Tiger|Tiger]] jet fighters. Other names considered were ''[[Feral cat|Alley Cat]]'' (considered inappropriate due to sexual connotations) and ''Seacat''.<ref>Spick, 2000, p.74</ref><ref>Marrett 2006, p. 18.</ref>

===Full-scale development===
[[File:F-14 Tomcat prototypes in flight c1972.jpg|thumb|Grumman's VFX entry was designed around the TF30 engine, AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 missile intended for the F-111B; this eventually became the F-14A.]]

McDonnell Douglas and Grumman were selected as finalists in December 1968. Grumman's 303E design was selected for the contract award in January 1969.<ref>Spick 2000, p. 74.</ref> The design reused the [[Pratt & Whitney TF30|TF30]] engines from the F-111B, though the Navy planned on replacing them with the [[Pratt & Whitney F401|Pratt & Whitney F401-400]] engines under development for the Navy, along with the related [[Pratt & Whitney F100]] for the USAF.<ref>Spick 2000, p. 112.</ref> Though lighter than the F-111B, it was still the largest and heaviest U.S. fighter to fly from an aircraft carrier, a consequence of the requirement to carry the large [[AN/AWG-9|AWG-9 radar]] and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles (from the F-111B) and an internal fuel load of {{convert|16000|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. The design service life was 6,000 flight hours, although this was later extended to 7,200 hours.<ref>Gunston and Spick 1983, p. 112.</ref>

Upon winning the contract for the F-14, Grumman greatly expanded its [[Calverton, New York|Calverton]], Long Island, New York facility for evaluating the aircraft. Much of the testing, including the first of many compressor stalls and multiple ejections, took place over Long Island Sound. To save time and avoid cancellation by the new presidential administration, the Navy skipped the prototype phase and jumped directly to full-scale development; the Air Force took a similar approach with its [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle]].<ref name="Jenkins">Jenkins, Dennis R. ''F/A-18 Hornet: A Navy Success Story''. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000. {{ISBN|0-07-134696-1}}.</ref> The F-14 first flew on 21 December 1970, just 22 months after Grumman was awarded the contract. The fighter reached initial operational capability (IOC) in 1973. The [[United States Marine Corps]] was initially interested in the F-14 as an F-4 Phantom II replacement, going so far as to send officers to [[VF-124|Fighter Squadron One Twenty-Four (VF-124)]] to train as instructors. The Marine Corps pulled out of any procurement when the development of the stores' management system for ground attack munitions was not pursued and decided the upcoming [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F-18]] fit their role better.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2005/august/late-great-lou-wilson | title=The Late Great Lou Wilson | date=August 2005 }}</ref> An air-to-ground capability was not developed until the 1990s.<ref name="Jenkins"/>

Firing trials involved launches against simulated targets of various types, from cruise missiles to high-flying bombers. AIM-54 Phoenix missile testing from the F-14 began in April 1972. The longest single Phoenix launch was successful against a target at a range of {{convert|110|nmi|km|abbr=on}} in April 1973. Another unusual test was made on 22 November 1973, when six missiles were fired within 38 seconds at Mach 0.78 and {{convert|24800|ft|m|abbr=on}}; four scored direct hits, one broke the lock and missed, and one was declared "no test" after the radar signature augmentation in the target drone (which increased the apparent radar signature of the tiny drone to the size of a [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]]) failed, causing the missile to break track. This gave a tested success rate of 80% since effectively only 5 missiles were tested. This was the most expensive single test of air-to-air missiles ever performed at that time.<ref>Spick 2000, pp. 110–111.</ref>

===Improvements and changes===
Throughout production, the F-14 underwent significant upgrades in missile armament, especially with the move to full solid-state electronics, primarily allowing for better [[Electronic counter-countermeasure|Electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM)]] and more space for the rocket motor. The AIM-54A Phoenix [[Active radar homing|active-radar]] air-to-air missile was upgraded with the AIM-54B (1983, limited use) and AIM-54C (1986) versions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Raytheon AIM-54 Phoenix|url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-54.html|access-date=24 January 2022|website=designation-systems.net|archive-date=1 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401085041/http://designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-54.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The initial AIM-7E-4<ref name="wapj7p545">Dorr 1991, pp. 54–55</ref> Sparrow [[semi-active radar homing]] was upgraded to the AIM-7F in 1976, and the M variant in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AIM-7 Sparrow|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104575/aim-7-sparrow/|access-date=24 January 2022|website=Air Force|language=en-US|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124164231/https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104575/aim-7-sparrow/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Infrared homing|heat-seeking]] missile armament was upgraded from the AIM-9J/H to the joint Air Force/Navy missile, the AIM-9L in 1979, and then the AIM-9M in 1982.<ref name="wapj7p556">Dorr 1991, pp. 55–56</ref>

The [[Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System]] (TARPS) was developed in the late 1970s for the F-14. Approximately 65 F-14As and all F-14Ds were modified to carry the pod.<ref name="Warplanes"/> TARPS was primarily controlled by the Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) via an extra display for observing reconnaissance data. The "TARPS Digital (TARPS-DI)" was a 1996 upgrade featuring a digital camera. The digital camera was further updated beginning in 1998 with the "TARPS Completely Digital (TARPS-CD)" configuration that also provided real-time transmission of imagery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sdl.usu.edu/programs/tarps-cd |title=Space Dynamics Laboratory: Tactical Air-borne Reconnaissance Pod System – Completely Digital |publisher=sdl.usu.edu |access-date=22 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621131545/http://www.sdl.usu.edu/programs/tarps-cd |archive-date=21 June 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1984, plans were announced to replace the existing TF30 engines of the Tomcat with [[General Electric]] [[General Electric F110|F110-GE-400]] turbofans.<ref name="Dorr p.70">Dorr 1991, p. 70</ref> An initial, interim, version just replaced the TF30 with the new engine, retaining the original avionics. These aircraft were designated F-14A+, which was changed to F-14B in May 1991. 38 F-14Bs were newly built, with a further 43 converted from F-14As.<ref name="wapj19p1324">Lake 1994, pp. 132–134</ref><ref name="iapr3p52"/> The F-14D variant was developed at the same time; it included the F110 engines with newer digital avionics systems such as a [[glass cockpit]] and compatibility with the [[Link 16]] secure datalink. 37 F-14Ds were new builds while another 18 were converted from F-14As.<ref>Friedman, Norman. "F-14". ''The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems'', Fifth edition. Annapolis MD: [[United States Naval Institute#Publications and products|Naval Institute Press]], 2006. {{ISBN|1-55750-262-5}}.</ref> The Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) notably improved the F-14's handling qualities when flying at a high [[angle of attack]] or in [[Air combat manoeuvring|air combat maneuvering]].<ref>{{cite report |url= https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA294267 |title=F-14 Flight Control Law Design, Verification, and Validation Using Computer Aided Engineering Tools |date=3 February 1995 |publisher=NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIV PATUXENT RIVER MD}}</ref>

[[File:VF-143 F-14 F-18 2005.jpg|thumb|VFA-143 "Pukin Dogs" F-14B (in the foreground) and F/A-18E Super Hornet in 2005]]
While the F-14 had been developed as a lightweight alternative to the {{convert|80000|lb|abbr=on}} F-111B, the F-14 was still the heaviest and most expensive fighter of its time. VFAX was revived in the 1970s as a lower cost solution to replacing the Navy and Marine Corps' fleets of F-4s, and A-7s. VFAX was directed to review the fighters in the USAF [[Light Weight Fighter]] competition, which led to the development of the [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet]] as roughly a midsize fighter and attack aircraft.<ref name="Donald">Donald 2004, pp. 13, 15.</ref>

===Ground attack upgrades===
[[File:F14Missile.jpg|thumb|An F-14D launching an [[AIM-7 Sparrow]]; a [[GBU-10 Paveway II]] is also carried.]]

In the 1990s, with the pending retirement of the [[Grumman A-6 Intruder]] and the cancellation of the [[McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II]] Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA), the F-14 [[Ground attack aircraft|air-to-ground]] program was resurrected. Trials with live bombs had been carried out in the 1980s; the F-14 was cleared to use basic [[Unguided bomb|iron bombs]] in 1992. During Operation Desert Storm of the [[Gulf War]], most air-to-ground missions were left to [[LTV A-7 Corsair II]], A-6 Intruder and F/A-18 Hornet squadrons, while the F-14s focused on air defense operations. Following Desert Storm, F-14As and F-14Bs underwent upgrades to avionics and cockpit displays to enable the use of precision munitions, enhance defensive systems, and apply structural improvements. The new avionics were comparable with the F-14D; these upgraded aircraft were designated F-14A (Upgrade) and F-14B (Upgrade) respectively.<ref name="Warplanes">Donald, David. "Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat, U.S. Navy today". ''Warplanes of the Fleet''. London: AIRtime Publishing Inc, 2004. {{ISBN|1-880588-81-1}}.</ref>

By 1994, Grumman and the Navy were proposing ambitious plans for Tomcat upgrades beyond the D model (such as the Super Tomcat 21, the cheaper QuickStrike version, and the more advanced Attack Super Tomcat 21).<ref name="Donald"/> However, the upgrades would have taken too long to implement to meet the gap, and were priced in the billions. The [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] considered this too expensive for an interim solution.<ref name="Warplanes"/> A quick, inexpensive upgrade using the [[LANTIRN|Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night]] (LANTIRN) targeting pod was devised. The LANTIRN pod provided the F-14 with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera for night operations and a laser target designator to direct laser-guided bombs (LGB).<ref name="iapr3p535">Lake 2002, pp. 53–55</ref> Although LANTIRN is traditionally a two-pod system, an AN/AAQ-13 navigation pod with terrain-following radar and a wide-angle FLIR, along with an AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod with a steerable FLIR and a laser target designator, the decision was made to only use the targeting pod. The Tomcat's LANTIRN pod was altered and improved over the baseline configuration, such as a [[GPS/INS|Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System]] (GPS/INS) capability to allow an F-14 to accurately locate itself. The pod was carried on the right wing glove pylon.<ref name="iapr3p535"/>

[[File:US Navy 051010-N-5088T-001 A specially painted F-14D Tomcat, assigned to the Blacklions of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), conducts a mission over the Persian Gulf.jpg|thumb|An F-14D(R) from [[VF-213]] flying over [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] on the last Tomcat deployment with a LANTIRN pod on the starboard wing glove station and a [[GBU-12 Paveway II|laser-guided bomb]] underneath the fuselage.|alt=Pale gray jet aircraft flying over water towards right, perpendicular to the camera. Horizon located two-thirds down the photo. Sky made up of two shades, dark blue covers the top, blending with a lighter shade until it is almost white above horizon]]
The LANTIRN pod did not require changes to the F-14's own system software, but the pod was designed to operate on a MIL-STD-1553B bus not present on the F-14A or B.  Consequently, [[Martin Marietta]] specially developed an interface card for LANTIRN. The Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) would receive pod imagery on a 10-inch Programmable Tactical Information Display (PTID) or another Multi-Function Display in the F-14{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} rear cockpit and guided LGBs using a new hand controller installed on the right side console. Initially, the hand controller replaced the RIO's TARPS control panel, meaning a Tomcat configured for LANTIRN could not carry TARPS and the reverse, but eventually a workaround was later developed to allow a Tomcat to carry LANTIRN or TARPS as needed.<ref name="iapr3p535"/>

An upgraded LANTIRN named "LANTIRN 40K" for operations up to {{convert|40000|ft|m|abbr=on}} was introduced in 2001, followed by Tomcat Tactical Targeting (T3) and Fast Tactical Imagery (FTI), to provide precise target coordinate determination and ability to transmit images in-flight.<ref name="USN_FF" /> Tomcats also added the ability to carry the [[GBU-38]] Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in 2003, giving it the option of a variety of LGB and [[GPS]]-guided weapons.<ref name="F-14Ds_JDAM"/> Some F-14Ds were upgraded in 2005 with a [[ROVER|ROVER III]] Full Motion Video (FMV) downlink, a system that transmits real-time images from the aircraft's sensors to the laptop of a [[forward air control]]ler (FAC) on the ground.<ref name="F-14_ROVER"/>

===Production termination===
In the early 1980s, the Navy anticipated that an Advanced Carrier-Borne Multirole Fighter (VFMX) would eventually be the long term high-end replacement for the F-14 and A-6, although this program was short-lived and was succeeded by separate efforts for fleet air defense and deep strike/attack; the latter would become the ATA program under which the A-12 Avenger II was being developed.<ref>{{cite report |last1=Parker Jr. |first1=James F |last2=Christensen |first2=Diane G. |last3=Mutimer |first3=George R. |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA177469.pdf |title=Life Support and Protection Requirements for the Head/Neck Region of Navy Aircrewmen |date=December 1986 |publisher=Office of Naval Research |page=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Larrimer |first=Bruce I. |title=Think Obliquely: Robert T. Jones, the Oblique Wing, NASA's AD-1 Demonstrator, and Its Legacy |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ThinkingObliquely-ebook.pdf |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |location= |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-62683-005-9 |page=144}}</ref> In 1988, the service announced that it would procure a derivative of the Air Force's [[Advanced Tactical Fighter]] (ATF), named the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF) that would eventually have been a [[Lockheed YF-22#NATF-22|navalized variant]] of the [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor|F-22]], as the long term F-14 replacement.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-90-54.pdf |title=Report to the Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives: Navy's Participation in Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter Program |publisher=United States Government Accounting Office |date=March 1990}}</ref> However, the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in declining defense budgets and also in a steep increase in the unit cost of the ATF and NATF due to reduced production rates. With tightening budgets, the Navy chose to focus on its top aviation priority, the A-12, and canceled the NATF in 1991, believing that the F-14D with upgrades would be viable for fleet air defense until 2015. However, the A-12 was cancelled shortly afterwards due to cost overruns and technical problems. As a result, the Navy launched a new attack aircraft program, the Advanced-Attack (A-X), while the F-14 with LANTIRN and ground attack upgrades would provide some interim capabilities, with Grumman proposing even more F-14 upgrades in the 1990s.<ref name="NATF to JSF">{{cite book |last1=Aronstein |first1=David |last2=Hirschberg |first2=Michael |title=Advanced Tactical Fighter to F-22 Raptor: Origins of the 21st Century Air Dominance Fighter |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |location=Arlington, Virginia |year=1998 |page=240 |isbn=978-1-56347-282-4}}</ref>

Although the F-14D was to be the definitive version of the Tomcat, not all fleet units received the D variant. In 1989, Secretary of Defense [[Dick Cheney]] refused to approve the purchase of any more F-14D model aircraft, stopping production after 37 F-14Ds had been built, although 18 more were produced by conversion of F-14As, giving a total of 55 F-14Ds.<ref name="wapj19p138">Lake 1994, p. 138</ref> An upgrade to the F-14D's computer software to allow AIM-120 AMRAAM missile capability was planned but was later terminated to free up funding for LANTIRN integration.<ref name="Warplanes"/> While upgrades kept the F-14 competitive with other teen series fighters, Cheney stated that the F-14 was 1960s technology. Despite an appeal from the Secretary of the Navy for at least 132 F-14Ds and some aggressive proposals from Grumman for a replacement,<ref name=Jenkins_p48>Jenkins 1997, p. 30.</ref> Cheney planned to replace the F-14 with a fighter that was not manufactured by Grumman. According to Cheney, the F-14 was a "jobs program", and when the F-14 was canceled, an estimated 80,000 jobs of Grumman employees, subcontractors, or support personnel were affected.<ref>Saul, Stephanie. "Cheney Aims Barrage at F-14D Calls keeping jet a jobs program." ''Newsday'' Washington Bureau, 24 August 1989, p. 6.</ref> The Navy would end up procuring the [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]] as the interim strike fighter for the A-X, which had become A/F-X (Advanced Attack/Fighter) due to added fighter capabilities although A/F-X itself would be canceled in the 1993 Bottom-Up Review. Cheney's cancellation of the F-14D was controversial and contributed heavily to Grumman's decline and resulting acquisition by [[Northrop Corporation]] to form [[Northrop Grumman]].<ref name="NATF to JSF"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://libn.com/2000/07/28/maybe-vp-cheney-can-explain-grumman/ |title=Maybe VP Cheney can explain Grumman |work=Long Island Business News |date=28 July 2000}}</ref>

==Design==
[[File:F-14B Demo 1998.ogv|thumb|F-14 Tomcat flight demonstration video. |alt=Flight demonstration video of an F-14]]

The F-14 Tomcat was designed as both an air superiority fighter and a long-range naval interceptor,<ref name="Spang_Background">Spangenberg, George. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120204214816/http://www.georgespangenberg.com/vf1.htm "Brief History and Background of the F-14, 1955–1970."]}} ''George Spangenberg Oral History''. Retrieved: 23 December 2009.</ref><ref name="Spang_MemoVF2">Spangenberg, George.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120204215330/http://www.georgespangenberg.com/vf2.htm "Exhibit VF-2."]}} ''George Spangenberg Oral History'', 8 February 1965. Retrieved: 23 December 2009.</ref><ref name="Spang_VF10">Spangenberg, George. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120206140205/http://www.georgespangenberg.com/vf10.htm "Statement of Mr. G.A. Spangenberg before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee, June 1973."]}} ''George Spangenberg Oral History''. Retrieved: 23 December 2009.</ref> which enabled it to both serve as escort fighter aircraft when armed with Sparrow missiles and [[fleet air defense]] [[Loiter (aeronautics)|loitering]] interceptor role when armed with Phoenix missiles.<ref name="mc_f14designevolution">{{cite web|last1=Ciminera|first1=Mike|title=F-14 Design Evolution|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsUCixAeZ0A#t=550.526632| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/SsUCixAeZ0A| archive-date=11 December 2021 | url-status=live|website=Youtube – Peninsula Srs Videos|date=30 November 2014 |publisher=Youtube|access-date=30 October 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The F-14 was designed with a two-seat cockpit with a [[bubble canopy]] which affords all-around visibility aiding aircrew in air-to-air combat. It features variable geometry wings that swing automatically during flight. For high-speed intercept, they are swept back and they swing forward for lower speed flight and increased endurance for loitering.<ref name="baugher2"/> It was designed to improve on the F-4 Phantom's air combat performance in most respects.<ref name="Spang_Background"/>

The F-14's fuselage and wings allow it to climb faster than the F-4, while the "twin-tail" [[empennage]] (dual vertical stabilizers with ventral fins on the engine nacelles) offers better stability. The F-14 is equipped with an internal 20&nbsp;mm M61 Vulcan [[rotary cannon]] mounted on the left side (unlike the Phantom, which was not equipped with an internal gun in the US Navy), and can carry AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow, and AIM-9 Sidewinder anti-aircraft missiles. The twin engines are housed in widely spaced [[Podded engine|nacelles]]. The flat area of the fuselage between the nacelles is used to contain fuel and avionics systems, such as the wing-sweep mechanism and flight controls, as well as weaponry since the wings are not used for carrying ordnance.<ref name="baugher2"/> By itself, the [[fuselage]] provides approximately 40 to 60 percent of the F-14's aerodynamic lifting surface depending on the wing sweep position.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grumman F-14 Tomcat – Fight's On! |url=https://chucksguides.com/aircraft/dcs/f-14b/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[lifting body]] characteristics of the fuselage allowed one F-14 to safely land after suffering a [[mid-air collision]] that sheared off more than half of the plane's right wing in 1991.<ref name="F-14 Tomcat could land on carrier with missing radome, damaged wing">Leone, Dario. [http://theaviationist.com/2013/11/06/f-14-damaged/ "F-14 Tomcat could land on carrier with missing radome, damaged wing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306170226/http://theaviationist.com/2013/11/06/f-14-damaged |date=6 March 2016}} ''theaviationist.com''. Retrieved: 10 March 2016</ref>

The landing gear is very robust, in order to withstand [[CATOBAR|catapult launches (takeoffs) and recoveries (landings)]] needed for carrier operations. It comprises a double nosewheel and widely spaced single main wheels. There are no hardpoints on the sweeping parts of the wings, and so all the [[armament]] is fitted on the belly between the air [[intake ramp]]s and on pylons under the wing gloves. Internal fuel capacity is {{convert|2400|gal|L|abbr=on}}: {{convert|290|gal|L|abbr=on}} in each wing, {{convert|690|gal|L|abbr=on}} in a series of tanks aft of the cockpit, and a further {{convert|457|gal|L|abbr=on}} in two feeder tanks. It can carry two {{convert|267|gal|L|abbr=on}} external [[drop tank]]s under the engine intake ramps.<ref name="baugher2"/> There is also an air-to-air refueling probe, which folds into the starboard nose.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

===Variable-geometry wings and aerodynamic design===
[[File:Grumman F-14 Tomcat SDASM.jpg|thumb|F-14 Tomcat with wings in asymmetric sweep during testing for this possible in-flight malfunction]]

The F-14's wing sweep can be varied between 20° and 68° in flight,<ref name="Dorr p.50.">Dorr 1991, p. 50.</ref> and can be automatically controlled by its [[F-14 CADC|Central Air Data Computer]] (CADC), which maintains wing sweep at the optimum [[lift-to-drag ratio]] as the [[Mach number]] varies; pilots can manually override the system if desired.<ref name="baugher2"/> When parked, the wings can be "overswept" to 75° to overlap the horizontal stabilizers to save deck space aboard carriers. In an emergency, the F-14 can land with the wings fully swept to 68°,<ref name="baugher2"/> although this presents a significant safety hazard due to greatly increased stall speed. Such an aircraft would typically be diverted from an aircraft carrier to a land base if an incident did occur. The F-14 has flown safely with an asymmetrical wing-sweep during testing, and was deemed able to land aboard a carrier if needed in an emergency.<ref>[http://www.f-14association.com/tales/the-story-of-f-14a-aircraft-no-3-buno-157982.html "F-14A, Aircraft No. 3, BuNo. 157982"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311072159/http://www.f-14association.com/tales/the-story-of-f-14a-aircraft-no-3-buno-157982.html |date=11 March 2016}}. F-14 Association. Retrieved: 10 March 2016.</ref>

The wing pivot points are significantly spaced far apart. This has two benefits. The first is that weaponry can be fitted on a pylon on the fixed wing glove, liberating the wings from having swiveling pylons fitted, a feature which had proven to add significant drag on the F-111B.<ref name="mc_f14designevolution"/> Since less of the total lifting area is variable, the center of lift moves less as the wings move, reducing trim drag at high speed.<ref name="mc_f14designevolution"/> When the wing is swept back, its [[thickness-to-chord ratio]] decreases, which allows the aircraft to satisfy the Mach 2.4 top speed required by the U.S. Navy.<ref name="mc_f14designevolution"/> The body of the aircraft contributes significantly to overall lift and so the Tomcat possesses a lower wing loading than its wing area would suggest. When carrying four Phoenix missiles or other heavy stores between the engines this advantage is lost and maneuverability is reduced in those configurations.<ref name="mc_f14designevolution"/>

[[File:Hp scan0021.jpg|thumb|Rear view of the F-14 showing the area between the engine nacelles.|alt=Rear view of stationary aircraft]]
[[Aileron]]s are not fitted, with [[Flight dynamics (aircraft)|roll control]] being provided by wing-mounted [[Spoiler (aeronautics)|spoilers]] at low speed (which are disabled if the sweep angle exceeds 57°), and by differential operation of the all-moving [[Elevon|tailerons]] at high speed.<ref name="baugher2"/> Full-span [[Leading edge slats|slats]] and [[Flap (aircraft)|flaps]] are used to increase lift both for landing and combat, with slats being set at 17° for landing and 7° for combat, while flaps are set at 35° for landing and 10° for combat.<ref name="baugher2"/> An air bag fills up the space occupied by the swept-back wing when the wing is in the forward position and a flexible fairing on top of the wing smooths out the shape transition between the fuselage and top wing area.<ref name="mc_f14designevolution"/> The twin tail layout helps in maneuvers at high angle of attack (AoA) while reducing the height of the aircraft to fit within the limited roof clearance of [[hangar]]s aboard [[aircraft carrier]]s.<ref name="baugher2"/>

The wings have a two-spar structure with integral fuel tanks. Around 25% of the structure is made of [[titanium]], including the wing box, wing pivots, and upper and lower wing skins;<ref name="baugher2">Baugher, Joe (13 February 2000). [http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f14_2.html "Grumman F-14A Tomcat"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124022031/http://joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f14_2.html |date=24 November 2010}} ''Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia of American Military Aircraft''. Retrieved 6 May 2010.</ref> this is a light, rigid, and strong material. [[Electron beam welding]] was used in the construction of the titanium parts. The F-14 was designed for maneuver loads of 7.5&nbsp;g, but this was usually limited to 6.5&nbsp;g in the fleet to extend the aircraft's service life.<ref name="mc_f14designevolution"/>

Two triangular shaped retractable surfaces, called glove vanes, were originally mounted in the forward part of the wing glove, and could be automatically extended by the flight control system at high Mach numbers. They were used to generate additional [[lift (force)|lift]] ahead of the aircraft's [[center of gravity]], thus helping to compensate for [[mach tuck]] at supersonic speeds. Automatically deployed at above Mach 1.4, they allowed the F-14 to pull 7.5 g at Mach 2 and could be manually extended with wings swept full aft. They were later disabled, however, owing to their additional weight and complexity.<ref name="baugher2"/> The [[Air brake (aircraft)|air brakes]] consist of top-and-bottom extendable surfaces at the rearmost portion of the fuselage, between the engine nacelles. The bottom surface is split into left and right halves; the [[tailhook]] hangs between the two-halves, an arrangement sometimes called the "castor tail".<ref name="Sgarlato_p40-46">Sgarlato 1988, pp. 40–46.</ref>

===Engines===
The F-14A was initially equipped with two [[Pratt & Whitney]] TF30-P-412A (or JTF10A) augmented [[turbofan]] engines, each rated at 20,900&nbsp;lb (93&nbsp;kN) of static uninstalled thrust, which enabled the aircraft to attain a maximum speed of Mach 2.34.<ref name="Spick_p81"/> The F-14 would normally fly at a cruising speed for reduced [[fuel consumption]], which was important for conducting lengthy patrol missions.<ref>Laurence K. Loftin Jr. [http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-468/ch10-3.htm "Part II: The Jet Age, Chapter 10: Technology of the Jet Airplane, Turbojet and Turbofan Systems."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914184628/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-468/ch10-3.htm |date=14 September 2010}} ''Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft'', 29 February 2009. Retrieved: 29 January 2009.</ref> The rectangular air inlets for the engines were equipped with movable ramps and bleed doors to meet the different airflow requirements of the engine from take-off to maximum supersonic speed. Variable nozzles were also fitted to the engine's exhaust. Late production F-14A had the improved TF30-P-414A engines. The Navy had originally planned to replace the TF30 with the Pratt & Whitney F401, the naval variant of the F-15's F100 engine, but this plan was ultimately canceled due to costs and reliability problems.<ref name="wapj19p1301">Lake 1994, pp. 130–131</ref>

[[File:F-14 Tomcat preparing to refuel.jpg|thumb|left|An F-14D prepares to refuel with probe extended.]]
The performance of the TF30 engine became an object of criticism. [[John Lehman]], [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] in the 1980s, told the U.S. Congress that the TF30/F-14 combination was "probably the worst engine/airframe mismatch we have had in years" and that the TF30 was "a terrible engine";<ref name="Dorr p.50."/><ref name="Sgarlato_p40-46"/> 28% of all F-14 accidents were attributed to the engine. The TF30 was originally designed for the flight envelope of bomber applications, so in air combat they proved extremely susceptible to [[compressor stall]]s especially at a high angle of attack and during rapid throttle transients or above {{convert|30000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, which could easily result in loss of control, severe yaw oscillations, and could lead to an unrecoverable [[Flat spin (aviation)|flat spin]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Holding |first=Alex |date=8 December 2024 |title=The U.S. Navy's Great Mistake: Retiring the F-14 Tomcat Fighter Too Early? |url=https://www.19fortyfive.com/2024/12/the-u-s-navys-great-mistake-retiring-the-f-14-tomcat-fighter-too-early/|work=www.19fortyfive.com |location= |access-date=17 December 2024}}</ref> A high frequency of turbine [[Turbine engine failure|blade failures]] led to the reinforcement of the entire engine bay to limit damage from such failures. At specific altitudes, exhaust produced by missile launches could cause an engine compressor [[stall (engine)|stall]].  This led to the development of a bleed system that temporarily blocks the frontal intake ramp and reduces engine power during missile launch.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

The upgraded F-14A+, later redesignated F-14B, and F-14D were equipped with the General Electric F110-GE-400. The F110 provided a significant increase in thrust, with a static uninstalled thrust of {{convert|26950|lbf|kN|0|abbr=on}}; installed thrust is {{convert|23400|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} with [[afterburner]] at sea level, which rose to {{convert|30200|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} at Mach 0.9.<ref name=SAC_F-14D>{{cite report |title=Standard Aircraft Characteristics (SAC) F-14D |url=https://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/F-14D_Tomcat_SAC_-_July_1985_(Partially_Declas).pdf |date=July 1985 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101005424/http://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/F-14D_Tomcat_SAC_-_July_1985_(Partially_Declas).pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NAVAIR">[https://info.publicintelligence.net/F14AAD-1.pdf NAVAIR 01-F-14AAD-1A F-14D NATOPS FLIGHT MANUAL] January 2004 PART 1 CH-2 Section 2.2 "Engine" pg "2–9".</ref> The increased thrust gave the Tomcat a better than 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratio at low fuel quantities, and the rate of climb was increased by 61%. The basic engine thrust without afterburner was powerful enough for carrier launches. While this did result in fuel savings, the main reason not to use afterburner during carrier launches was that if an engine failed the F110's thrust in full afterburner would produce a yawing moment too abruptly for the pilot to correct. Thus the launch of an F-14B or F-14D with afterburner was rare, while the F-14A required full afterburner unless very lightly loaded. The F110 was also more efficient, allowing the Tomcat to cruise comfortably above {{convert|30000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, which increased its range and survivability as well as endurance for time on station. In the overland attack role, this gave the F-14B and F-14D 60% more striking range or one-third more time on station.<ref>{{cite web|title=F-14D History and Specifications|url=http://www.topedge.com/alley/text/f14d/f14d.htm|website=TopEdge.com|publisher=Top Edge Engineering|access-date=6 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223113220/http://www.topedge.com/alley/text/f14d/f14d.htm|archive-date=23 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The F-14B arrived in time to participate in Desert Storm.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

With the TF30, the F-14's overall [[thrust-to-weight ratio]] at [[maximum takeoff weight]] is around 0.56, considerably less than the F-15A's ratio of 0.85; when fitted with the F110 engine, an improved thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.73 at maximum weight and 0.88 at normal takeoff weight was achieved.<ref name="Spick_p81">Spick 2000, p. 81.</ref> Despite having large differences in static thrust, the TF30-equipped F-14A and the F110-equipped F-14B and F-14D were rated at the same top speed.{{refn|The F-14's maximum speed is limited by the scheduling of the inlet ramps, and the inlet ramp programming for the F110 was optimized more for transonic performance; at higher speeds, the installed dynamic thrust of the TF30 actually exceeds the F110's.|group=N}}<ref>{{bulleted list|{{Cite book |url=http://server.3rd-wing.net/public/Ked/natops%20F14B.pdf |title=NATOPS Flight Manual Navy Model F-14B Aircraft |year=2001 |id=[[NAVAIR]] 01-F14AAP-1 |access-date=10 August 2023 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031419/http://server.3rd-wing.net/public/Ked/natops%20F14B.pdf |url-status=live}}|{{Cite book |url=https://info.publicintelligence.net/F14AAD-1.pdf |title=NATOPS Flight Manual Navy Model F-14D Aircraft |publisher= |year=2004 |id=[[NAVAIR]] 01−F14AAD−1}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=TOMCAT! The Grumman F-14 Story |last=Gillcrist |first=Paul |publisher=Schiffer Publishing |year=1994 |isbn=0-88740-664-5 |pages=193}}</ref>

In 1996, two F110-equipped Tomcats crashed after an afterburner failure. In the second crash, lighting the afterburner damaged the afterburner can's lining and led to an explosion. The Navy prohibited the use of afterburner on the F-14A+/B/D below 10,000 feet until GE could redesign the afterburners, a process that took over a year to complete.<ref>{{cite news|title=NAVY WIDENS BAN ON USE OF F-14'S AFTERBURNERS|author=Graham, Bradley|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/04/02/navy-widens-ban-on-use-of-f-14s-afterburners/f6311fc4-14b4-49c3-9aa5-b89f09d1993f/}}</ref>

===Avionics and flight controls===
[[File:F-14 Tomcat with landing gear down.jpg|thumb|left|F-14 with landing gear deployed]]

The [[cockpit]] has two seats, arranged in [[tandem]], outfitted with [[Martin-Baker Mk.7|Martin-Baker GRU-7A]] rocket-propelled [[ejection seat]]s, rated from zero altitude and zero airspeed up to 450 [[knot (unit)|knots]].<ref>Dorr 1991, p. 51.</ref> The [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]] is spacious, and fitted with four mirrors to effectively provide all-round visibility. Only the pilot has [[Aircraft flight control system|flight controls]]; the flight instruments themselves are of a hybrid analog-digital nature.<ref name="baugher2"/> The cockpit also features a [[head-up display]] (HUD) to show primarily navigational information; several other avionics systems such as communications and direction-finders are integrated into the AWG-9 radar's display. A feature of the F-14 is its [[F-14 CADC|Central Air Data Computer]] (CADC), designed by [[Garrett AiResearch]], that forms the onboard integrated flight control system. It uses a [[MOSFET]]-based [[large-scale integration]] [[chipset]],<ref>Holt, Ray M. [http://firstmicroprocessor.com/ "The F-14A 'Tom Cat' Microprocessor."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909132907/http://firstmicroprocessor.com/ |date=9 September 2009}} firstmicroprocessor.com, 23 February 2009. Retrieved: 8 December 2009.</ref> specifically the MP944 chip.<ref>{{cite web | title=The MP944 was the 'real' world's first microprocessor, but it was top secret for nearly 30 years — F-14 Tomcat's chip lived in the shadow of the Intel 4004, but was eight times faster | date=16 November 2025 | url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/the-mp944-was-the-real-worlds-first-microprocessor-and-key-to-the-flight-of-the-f-14-tomcat-but-it-lived-in-the-shadow-of-the-intel-4004-for-nearly-30-years }}</ref>

The aircraft's large nose contains a two-person crew and several bulky [[avionics]] systems. The main element is the Hughes AN/AWG-9 [[X band]] radar; the antenna is a {{convert|36|in|cm|abbr=on}}-wide [[planar array]], and has integrated [[Identification friend or foe]] antennas. The AWG-9 has several search and tracking modes, such as [[track while scan]] (TWS), range-while-search (RWS), [[pulse-Doppler]] single-target track (PDSTT), and jam angle track (JAT); a maximum of 24 targets can be tracked simultaneously, and six can be engaged in TWS mode up to around {{convert|60|mi|abbr=on}}. [[Cruise missile]]s are also possible targets with the AWG-9, which [[Look-down/shoot-down|can lock onto and track small objects even at low altitude]] when in pulse-Doppler mode.<ref name="baugher2"/> For the F-14D, the AWG-9 was replaced by the upgraded APG-71 radar. The [[Joint Tactical Information Distribution System]] (JTIDS)/Link 16 for data communications was added later on.<ref>[http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1235.html "Interoperability: A Continuing Challenge in Coalition Air Operations."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307061227/http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1235.html |date=7 March 2012}} RAND Monograph Report. pp. 108, 111. Retrieved: 16 November 2010.</ref>

[[File:Grumman F-14 Tomcat nose detail.jpg|thumb|F-14D AN/AAS-42 IRST and the TCS camera placed side-by-side under the nose]]
The F-14 also features [[Electronic countermeasure|electronic countermeasures (ECM)]] and [[radar warning receiver]] (RWR) systems, [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|chaff]]/[[Flare (countermeasure)|flare]] dispensers, fighter-to-fighter data link, and a precise [[inertial navigation system]].<ref name="baugher2"/> The early navigation system was inertial-based; point-of-origin coordinates were programmed into a navigation computer and [[gyroscope]]s would track the aircraft's every motion to calculate distance and direction from that starting point. [[Global Positioning System]] later was integrated to provide more precise navigation and redundancy in case either system failed. The chaff/flare dispensers are located on the underside of the fuselage and on the tail. The F-14 was initially equipped with the AN/ALR-45/50 RWR system, while later production aircraft were equipped with the [[AN/ALR-67]]; the RWR system consists of several antennas on the aircraft's fuselage, which can roughly calculate both direction and distance of enemy radar users; it can also differentiate between search radar, tracking radar, and missile-homing radar.<ref>[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/an-alr-67.htm "AN/ALR-67(V)3 Advanced Special Receiver."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603201848/http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/an-alr-67.htm |date=3 June 2010}} [[Federation of American Scientists]]. Retrieved: 29 December 2009.</ref>

Featured in the sensor suite was the AN/ALR-23, an [[infrared search and track]] (IRST) sensor using [[indium antimonide]] detectors, mounted under the nose; however the system was unreliable and was replaced by an optical system, Northrop's AAX-1, also designated TCS (TV Set). The AAX-1 helps pilots visually identify and track aircraft, {{citation needed span|up to a range of {{convert|60|mi|km}} for large aircraft|date=September 2022}}. The radar and the AAX-1 are linked, allowing the one detector to follow the direction of the other.<ref name="wapj19p1256">Lake 1994, pp. 125–126</ref> A dual infrared/optical detection system was adopted on the later F-14D, with the new AN/AAS-42 IRST and the TCS placed side-by-side.<ref name="wapj19p137">Lake 1994, p. 137</ref>

===Armament===
[[File:F-14 carrying AMRAAM.jpg|thumb|F-14 Tomcat carrying an [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] during a 1982 test]]

The F-14 was designed to combat highly maneuverable aircraft as well as the Soviet anti-ship cruise missile and [[bomber]] ([[Tupolev Tu-16]], [[Tupolev Tu-22]], [[Tupolev Tu-22M]]) threats.<ref name="Spang_VF10"/> The Tomcat was to be a platform for the AIM-54 Phoenix, but unlike the canceled F-111B, it could also engage medium- and short-range threats with other weapons.<ref name="Spang_Background"/><ref name="Spang_VF10"/> The F-14 is an [[air superiority fighter]], not just a long-range interceptor aircraft.<ref name="Spang_VF10"/> Over {{convert|6700|kg|abbr=on}} of stores can be carried for combat missions on several [[hardpoint]]s under the fuselage and under the wing gloves. Commonly, this means a maximum of four Phoenixes or Sparrows on the belly stations, two Phoenixes/Sparrows on the wing hardpoints, and two Sidewinders on the wing glove hardpoints.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}} The F-14 is also fitted with an internal 20&nbsp;mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. The Tomcat could also support MK-80 - MK-84 GBUs on its hardpoints. While in this configuration it was known to pilots as a "Bombcat".{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Operationally, the capability to hold up to six Phoenix missiles was never used, although early testing was conducted; there was never a threat requirement to engage six hostile targets simultaneously and the load was too heavy to safely recover aboard an aircraft carrier in the event that the missiles were not fired. During the height of Cold War operations in the late 1970s and 1980s, the typical weapon loadout on carrier-deployed F-14s was usually two AIM-54 Phoenixes, augmented by two AIM-9 Sidewinders, three AIM-7 Sparrows, a full loadout of [[20 mm caliber|20 mm]] ammunition and two drop tanks.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}} The Phoenix missile was used twice in combat by the U.S. Navy, both over Iraq in 1999,<ref>Rausa, Zeno. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090405151051/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3834/is_199907/ai_n8861814/pg_4/ Vinson/CVW-11 "Vinson/CVW-11 report."]}} ''Wings of Gold'', Summer 1999. Retrieved: 8 December 2009.</ref><ref>Holmes 2005, pp. 16, 17.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=852 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002103651/http://www.defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=852 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 October 2006 |title=Briefing |publisher=defenselink.mil |date=5 January 1999 |access-date=8 December 2009}}</ref> but the missiles did not score any kills.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} According to retired RIO Dave Baranek, the first two launch failures, on January 5, 1999, occurred when two F-14D Super Tomcats, carrying AIM-54Cs, fired two Phoenix missiles at a pair of MiG-23 jets. The missiles' rocket motors did not ignite because they were improperly armed prior to launch from the carrier.<ref>Cooper, Tom, In The Claws of the Tomcat, Helion & Company, 2021, p.63</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Launching the Phoenix and dogfighting against the F-15: Q & A with F-14 Tomcat RIO Dave "Bio" Baranek Part 2|url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/launching-the-phoenix-and-dogfighting-against-the-f-15-q-a-with-f-14-tomcat-rio-dave-bio-baranek-part-2/ |date=3 March 2021 |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref> However, as two F/A-18s chased the two MiG-23s, one MiG-23 ran out of fuel and crashed, killing the pilot.  The US Navy did not claim a kill, but Captain James T. Knight, commander of CVW-11, said "Screw him...a kill is a kill."<ref>Cooper, Tom, In The Claws of the Tomcat, Helion & Company, 2021, p.64</ref> On 14 September 1999, an F-14D assigned to CVW-2 aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}} fired an AIM-54C missile at a MiG-23 at very long range.  The MiG-23 quickly turned and fled, and was able to outrun the missile.  Lieutenant Commander Coby "Coach" Loessberg, the Super Tomcat's pilot, commented afterward that had the Tomcat been closer to the center of the envelope, at optimal speed and altitude, a kill would have been more likely.<ref>Cooper, Tom, In The Claws of the Tomcat, Helion & Company, 2021, pp. 64-5</ref>

[[File:Irani F-14 Tomcats carrying AIM-54 Phoenixs.jpg|thumb|Two Iranian Tomcats equipped with multiple missiles, {{Circa|1986}}, in the midst of a project to adapt [[I-Hawk]] surface-to-air missiles for F-14s<ref name=Ward />]]
Iran made use of the Phoenix system, claiming [[List of Iranian aerial victories during the Iran–Iraq war|dozens of kills]] with it during the 1980–1988 [[Iran–Iraq War]]. Due to the shortage of air-to-air missiles as a result of sanctions, Iran tried to use other missiles on the Tomcat.  It attempted to integrate the Russian [[R-27 (air-to-air missile)|R-27R]] "Alamo" BVR missile, but was apparently unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taghvaee|first=Babak|date=23 August 2018|title=New Claws for the Persian Cats|url=https://www.key.aero/article/new-claws-persian-cats|access-date=30 December 2020|website=Key.Aero|quote=Integration of AIM-9J and AIM-7E-2 with the Tomcat’s weapons system was a temporary solution for Iran and because of that, the deputy of Industrial Research and SSJ started working in the 1990s on plans for integrating the Russian Vympel R-27R medium-range semi-active radar homing AAM with the AWG-9 radar. The project was eventually abandoned because of insurmountable technical issues. There was a similar project to integrate the short-range Vympel R-73E with the F-14’s ire control system but this didn’t work because of the lack of an infrared search and track (IRST) system on Iran's Tomcats. The missile's performance when used in conjunction with an F-14 was much inferior to that achieved when it was launched from a MiG-29. Launching the R-73E without input from an IRST reduced the missile’s range to less than what Tomcat’s could achieve with their ageing AIM-9Js.|archive-date=31 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231034005/https://www.key.aero/article/new-claws-persian-cats|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1985, Iran started Project Sky Hawk, attempting to adapt [[I-Hawk]] surface-to-air missiles, which Iran had in its inventory, for F-14s. The modified missiles were successfully tested in 1986 and one or two were used in combat, but the project was abandoned due to guidance problems.<ref name=Ward>{{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Steven R. |title=Immortal, Updated Edition: A Military History of Iran and Its Armed Forces |date=2014 |publisher=Georgetown University Press |isbn=9781626160323 |page=272 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MOuVAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA272 |language=en |access-date=7 November 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313163850/https://books.google.com/books?id=MOuVAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA272 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Operational history==
{{Main|F-14 Tomcat operational history}}

===United States===
[[File:F-14-vf-84.jpg|thumb|An F-14A of [[VF-84 (1955-95)|VF-84 Jolly Rogers]], in a 1970s color scheme, circa 1978]]

The F-14 began replacing the F-4 Phantom II in U.S. Navy service starting in September 1974 with squadrons [[VF-1|VF-1 "Wolfpack"]] and [[VFA-2|VF-2 "Bounty Hunters"]] aboard {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} and participated in the [[Operation Frequent Wind|American withdrawal from Saigon]]. The F-14 had its first kills in U.S. Navy service on 19 August 1981 over the [[Gulf of Sidra]] in what is known as the [[Gulf of Sidra incident (1981)|Gulf of Sidra incident]]. In that engagement, two F-14s from [[VFA-41|VF-41 Black Aces]] were engaged by two Libyan [[Sukhoi Su-17|Su-22 "Fitters"]]. The F-14s evaded the Libyan missile and returned fire, downing both Libyan aircraft with AIM-9L Sidewinders.<ref name="wapj7p745">Dorr 1991, pp. 74–75</ref> U.S. Navy F-14s once again were pitted against Libyan aircraft on 4 January 1989, when two F-14s from [[VFA-32|VF-32]] shot down two Libyan [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23|MiG-23 "Floggers"]] over the Gulf of Sidra in a second [[Gulf of Sidra incident (1989)|Gulf of Sidra incident]].<ref name="wapj7p767">Dorr 1991, pp. 76–77</ref>

Its first sustained combat use was as a photo reconnaissance platform. The Tomcat was selected to inherit the reconnaissance mission upon the departure of the dedicated [[North American A-5 Vigilante|North American RA-5C Vigilante]] and [[Vought F-8 Crusader|Vought RF-8G Crusaders]] from the fleet. A large pod called the Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) was developed and fielded on the Tomcat in 1981. With the retirement of the last RF-8G Crusaders in 1982, TARPS F-14s became the U.S. Navy's primary tactical reconnaissance system.<ref>Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f14_7.html "TARPS Pod for F-14."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124021654/http://joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f14_7.html |date=24 November 2010}} ''F-14 Tomcat'', 13 February 2000. Retrieved: 6 May 2010.</ref> One of two Tomcat squadrons per airwing was designated as a TARPS unit and received 3 TARPS capable aircraft.<ref name="wapj9p57">Dorr 1991, p. 57</ref>

[[File:F-14 Tomcat VF-114 escorting TU-95 Bear.jpg|thumb|An F-14A from [[VF-114]] intercepting a Soviet [[Tupolev Tu-95|Tu-95RT]] "Bear-D" maritime reconnaissance aircraft.]]
While the Tomcat was being used by Iran in combat against Iraq in its intended air superiority mission in the early 1980s, the U.S. Navy found itself flying regular daily combat missions over Lebanon to photograph activity in the [[Bekaa Valley]]. At the time, the Tomcat had been thought too large and vulnerable to be used over land, but the need for imagery was so great that Tomcat aircrews developed high-speed medium altitude tactics to deal with considerable AAA and [[SA-7]] SAM threat in the Bekaa area. The first exposure of a Navy Tomcat to an [[S-75 Dvina|SA-2]] missile was over Somalia in April 1983 when a local battery was unaware of two Tomcats scheduled for a TARPS mission in a prelude to an upcoming international exercise in the vicinity of Berbera. An SA-2 was fired at the second Tomcat while conducting {{convert|10,000|ft|m|abbr=on|adj=on}} mapping profile at max conserve setting. The Tomcat aircrews spotted the missile launch and dove for the deck thereby evading it without damage. The unexpected demand for combat TARPS laid the way for high altitude sensors such as the KA-93 Long Range Optics (LOROP) to be rapidly procured for the Tomcat as well as an Expanded Chaff Adapter (ECA) to be incorporated in an AIM-54 Phoenix Rail. Commercial "fuzz buster" type radar detectors were also procured and mounted in pairs in the forward cockpit as a stop gap solution to detect SAM radars such as the SA-6. The ultimate solution was an upgrade to the ALR-67 then being developed, but it would not be ready until the advent of the F-14A+ later in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/04/29/Navy-using-fuzz-buster-radar-warning-devices/2670546667200/|title=Navy using 'fuzz-buster' radar warning devices|website=UPI|access-date=18 July 2020|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718034852/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/04/29/Navy-using-fuzz-buster-radar-warning-devices/2670546667200/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Gypsy escortDN-ST-91-05966.jpg|thumb|upright|An F-14A of [[VF-32]] during [[Operation Desert Storm]] with a [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] and two [[EA-6B Prowler]]s in the background. |alt=Portrait photography of four aircraft overflying orange desert and almost-flat terrain; horizon is blurred. Leading is black aircraft, followed by two single-engine jet aircraft, the one closer to camera being refueled by leading jet via a stiff hose connecting the two. Closest jet to camera is pale gray, has two engines and vertical fins, flying with wings unswept.]]
The participation of the F-14 in the 1991 Operation Desert Storm consisted of Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf and overland missions consisting of strike escort and reconnaissance. Until the waning days of Desert Storm, in-country air superiority was tasked to USAF F-15 Eagles due to the way the Air Tasking Orders (ATO) delegated primary overland CAP stations to the F-15. The governing Rules of Engagement (ROE) also dictated a strict Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) requirement when employing Beyond Visual Range weapons such as the AIM-7 Sparrow and particularly the AIM-54 Phoenix. This hampered the Tomcat from using its most powerful weapon. Furthermore, the powerful emissions from the AWG-9 radar are detectable at great range with a radar warning receiver. Iraqi fighters routinely retreated as soon as the Tomcats "lit them up" with the AWG-9.<ref name="gillcrest1">Gillcrest 1994, p. 168.</ref><ref name="snodgrassinterview">[http://www.simhq.com/_air/fixedwing_archive/Snodgrass.zip "Capt. Dale "Snort" Snodgrass, USN (Ret.) Interview by John Sponauer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222205828/http://simhq.com/_air/fixedwing_archive/Snodgrass.zip |date=22 December 2010}}. (30 August 2000). SimHQ. Retrieved: 26 November 2010.</ref> The U.S. Navy suffered its only F-14 loss from enemy action on 21 January 1991 when BuNo 161430, an F-14A upgraded to an F-14A+, from [[VFA-103|VF-103]] was shot down by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile while on an escort mission near [[Al Asad]] airbase in Iraq. Both crew members survived ejection with the pilot being rescued by USAF Special Operation Forces and the RIO being captured by Iraqi troops as a POW until the end of the war.<ref>Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries21.html "F-14."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031101646/http://joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries21.html |date=31 October 2010}} ''U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps BuNos'', 30 September 2006. Retrieved: 6 May 2010.</ref> An aircraft from [[Fighter Squadron 1 (United States Navy)|VF-1]] also achieved the F-14's final kill in US service, a [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]] "Hip" helicopter, with an AIM-9 Sidewinder.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theaviationist.com/2016/02/06/f-14-shot-down-iraqi-mi-8/ |title=How A U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat Shot Down An Iraqi Mi-8 Hip Helicopter During Operation Desert Storm |work=The Aviationist |last=Leone |first=Dario |date=6 February 2015 |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref>

[[File:F-14D with GBU-10 over Afghanistan 2001.JPEG|thumb|left|A [[U.S. Navy|Navy]] F-14D flying over the skies of Afghanistan on a [[precision bombing]] mission [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|in November 2001]] ]]
In 1995, F-14s from [[VFA-14|VF-14]] and VF-41 participated in [[Operation Deliberate Force]] as well as [[Operation Allied Force]] in 1999, and in 1998, VF-32 and VF-213 participated in Operation Desert Fox. On 15 February 2001, the [[Joint Direct Attack Munition|Joint Direct Attack Munition or JDAM]] was added to the Tomcat's arsenal. On 7 October 2001, F-14s would lead some of the first strikes into [[Afghanistan]] marking the start of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and the first F-14 drop of a JDAM occurred on 11 March 2002. F-14s from VF-2, [[VF-31]], [[VF-32]], [[VF-154]], and [[VF-213]] would also participate in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. The F-14Ds of VF-2, VF-31, and VF-213 obtained JDAM capability in March 2003.<ref name="F-14Ds_JDAM">[http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=6431 "U.S. Navy's F-14D Tomcats Gain JDAM Capability."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923022033/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=6431 |date=23 September 2007}} ''Navy Newsstand'' (United States Navy), 21 March 2003. Retrieved: 20 January 2007.</ref> On 10 December 2005, the F-14Ds of VF-31 and VF-213 were upgraded with a ROVER III downlink for transmitting images to a ground Forward Air Controller (FAC).<ref name="F-14_ROVER">[http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=21377 "ROVER System Revolutionizes F-14's Ground Support Capability."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124204451/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=21377 |date=24 November 2006}} ''Navy Newsstand'' (United States Navy), 14 December 2005. Retrieved: 20 January 2007.</ref> The Navy decided to retire the F-14 with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet filling the roles of fleet defense and strike formerly filled by the F-14.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215219,00.html "Navy's 'Top Gun' Tomcat Fighter Jet Makes Ceremonial Final Flight."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111122500/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215219,00.html |date=11 January 2012}} Associated Press, 22 September 2006. Retrieved: 17 July 2008.</ref><ref name=mkfflt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jGZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EPMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6913%2C624467 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |last=Krane |first=Jim |title=Tomcats making final flights |date=17 December 2005 |page=A2 |access-date=11 March 2021 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416154812/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jGZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EPMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6913%2C624467 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:F-14 final catapult July 2006.jpg|thumb|The last F-14 launch from a carrier, USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'', on 28 July 2006]]
The last American F-14 combat mission was completed on 8 February 2006, when a pair of Tomcats landed aboard {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|6}} after one dropped a bomb over [[Iraq]]. During their final deployment with ''Theodore Roosevelt'', VF-31 and VF-213 collectively completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours, and dropped {{convert|9500|lb|abbr=on}} of ordnance during reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.<ref>Murphy, Stephen. [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22325 "TR Traps Last Tomcat from Combat Mission."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061122195405/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22325 |date=22 November 2006}} ''Navy Newsstand'', 15 February 2006. Retrieved: 20 January 2007.</ref> USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'' launched an F-14D, of VF-31, for the last time on 28 July 2006; piloted by Lt. Blake Coleman and Lt. Cmdr Dave Lauderbaugh as RIO.<ref>[http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=37561 "Final launch of the F-14 Tomcat."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123023354/http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=37561 |date=23 November 2006}} navy.mil. Retrieved: 8 December 2009.</ref> The last two F-14 squadrons, the VF-31 Tomcatters and the VF-213 Black Lions conducted their last fly-in at [[Naval Air Station Oceana]] on 10 March 2006.<ref>[http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22637 "Squadron Homecoming Marks End of Era for Tomcats".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125062513/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22637 |date=25 November 2006}} U.S. Navy, 10 March 2006. Retrieved: 20 January 2007.</ref>

The official final flight retirement ceremony was on 22 September 2006 at Naval Air Station Oceana and was flown by Lt. Cmdr. Chris Richard and Lt. Mike Petronis as RIO in a backup F-14 after the primary aircraft experienced mechanical problems.<ref name="Pilot-Online">Tiernan, Bill. [http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=111479&ran=132499 "F-14's Final Flight."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235949/http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=111479&ran=132499 |date=26 September 2007}} ''[[Virginian-Pilot]]'', 23 September 2006.</ref><ref name="Vanden Brook">Vanden Brook, Tom. [https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-22-F14-tomcat_x.htm "Navy retires F-14, the Coolest of Cold Warriors".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712104038/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-22-F14-tomcat_x.htm |date=12 July 2012}} ''[[USA Today]]'', 22 September 2006. Retrieved: 20 January 2007.</ref> The actual last flight of an F-14 in U.S. service took place 4 October 2006, when an F-14D of VF-31 was ferried from NAS Oceana to [[Republic Airport]] on Long Island, New York.<ref name="Vanden Brook"/> The remaining intact F-14 aircraft in the U.S. were flown to and stored at the [[309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group]] "Boneyard", at [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]], Arizona; in 2007 the U.S. Navy announced plans to shred the remaining F-14s to prevent any components from being acquired by Iran.<ref name=shred>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080110135352/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680195918,00.html "Pentagon shreds F-14s to keep parts from enemies."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110135352/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680195918,00.html |date=10 January 2008}} AP, 2 July 2007. Retrieved: 8 December 2009.</ref> In August 2009, the 309th AMARG stated that the last aircraft were taken to HVF West, [[Tucson, Arizona]] for shredding. At that time only 11 F-14s remained in desert storage.<ref name="amarg">{{cite journal |url=http://www.dm.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091109-033.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807045643/http://www.dm.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091109-033.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 August 2010 |title=Last of the Navy's F-14 Tomcats head for shredder; 11 remain in desert storage |journal=Usaf 309 Amarg |volume=3 |issue=6 |date=7 August 2009 |page=2 |access-date=22 July 2014}}</ref>

===Iran===
{{See also|Air force history of Iran|Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force}}
Although attempts had been made to sell the Tomcat to the air forces of [[Royal Canadian Air Force|Canada]], [[German Air Force|Germany]], and [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force|Japan]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-history-f14a-export.htm|title=Export Tomcats|publisher=HOME OF M.A.T.S. - the most comprehensive Grumman F-14 Reference Work - by Torsten Anft!|access-date=September 19, 2023}}</ref> the [[Air force history of Iran|Imperial Iranian Air Force]] (IIAF) would ultimately be the sole foreign customer for the Tomcat. During the reign of the last [[Shah of Iran]], [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]], in the early 1970s, the IIAF was searching for an advanced fighter, specifically one capable of intercepting Soviet [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25|MiG-25]] reconnaissance flights. After a visit of U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]] to [[Pahlavi Iran]] in 1972, during which Iran was offered the latest in American military technology, the IIAF selected and initiated acquisition of the F-14 Tomcat, but offered [[McDonnell Douglas]] the chance to demonstrate its [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15 Eagle]].<ref name="Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat">Cooper, Tom and Bishop, Farzad, "Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat"</ref> The US Navy and Grumman Corporation arranged competitive demonstrations of the Eagle and the Tomcat at [[Andrews AFB]] for the Shah and high-ranking officers, and in January 1974 Iran placed an order for 30 F-14s and 424 [[AIM-54 Phoenix]] missiles, initiating Project ''Persian King'', worth US$300&nbsp;million. A few months later, this order was increased to a total of 80 Tomcats and 714 Phoenix missiles as well as spare parts and replacement engines for 10 years, complete armament package, and support infrastructure (including construction of the [[Isfahan International Airport|Khatami Air Base]] near [[Isfahan]]).<ref name="f14iran"/>{{rp|25}}

The first F-14 arrived in January 1976, modified only by the removal of classified avionics components, but fitted with the TF30-414 engines. The following year 12 more were delivered. Meanwhile, training of the first groups of Iranian crews by the U.S. Navy was underway in the US; one of these conducted a successful shoot-down with a Phoenix missile of a [[target drone]] flying at {{convert|50000|ft|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="f14iran">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_MTvCwAAQBAJ|title=Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat|first1=Tom|last1=Cooper|first2=Farzad|last2=Bishop|isbn=978-1782007098|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|date=2012}}</ref>{{rp|11}}

Following the [[Iranian Revolution|overthrow of the Shah]] in 1979, the air force was renamed the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]] (IRIAF) and the post-revolution [[Interim Government of Iran (1979)|Interim Government of Iran]] canceled most Western arms orders. In 1980, an Iranian F-14 shot down an Iraqi [[Mil Mi-24|Mil Mi-25]] helicopter for its first air-to-air kill during the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988).<ref name="Persian Cats">Cooper, Tom. [http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/persiancats.html Persian Cats: How Iranian air crews, cut off from U.S. technical support, used the F-14 against Iraqi attackers."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430123108/http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/persiancats.html |date=30 April 2012}} ''Air & Space Magazine'', November 2006. Retrieved: 24 March 2012.</ref> According to research by [[Tom Cooper (military historian)|Tom Cooper]], Iranian F-14s scored at least 50 [[List of Iranian aerial victories during the Iran–Iraq war|air-to-air victories]] in the first six months of the war against Iraqi [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21s]], [[MiG-23]]<nowiki/>s and some [[Su-20]]<nowiki/>s/[[Su-22|22]]<nowiki/>s. During the same period, only one Iranian F-14 suffered damage after being hit by debris from a nearby MiG-21 that exploded.<ref name="Persian Cats – acig.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_212.shtml |title=Persian 'Cats |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |last2=Bishop |first2=Farzad |date=16 September 2003 |website=Arabian Peninsula & Persian Gulf Database |publisher=Air Combat Information Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204042640/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_212.shtml |archive-date=4 February 2012 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Iranian Tomcats were originally used as an early-warning platform assisting other less-sophisticated aircraft with targeting and defense. They were also crucial to the defense of areas deemed vital by the Iranian government, such as oil terminals on [[Kharg Island]] and industrial infrastructure in the capital [[Tehran]]. Many of these patrols had the support of [[Boeing 707#707-320C|Boeing 707-3J9C]] in-flight refueling tankers. As fighting escalated between 1982 and 1986, the F-14s gradually became more involved in the battle. They performed well, but their primary role was to intimidate the [[Iraqi Air Force]] and avoid heavy engagement to protect the fleet's numbers. Their presence was often enough to drive away opposing Iraqi fighters. The precision and effectiveness of the Tomcat's AWG-9 weapons system and AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-to-air missiles enabled the F-14 to maintain air superiority.<ref name="Persian Cats – acig.org" /><ref name="Iran – National Interest">{{cite web|url=http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/revealed-irans-air-force-flies-american-made-f-14-tomcats-16758|title=Fact: Iran's Air Force Flies American-Made F-14 Tomcats|last=Axe|first=David|date=28 June 2016|work=The National Interest|access-date=29 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629084926/http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/revealed-irans-air-force-flies-american-made-f-14-tomcats-16758|archive-date=29 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 1980, an Iraqi [[MiG-21bis]] accounted for the only confirmed kill of an F-14 by that type of aircraft.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=47|title=Iraqi Air-to-Air Victories since 1967 - www.acig.org|date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219172206/http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=47|archive-date=19 December 2016}}</ref> On 11 August 1984, a [[MiG-23ML]] shot down an F-14A using an [[R-60 (missile)|R-60 missile]].<ref name="auto"/> On 2 September 1986, a MiG-23ML using an [[R-23 (missile)|R-24T missile]] mistakenly shot down an F-14 that was defecting to Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leone|first=Dario|date=6 July 2019|title=That time an IrAF MiG-23ML mistakenly shot down an IRIAF F-14A that was defecting to Iraq|url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/that-time-an-iraf-mig-23ml-mistakenly-shot-down-an-iriaf-f-14a-that-was-defecting-to-iraq/|access-date=19 November 2020|website=The Aviation Geek Club|language=en-GB|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127110354/https://theaviationgeekclub.com/that-time-an-iraf-mig-23ml-mistakenly-shot-down-an-iriaf-f-14a-that-was-defecting-to-iraq/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 January 1987, another Iranian F-14A was shot down; according to some sources it was shot down by a MiG-23ML.<ref name="auto"/> According to the latest data, the F-14A, which was shot down on 17 January, was destroyed by an [[R-40 (missile)|R-40 missile]] fired by an Iraqi MiG-25PDS (pilot Captain Adnan Sae’ed), and the MiG-23 pilot did not claim any victory.<ref>Cooper, Tom. ''MiG-23 Flogger in the Middle East''. Helion and Company, 2018. pp. 39, 40</ref>

[[File:Iranian F-14 Pilots.jpg|thumb|Iranian F-14 pilots standing in front of an Imperial Iranian Air Force F-14]]
Iraq also obtained [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirage F.1EQ]] fighters from France in 1981, armed with [[Super 530|Super 530F]] and [[R.550 Magic|Magic Mk.2]] air-to-air missiles. The Mirage F.1 fighters were eventually responsible for four confirmed F-14 kills.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-the-giraffe-missions-and-how-iraf-mirage-f-1-fighter-bombers-were-able-to-shoot-down-four-iriaf-f-14-tomcats/ |title=The Story of the Giraffe Missions and how IrAF Mirage F.1 fighter bombers were able to shoot down four IRIAF F-14 Tomcats |website=theaviationgeekclub.com |last=Leone |first=Dario |date=12 July 2019 |access-date=1 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=31 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731122746/https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-the-giraffe-missions-and-how-iraf-mirage-f-1-fighter-bombers-were-able-to-shoot-down-four-iriaf-f-14-tomcats/}}</ref> The IRIAF attempted to keep 60 F-14s operational throughout the war, but reports indicate this number was reduced to 30 by 1986 with only half fully mission-capable.<ref name="Persian Cats – acig.org" /><ref>Cooper, Tom and Farzad Bishop. ''Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat'', p. 70. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2004. {{ISBN|1 84176 787 5}}.</ref>

Based on research by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop, Iran claimed their F-14s shot down at least 160 Iraqi aircraft during the Iran–Iraq War, including 58 [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23|MiG-23]]s (15 of these are confirmed according to Cooper), 33 [[Mirage F1]]s, 23 [[MiG-21]]s, 23 [[Sukhoi Su-17|Su-20s/22]]s, nine [[MiG-25]]s (one of these are confirmed according to Iraqi sources), five [[Tu-22]]s, two [[Mikoyan MiG-27|MiG-27]]s, one [[Mil Mi-24]], one [[Dassault Mirage 5]], one [[Xian H-6|B-6D]], one [[Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon|Aérospatiale Super Frelon]], and two unidentified aircraft. Despite the circumstances the F-14s and their crews faced during the war against Iraq – lacking support from [[Airborne early warning and control|AWACS]], [[List of airborne early warning aircraft|AEW aircraft]], and [[Ground-controlled interception|Ground Control Intercept]] (GCI) – the F-14 proved to be successful in combat. It achieved this in the midst of a confrontation with an enemy that was constantly upgrading its capabilities and receiving support from three major countries – France, the US, and the USSR. Part of the success is attributed to the resilient [[Iranian economy]] and IRIAF personnel.<ref name="Persian Cats"/><ref name="Persian Cats – acig.org" />

While Iraq's army claimed it shot down more than 70 F-14s, the [[Foreign Broadcast Information System]] in Washington DC estimated that Iran lost 12 to 16 F-14s during the war. Cooper writes three F-14s were shot down by Iraqi pilots and four by Iranian [[surface-to-air missile]]s (SAM). Two more Tomcats were lost in unknown circumstances during the battle, and seven crashed due to technical failure or accidents.<ref>Cooper and Bishop, p. 84.</ref> During the war, the Iranian Air Force F-14s suffered ten confirmed losses, one lost due to engine stall, one in unknown conditions, two by [[Friendly fire|Iranian]] [[MIM-23 Hawk|HAWK SAMs]], two by MIG-23s and four were shot down by Mirage F-1s. There are also unconfirmed reports of the downing of 10 more Tomcats.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/country-by-country/Iran_F-14_.htm |title=Chronological Listing of Iranian Air Force Grumman F-14 Tomcat |website=ejection-history.org.uk |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704124203/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/country-by-country/Iran_F-14_.htm |archive-date=4 July 2009 |url-status=dead}} {{unreliable source?|date=September 2021}}</ref>

On 31 August 1986, an Iranian F-14A armed with at least one AIM-54A missile defected to [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]]. Then again on 2 September 1986 another Iranian F-14A defected to Iraq.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-01-mn-12880-story.html |title=The World: 2 Iran Pilots Defect to Iraq |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 September 1986 |access-date=1 September 2021 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510143547/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-01-mn-12880-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/country-by-country/iranian_f_4_phantom_losses.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710211447/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/country-by-country/iranian_f_4_phantom_losses.htm |title=Chronological Listing of Iranian Air Force McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II |website=ejection-history.org.uk |archive-date=10 July 2015}} {{unreliable source?|date=September 2021}}</ref> In addition, one or more of Iran's F-14A was delivered to the Soviet Union in exchange for technical assistance; at least one of its crew defected to the Soviet Union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Уголок неба ¦ Перехватчики Grumman F-14A "Tomcat" в Иране |url=https://airwar.ru/history/locwar/bv/f14iran/f14iran.html |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=airwar.ru}}</ref>

On 24 July 2002, an Iranian F-14A confronted two [[Azerbaijan]]i MiG-25s that were threatening an Iranian [[Lockheed P-3 Orion|P-3F]], securing a radar lock on one of the MiGs, which then turned away, during tensions over attempts by Azerbaijan to survey for oil in Iranian waters in the [[Caspian Sea]].<ref>Taghvaee ''Air International'' March 2021, pp. 39–41.</ref>

Iran had an estimated 44 F-14s in 2009 according to Combat Aircraft.<ref name="Combat Aircraft">Cooper, Tom and Liam Devlin. "Iranian Air Power Combat Aircraft". ''Combat Aircraft'', Vol. 9 No. 6, January 2009.</ref> ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology|Aviation Week]]'' estimated it had 19 operational F-14s in January 2013,<ref name=2013_Aero_Source>"World Military Aircraft Inventory". ''2013 Aerospace Source Book''. Aviation Week and Space Technology, 2013.</ref> and [[FlightGlobal]] estimated that 28 were in service in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/kings-of-the-swingers-top-13-swing-wing-aircraft-404176/ |title=Kings of the swingers: Top 13 swing-wing aircraft |work=[[FlightGlobal]] |publisher=Reed Business Information |date=26 September 2014 |access-date=27 September 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927223525/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/kings-of-the-swingers-top-13-swing-wing-aircraft-404176/ |archive-date=27 September 2014}}</ref>

[[File: A formation of Iranian Tomcats in flight.jpg|thumb|Formation flight of Iranian Tomcats, 2008]]
Following the US Navy's retirement of its Tomcats in 2006, Iran sought to purchase spare parts for its aircraft.<ref name="ai918p58">Taghvaee ''Air International'' September 2018, p. 58.</ref> In January 2007, the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] announced that sales of spare F-14 parts would be suspended over concerns of the parts ending up in Iran.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6315957.stm "US halts sale of F-14 jet parts."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202041805/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6315957.stm |date=2 February 2007}} BBC News. Retrieved: 8 December 2009.</ref> In July 2007, the remaining American F-14s were shredded to ensure that any parts could not be acquired.<ref name="shred"/> Despite these measures, Iran managed to significantly increase its stocks of spare parts, increasing the number of airworthy Tomcats, although it did not manage to obtain spare parts for the aircraft's weapon systems, the number of combat ready Tomcats was still low (seven in 2008).<ref name="ai918p58-9">Taghvaee ''Air International'' September 2018, pp. 58–59.</ref> In 2010, Iran requested that the U.S. deliver the 80th F-14 that it had purchased in 1974 but never received due to the Islamic Revolution.<ref>[http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=224172 "Iranian Air Force seeks return of F-14 bombers from U.S."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902013625/http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=224172 |date=2 September 2010}} ''[[Tehran Times]]''</ref><ref>Parsons, Gary. [http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/view_news.asp?ID=2378 "Iran wants its F-14 back."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308150857/http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/view_news.asp?ID=2378 |date=8 March 2012}} ''AirForces Monthly'', 5 August 2010.</ref> In October 2010, an Iranian Air Force commander claimed that the country overhauls and optimizes different types of military aircraft, mentioning their Air Force has installed Iran-made radar systems on the F-14.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130530172630/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-255136166.html "Iranian Air Force Equips F-14 Fighter Jets with Hi-Tech Radars."]}} FARS News Agency, Iran, 5 January 2011. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.</ref> In 2012, the Iranian Air Force's Mehrabad Overhaul Center delivered an F-14 with upgraded weapon systems with locally sourced components, designated F-14AM.<ref name="ai918p59-0">Taghvaee ''Air International'' September 2018, pp. 59–60.</ref> Shortages of Phoenix missiles led to attempts to integrate the Russian [[R-27 (air-to-air missile)|R-27 semi-active radar-guided missile]], but these proved unsuccessful. An alternative was the use of modified [[MIM-23 Hawk]] missiles to replace the Tomcat's Phoenixes and Sparrows, but as the Tomcat could only carry two Hawks, this project was also abandoned, and the [[Fakour-90]] missile, which used the guidance system of the Hawk packaged into the airframe of the Phoenix, launched. Pre-production Fakour-90s were delivered in 2017, and a production order for 100 missiles (now designated AIM-23B) was placed in 2018, intending to replace the F-14s AIM-7E Sparrow missiles.<ref name="ai918p61-3">Taghvaee ''Air International'' September 2018, pp. 61–63.</ref>

On 26 January 2012, an Iranian F-14 crashed three minutes after takeoff. Both crew members were killed.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120128065039/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/iranian-f-14-fighter-jet-crashes-in-countrys-south-both-pilot-and-co-pilot-killed/2012/01/26/gIQAhzESSQ_story.html "Iranian F-14 fighter jet crashes in country's south, both pilot and co-pilot killed."]}} ''Washington Post'', 26 January 2012. Retrieved: 24 March 2012.</ref>

In November 2015, Iranian F-14s were reported flying escort for Russian [[Tupolev Tu-95|Tu-95]], [[Tupolev Tu-160|Tu-160]] and [[Tupolev Tu-22M|Tu-22M]] bombers on [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War|air strikes]] in Syria against the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cenciotti |first1=David |title=Watch this video of Iranian F-14 Tomcats escorting a Russian Tu-95 bomber during air strike in Syria |url=https://theaviationist.com/2015/11/20/iriaf-f-14s-escort-ruaf-tu-95/ |website=[[The Aviationist]] |access-date=8 August 2018 |date=20 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808043510/https://theaviationist.com/2015/11/20/iriaf-f-14s-escort-ruaf-tu-95/ |archive-date=8 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/new-video-of-f-14-tomcat-escorts-and-cruise-missiles-as-1743807778 "New Video Of F-14 Tomcat Escorts And Cruise Missiles As Russia Steps Up Syria Offensive"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121151942/http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/new-video-of-f-14-tomcat-escorts-and-cruise-missiles-as-1743807778 |date=21 November 2015}}. foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com, 20 November 2015. Retrieved: 21 November 2015.</ref>

On 14 May 2019, an Iranian F-14 crashed during landing at Isfahan-Shahid Beheshti Airport. Both crew members ejected and survived.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/225077|title=Incident Grumman F-14A Tomcat 3-6003, 14 May 2019|access-date=22 March 2022|archive-date=22 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322180239/https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/225077|url-status=live}}</ref>{{update after|2025|6|14}}<!-- are any left after the war with Israel started in June 2025? -->

On 16 June 2025, the [[Israel Defense Forces]] released video footage showing a pair of F-14s were destroyed in [[Twelve-Day War|air strikes against Iran]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iranian F-14 'Persian Tomcats' Obliterated In Israeli Airstrike |url=https://www.twz.com/air/irans-f-14-persian-tomcats-obliterated-in-israeli-airstrike |website=The War Zone |date=16 June 2025 }}</ref> On 21 June 2025, the IDF released video footage showing another three F-14s being destroyed by airstrikes.<ref name="TOI 3 F-14 Destroyed">{{cite news |last1=Fabian |first1=Emanuel |date=21 June 2025 |title=IDF spokesman says three Iranian F-14 fighter jets destroyed in latest strikes |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-spokesman-says-three-iranian-f-14-fighter-jets-destroyed-in-latest-strikes/ |access-date=21 June 2025 |agency=The Times of Israel}}</ref>

According to [[Tom Cooper (military historian)|Tom Cooper]], prior to the [[2026 Iran war]] the IRIAF had a total of 10 operational Tomcats.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news |last1=Neuman |first1=Scott |title=Airstrikes may have destroyed Iran's last F-14s, ending a long, strange saga |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/24/nx-s1-5752380/f14-tomcats-iran-us-israel-airstrikes-top-gun |access-date=24 March 2026 |work=[[NPR]] |date=24 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref> On 9 March 2026 satellite imagery showed at least 8 destroyed F-14s in [[Isfahan]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fabian |first1=Emanuel |title=Satellite images show destroyed Iranian fighter jets after Israeli airstrikes |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/satellite-images-show-destroyed-iranian-fighter-jets-after-israeli-airstrikes/ |access-date=11 March 2026 |work=The Times of Israel |date=11 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ranter |first1=Harro |title=Incident Grumman F-14 Tomcat (x8) , Saturday 7 March 2026 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/567724 |website=aviation-safety.net |access-date=11 March 2026}}</ref> as a result of [[Operation Roaring Lion|Israeli airstrikes]]; according to Cooper, some of these aircraft were actually wooden decoys.<ref name="NPR" />

===Notable F-14 crew members===

====Iran====
[[File:Jalil Z.jpg|thumb|Iranian ace [[Jalil Zandi]] is credited with shooting down eleven Iraqi aircraft during the [[Iran–Iraq War]], making him the highest-scoring F-14 pilot in history.<ref name="Combat 2004, pp. 85">Cooper, Tom and Farzad Bishop. ''Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat'', pp. 85–88. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2004. {{ISBN|1 84176 787 5}}.</ref>]]
* [[Assadollah Adeli]] – IRIAF ace pilot credited with five aerial victories.<ref name="razoux2">Razoux 2019, Section 31, p. 15</ref>
* [[Fereidoun Ali-Mazandarani]] – IRIAF ace pilot with an estimated nine<ref name="razoux1">Razoux 2015, Table 1.3: Victories by Iranian pilots (3 or more victories), p. 571</ref> to eleven<ref name="razoux2"/> victories.
* [[Fazlollah Javidnia]] – IRIAF ace pilot with eleven confirmed and two probable victories.<ref name="razoux2"/>
* [[Jalil Zandi]] – IRIAF ace pilot and highest-scoring F-14 pilot. Credited with eleven confirmed kills during the [[Iran–Iraq War]].<ref name="Combat 2004, pp. 85"/>

====United States====
[[File:SnodgrassBananaPass.jpg|thumb|right|Dale "Snort" Snodgrass performing the "banana pass" stunt over the {{USS|America|CV-66|6}} in 1988]]

* [[Scott Altman]] – former [[NASA]] [[astronaut]] and commander of Space Shuttle missions [[STS-109]] (2002) and [[STS-125]] (2009). Altman deployed twice on the {{USS|Carl Vinson}} as an F-14 pilot of VF-51 from 1984 to 1987 and worked as a test pilot for F-14 test programs, including the first deployment of the F-14D variant in 1992, before being selected for the NASA astronaut program. He also participated in the filming of ''Top Gun'' as a stunt pilot, most notably the tower flyby stunt.<ref name="TomcastTopGun">{{cite podcast|url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QMAKQkOgUgi92K2ZyXPca?si=e761b4b967364036| title="Top Gun" -- the Movie| website=F-14 Tomcast| publisher=BVR Productions|host1=Craig "Crunch" Snyder|host2=Dave "Bio" Baranek|date=May 2022|access-date=January 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=WATCH: Live from the Flight Deck: The F-14 Tomcat with Scott "Scooter" Altman |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_bD46Vmyac|website=Youtube |publisher=[[Intrepid Museum]] |language=en |format=video |date=May 13, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Walter E. Carter Jr.]] – retired Navy vice admiral, 62nd superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, and former president of the [[Ohio State University]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.osu.edu/walter-ted-carter-jr-appointed-by-board-of-trustees-as-17th-president-of-the-ohio-state-university/ | title=Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. Appointed by Board of Trustees as 17th president of the Ohio State University }}</ref> Carter accumulated 6,150 flight hours and 2,016 carrier-arrested landings as a RIO on the F-4, F-14, and F/A-18. He transitioned to the F-14 in 1986 through [[VF-124]] in NAS Miramar while simultaneously taking instructor duty and subsequently deployed with [[VF-21]] on the {{USS|Independence|CV-62|6}} during the Gulf War. He later assumed command of VF-14 in 1998 and led the squadron in the completion of 550 combat missions during [[Operation Allied Force]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topedge.com/panels/aircraft/sites/vf14/slapshot.html|title=CDR Ted Carter|publisher=VF-14 Top Hatters Home Page|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Donnie Cochran]] – first African-American member of the [[Blue Angels]] flight demonstration squadron. Cochran made two deployments on the {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} as an F-14 pilot with [[VFA-213|VF-213]]. He later assumed command of [[Fighter Squadron 1 (United States Navy)|VF-1]] from 1991 until its disestablishment in 1993 and [[VF-111 (1956-1995)|VF-111]] from 1993 to 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/donniecochran|title=Donnie Cochran - CEO - Enhance Performance Consulting, Inc.|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/Operations/Article-View/Article/2687029/captain-donnie-cochran-from-farm-boy-to-blue-angels-flight-leader/|title=Captain Donnie Cochran: From Farm Boy to Blue Angels Flight Leader|author=Abdow, E.|work=The Sextant|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|date=July 21, 2021|access-date=January 9, 2024|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109142000/https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/Operations/Article-View/Article/2687029/captain-donnie-cochran-from-farm-boy-to-blue-angels-flight-leader/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Joe F. Edwards Jr.]] – former NASA astronaut. Edwards was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] for landing a heavily damaged F-14 on the {{USS|Dwight D. Eisenhower}} in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|title=How F-14 Tomcat pilot with missing radome made an emergency landing|date=June 12, 2018|url=https://fighterjetsworld.com/air/how-f-14-tomcat-pilot-with-missing-radome-made-an-emergency-landing/4466/|publisher=Fighter Jets World|access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Robert L. Gibson|Robert L. "Hoot" Gibson]] – former NASA Astronaut and commander of Space Shuttle missions [[STS-61-C]] (1986), [[STS-27]] (1988), [[STS-47]] (1992) and [[STS-71]] (1995). Gibson was assigned to [[Fighter Squadron 1 (United States Navy)|VF-1]] during the introduction of the F-14 to fleet service between 1972 and 1975. He later became an F-14A instructor assigned to [[VF-124]] in 1977.<ref>{{Cite book |author=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/gibson_robert.pdf?emrc=a489ba |title="Biographical Data: ROBERT L. GIBSON (CAPTAIN, USN RET.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)" |date=September 1997 |publisher=[[NASA]]}}</ref>
* [[Kara Hultgreen]] – one of the first female carrier-based Naval aviators. Hultgreen deployed with VF-213 on the {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}} and became the first female fighter pilot in the U.S. military to die in a crash when her F-14 crashed into the sea on approach to the ''Lincoln'' in 1994.<ref name="Lohrenz"/>
* [[James W. Huston (author)|James W. Huston]] – ''[[New York Times]]'' best-selling author. Huston flew as a RIO in many of the F-14 flight sequences in the 1980 movie ''[[The Final Countdown (film)|The Final Countdown]]'' while touring with [[VF-84 (1955-1995)|VF-84]] on the {{USS|Nimitz}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jameswhuston.com/about/ |title=James W. Huston's biography |date= |accessdate=2010-09-22 |archive-date=2016-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221054514/http://www.jameswhuston.com/about/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Scott Kelly (astronaut)|Scott Kelly]] – former astronaut who commanded Expeditions [[Expedition 26|26]], [[Expedition 45|45]], and [[Expedition 46|46]] of the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) and Space Shuttle mission [[STS-118]] (2007). Kelly trained on the F-14 with [[VF-101]] and deployed with [[VFA-143|VF-143]] on the USS ''Dwight D. Eisenhower'' upon completion of his training in September 1990.<ref>{{cite book| last1 = Kelly| first1 = Scott| last2 = Dean| first2 = Margaret| title =Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery| publisher = Alfred A. Knopf| pages=157–164|date = 2017| location = New York City| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cpv9CwAAQBAJ|isbn = 978-1-5247-3159-5}}</ref> He also proposed a digital flight control system designed to prevent accidents similar to that of Kara Hultgreen's.<ref>{{cite book| last1 = Kelly| first1 = Scott| last2 = Dean| first2 = Margaret| title =Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery| publisher = Alfred A. Knopf| pages=166–170|date = 2017| location = New York City| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cpv9CwAAQBAJ|isbn = 978-1-5247-3159-5}}</ref>
* [[Carey Lohrenz]] – one of the first fully qualified female naval aviators to fly the F-14. Lohrenz deployed with VF-213 on the USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' in the mid-1990s before resigning from the Navy in 1999 and beginning a career as a leadership expert and professional speaker.<ref name="Lohrenz">{{cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/first-female-tomcat-pilot-turns-trials-into-successes/|title=First female Tomcat pilot turns trials into successes|author=Carroll, W.|publisher=We Are The Mighty|date=April 2, 2018|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Dale Snodgrass|Dale "Snort" Snodgrass]] – "highest time Tomcat pilot" with more than 4,800 hours and 1,200 carrier landings with the type.<ref name="snortsnodgrass">{{cite news |last1=Gary |first1=Debbie |title=The Real Top Gun – Nobody handled a Tomcat like Snort |url=https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/the-real-top-gun-32185/?page=2 |access-date=August 11, 2021 |publisher=[[Air & Space Magazine]] |date=July 2010}}</ref>
* [[Robert F. Willard|Robert "Rat" Willard]] – former commander of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|U.S. Pacific Fleet]]. As a Navy pilot, Willard frequently flew F-14s while deployed to the Western Pacific Ocean and North Arabian Sea before heading to the [[United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program|Navy Fighter Weapons School]] (TOPGUN) and serving as the operations officer and executive officer. He also worked on the movie ''[[Top Gun]]'' as an aerial coordinator and later assumed command of VF-51, the squadron that provided F-14s for the movie,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-squadron-vf051.htm|title=VF-51 Screaming Eagles|publisher=HOME OF M.A.T.S. - the most comprehensive Grumman F-14 Reference Work - by Torsten Anft!|access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref> in the late 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usna.com/events-and-programs-dga-bio-willard|title=ADMIRAL ROBERT F. WILLARD '73, USN (RET.)|publisher=United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation|access-date=January 18, 2024}}</ref>
* [[James A. Winnefeld Jr.]] “Jaws” – former chair of the [[President's Intelligence Advisory Board]]. During his Navy career, Winnefeld deployed on the USS ''Constellation'' with VF-24 and the {{USS|Ranger|CV-61|6}} with VF-1 in the 1980s before becoming the commanding officer (CO) of [[VFA-211 (U.S. Navy)|VF-211]].  Later in his career, he became the CO of the USS ''Enterprise''.  He is also credited as pilot in the movie ''[[Top Gun]]'' as "LT. James ''Jaws'' Winnefeld".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historynet.com/f-14-tomcat-sharpens-claws-topgun/|title=The F-14 Tomcat Sharpens Its Claws At Topgun|author=Baranek, D.|publisher=HistoryNet|date=February 6, 2019|access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=From Top Gun Instructor to Four Star Admiral: A Conversation with Sandy "Jaws" Winnefeld |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdC2P6UqEGE|website=Youtube |publisher=Ward Carroll|language=en|format=video |date=March 2, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-857964 | title=IDF drone hits two of Iran's F-14 fighter jets in a Tehran airbase &#124; the Jerusalem Post | date=16 June 2025 }}</ref>

==Variants==
A total of 712 F-14s were built from 1969 to 1991. F-14 assembly and test flights were performed at Grumman's plant in Calverton on [[Long Island]], New York. Grumman facility at nearby [[Bethpage, New York]] was directly involved in F-14 manufacturing and was home to its engineers. The airframes were partially assembled in Bethpage and then shipped to Calverton for final assembly. Various tests were also performed at the Bethpage Plant.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

===F-14A===
The F-14A was the initial two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather interceptor fighter variant for the U.S. Navy. It first flew on 21 December 1970. The first 12 F-14As were prototype versions<ref name=Spickp75>Spick 2000, pp. 75–79.</ref> (sometimes called YF-14As). Modifications late in its service life added precision strike munitions to its armament. The U.S. Navy received 558 F-14A aircraft and 79 were received by Iran.<ref>{{cite web |last=Anft |first=Torsten |title=F-14 Bureau Numbers |url=http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-serial.htm |website=anft.net |access-date=27 March 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=A Brief Overview of the F-14A Tomcat in Iranian Service |url=https://www.kavehfarrokh.com/military-history-1900-present/a-brief-overview-of-the-f-14a-tomcat-in-iranian-service/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213161427/https://www.kavehfarrokh.com/military-history-1900-present/a-brief-overview-of-the-f-14a-tomcat-in-iranian-service/ |archive-date=13 December 2024 |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=Dr. Kaveh Farrokh |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>

Throughout its production run, the F-14A underwent numerous changes which were divided into assembly blocks labelled in multiples of 5:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://modelingmadness.com/review/mod/us/usn/fighter/gar14adiff.htm |title=Tomcat Airframe Differences |publisher=Modelling Madness |access-date=October 3, 2023 }}</ref>

* F-14A-60 (BuNo 158612 - 158619), F-14A-65 (BuNo 158620 - 158637), F-14A-70 (BuNo 158978 - 159006), F-14A-75 (BuNo 159007 - 159025)
**early beaver tail with dielectric fairings, IRST chin pod with ALQ-100 antenna, 7-holed gun vent
* F-14A-75/80 (BuNo 159421 - 159429), F-14A-80 (BuNo 159430 - 159468)
**dielectric fairings removed from beaver tail
* F-14A-85 (BuNo 159588 - 159637)
**AN/ARC-159 UHF radio replaced AN/ARC-51A radio, 2-holed gun vent first installed during construction of airframe BuNos. 159612 - 159615
* F-14A-90/95 (BuNo 159825 - 159874, 160299 - 160414)
**small angle of attack probe added to nose radome, automated maneuvering flaps. BuNos. 160299 to 160377 were delivered to the [[Air force history of Iran#Imperial era|Imperial Iranian Air Force]] (IIAF).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-serial-07.htm|title=F-14A-90/1995-GR|publisher=HOME OF M.A.T.S. - the most comprehensive Grumman F-14 Reference Work - by Torsten Anft!|access-date=February 21, 2026}}</ref>
* F-14A-100 (BuNo 160652 - 160696), F-14A-105 (BuNo 160887 - 160937)
**slip clutch and coupler installation added to the flap/slat system, fuel system improvements, improved AN/AWG-9, anti-corrosion measures (i.e. seals, baffles, drain plugs)
* F-14A-110 (BuNo 161138 - 161168), F-14A-115 (BuNo 161270 - 161299)
**AN/ALQ antenna added to the beaver tail and above and below wing gloves
* F-14A-120 (BuNo 161416 - 161445), F-14A-125 (BuNo 161597 - 161626), F-14A-130 (BuNo 161850 - 161873), F-14A-135 (BuNo 162588 - 162611)
**ECM blisters under glove vanes and on the tip of the beavertail
* F-14A-140 (BuNo 162688 - 162711)
**TCS chin pod with ALQ-100 antenna

===F-14B===
[[File:F110 Ugello.jpg|thumb|upright|Close-up view of the distinctive afterburner petals of the GE F110 engine|alt=]]

The F-14 received its first of many major upgrades in March 1987 with the F-14A Plus (or F-14A+). The F-14A's TF30 engine was replaced with the improved F110-GE-400 engine. The F-14A+ also received the state-of-the-art [[ALR-67]] Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system. Many of the avionics components, as well as the AWG-9 radar, were retained. The F-14A+ was later redesignated F-14B on 1 May 1991. A total of 38 new aircraft were manufactured and 43 F-14A were upgraded into B variants.<ref name="wapj19p1323">Lake 1994, pp. 132–133</ref><ref name="iapr3p52">Lake 2002, p. 52</ref> In the late 1990s, 81 F-14Bs were upgraded to extend airframe life and improve offensive and defensive avionics systems. The modified aircraft became known as ''F-14B (Upgrade)''.<ref name="iapr3p523">Lake 2002, pp. 52–53</ref>

===F-14D===
[[File:F-14 Tomcat ROVER antenna circled.jpg|thumb|left|An upgraded F-14D(R) Tomcat with the [[ROVER]] transmit antenna circled with [[USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)|USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'']] in the background |alt= ]]

The final variant of the F-14 was the F-14D Super Tomcat, first delivered in 1991. As with the F-14B, the F-14D was equipped with the F110-GE-400 engines. It also included newer digital avionics systems including a glass cockpit and replaced the AWG-9 with the newer [[AN/AWG-9#AN/APG-71|AN/APG-71]] radar. Other systems included the Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS), SJU-17(V) Naval Aircrew Common Ejection Seats (NACES), and Infrared search and track (IRST).<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100504214359/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2010/MFC_042810_LM_DevelopingF-15C_IRST.html "Developing F-15C."]}} Lockheed Martin Press Release, 28 April 2010.</ref> A total of 37 new aircraft were completed, and 18 F-14A models were upgraded to D-models, designated F-14D(R) for a rebuild. Starting in 2005, some F-14Ds received the ROVER III upgrade.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

===Projected variants===
[[File:Grumman F-14B 157986 (mfr via RJF) (16947709020).jpg|thumb|A prototype F-14B test aircraft with F401 engines installed]]

When the F-14 was still in development, Grumman had planned an upgrade path for the Tomcat's propulsion and avionics. The first ''F-14B'' was to be an improved version of the F-14A with more powerful [[Pratt & Whitney F401]] turbofans; the F-14B prototype equipped with the F401 first flew in 1973. The ''F-14C'' was a projected variant of this initial F-14B with advanced multi-mission avionics.<ref>Spick 2000, p. 75.</ref> Grumman also offered an interceptor version of the F-14B in response to the U.S. Air Force's Improved Manned Interceptor Program as one of the contenders to replace the [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart]] as an [[Aerospace Defense Command]] interceptor in the 1970s. The F-14 ADC interceptor variant was to be armed with a [[GAU-7 cannon|GAU-7/A 25mm caseless cannon]] and powered by F100 turbofans.<ref>Air Enthusiast February 1973</ref> The F-14B program was terminated in April 1974. The actual F-14B and D upgrades that went into service did somewhat follow the initially projected ''B'' and ''C'' upgrade path in practice, although it was much more delayed and with fewer airframes.<ref>Isham, Marty. ''U.S. Air Force Interceptors: A Military Photo Logbook 1946–1979''. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press Publications, 2010. {{ISBN|1-58007-150-3}}.</ref>

[[File:USAF ADCOM Grumman F-14 Tomcat proposed interceptor - 1972.jpg|thumb|Grumman's proposed F-14 ADC Interceptor for USAF Aerospace Defense Command in 1972 with the simulated "Buzz Code" and Aerospace Defense Command livery and emblem on the tail |alt=]]
In the early 1990s, Grumman proposed a few improved ''Super Tomcat'' versions. The first was the ''Quickstrike'', which would have been an F-14D with navigational and targeting pods, additional attach points for weapons, and added ground attack capabilities to its radar, turning the Tomcat into a multirole [[strike fighter]]. The Quickstrike was to fill the role of the A-6 Intruder after it was retired. This was not considered enough of an improvement by Congress, so the company shifted to the ''Super Tomcat 21'' (ST-21) proposed design. It was a proposed lower-cost alternative to the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF), and later as a potential interim aircraft for the Advanced Attack (A-X) after the cancellation of the [[McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II|A-12]] attack aircraft; the ST-21 would mostly have the same shape and body as the Tomcat, and an upgraded AN/APG-71 radar. The improved [[General Electric F110]]-GE-429 engines{{refn|The F110-GE-429 is the [[United States military aircraft engine designations|designation]] of the proposed Navy version of the F110-GE-129.|group=N}} were to provide a supercruise speed of Mach 1.3 and featured [[thrust vectoring]] nozzles. The version would have reshaped leading-edge gloves, increased fuel capacity and modified control surfaces for improved takeoffs and lower landing approach speed. The ''Attack Super Tomcat 21'' (AST-21) version was the last proposed Super Tomcat design and was meant to be a more attack-oriented version of the ST-21 with possibly an [[active electronically scanned array]] (AESA) radar from the canceled A-12. The (A)ST-21 was to be able to be rebuilt from existing F-14 airframes.<ref name="Donald_p9-11">Donald 2004, pp. 9–11.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/29653/this-is-what-grummans-proposed-f-14-super-tomcat-21-would-have-actually-looked-like |title=This Is What Grumman's Proposed F-14 Super Tomcat 21 Would Have Actually Looked Like |work=The War Zone |date=1 December 2019 |access-date=3 July 2022 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703185406/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/29653/this-is-what-grummans-proposed-f-14-super-tomcat-21-would-have-actually-looked-like |url-status=live}}</ref>

The last "Tomcat" variant was the ''ASF-14'' (Advanced Strike Fighter-14), Grumman's replacement for the NATF concept. By all accounts, it would not be even remotely related to the previous Tomcats save in appearance, incorporating the new technology and design know-how from the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) and Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) programs. The ASF-14 would have been a new-build aircraft with considerably greater development costs; however, its projected capabilities were not that much better than that of the (A)ST-21 variants. Even Grumman was not enthusiastic about it.<ref name="Donald_p9-11" /> In the end, the proposed Super Tomcat variants were considered too costly and also faced stiff political opposition from the Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. The Navy decided to pursue the cheaper F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to fill the fighter-attack or strike fighter role.<ref name="Donald_p9-11" />

==Operators==
[[File:F-14 Tomcat Operators.png|thumb|Operators {{legend|#1300ff|As of 2010}}{{legend|#ee0010|Former}}]]
[[File:Iranian AF F-14 Tomcat landing at Mehrabad.jpg|thumb|An IRIAF F-14 Tomcat landing at [[Mehrabad International Airport|Mehrabad]], Iran]]
[[File:F-14A Tomcat of VF-126 c1993.jpg|thumb|F-14A Tomcat of NFWS (TOPGUN) NAS Miramar c. 1993]]
[[File:F-14 3 Yokota Tokyo.jpg|thumb|Front view of an F-14A at [[Yokota Air Base]], Tokyo, Japan, 2003]]
[[File:F14 on USS Hornet.jpg|thumb|F-14A BuNo 162689 at the [[USS Hornet Museum|USS ''Hornet'' Museum]] in Alameda, California, 2009]]

;{{flag|Iran}}
* [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force]] − 10 operational prior to the [[2026 Iran War]], status unknown {{as of|2026|3|24|lc=yes}}<ref name="NPR" />
** 72nd TFS: F-14A, 1979–1985
** 73rd TFS: F-14A, 1979–1985
** 81st TFS: F-14A, 1979–present
** 82nd TFS: F-14A, 1979–present
** 83rd TFS: F-14A, renamed former 62nd TFS<ref name="Iranian Tomcats Still on the Prowl">Taghvaee, Babak. Aviation News Monthly, UK: Key Publishing, March 2012.</ref>

===Former operators===

;{{flag|Pahlavi Iran}}
* [[Air force history of Iran|Imperial Iranian Air Force]]
** 72nd TFS: F-14A, 1976–1979
** 73rd TFS: F-14A, 1977–1979
** 81st TFS: F-14A, 1977–1979
** 82nd TFS: F-14A, 1978–1979
** 83rd Tomcat Flight School: F-14A, 1978–1979

;{{flag|United States}}
* [[United States Navy]] − operated F-14 from 1974 to 2006
** [[United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program|Navy Fighter Weapons School]] (TOPGUN) (Merged with Strike University (Strike U) to form [[Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center]] (NSAWC) 1996)
*** [[VF-126]] Bandits (Disestablished 1 April 1994)
** [[Fighter Squadron 1 (United States Navy)|VF-1]] Wolfpack (Disestablished 30 September 1993)
** [[VFA-2|VF-2]] Bounty Hunters (Pacific Fleet through 1996, Atlantic Fleet 1996–2003, Pacific Fleet 2003–present; redesignated [[VFA-2]] with F/A-18F, 1 July 2003)
** [[VFA-11|VF-11]] Red Rippers (Redesignated to [[VFA-11]] with F/A-18F, May 2005)
** [[VF-14]] Tophatters (Redesignated [[VFA-14]] with F/A-18E, 1 December 2001, and transferred to Pacific Fleet, 2002)
** [[VF-21]] Freelancers (Disestablished 31 January 1996)
** [[VF-24]] Fighting Renegades (Disestablished 20 August 1996)
** [[VF-31]] Tomcatters (Redesignated [[VFA-31]] with F/A-18E, October 2006)
** [[VF-32]] Swordsmen (Redesignated [[VFA-32]] with F/A-18F, 1 October 2005)
** [[VF-33]] Starfighters (Disestablished 1 October 1993)
** [[VFA-41|VF-41]] Black Aces (Redesignated [[VFA-41]] with F/A-18F, 1 December 2001)
** [[VF-51]] Screaming Eagles (Disestablished 31 March 1995)
** [[VF-74]] Bedevilers (Disestablished 30 April 1994)
** [[VF-84 (1955-1995)|VF-84]] Jolly Rogers (Disestablished 1 October 1995; squadron heritage and nickname transferred to [[VF-103]])
** [[VF-102]] Diamondbacks (Redesignated [[VFA-102]] with F/A-18F, 1 May 2002, and transferred to Pacific Fleet)
** [[VF-103]] Sluggers/Jolly Rogers (Redesignated [[VFA-103]] with F/A-18F, 1 May 2005)
** [[VF-111 (1956-95)|VF-111]] Sundowners (Disestablished 31 March 1995; squadron heritage and nickname adopted by [[VFC-111]])
** [[VF-114]] Aardvarks (Disestablished 30 April 1993)
** [[VF-142]] Ghostriders (Disestablished 30 April 1995)
** [[VFA-143|VF-143]] Pukin' Dogs (Redesignated [[VFA-143]] with F/A-18E, early 2005)
** [[VF-154]] Black Knights (Redesignated [[VFA-154]] with F/A-18F, 1 October 2003)
** [[VF-191]] Satan's Kittens (Disestablished 30 April 1988)
** [[VF-194 (1986–1988)|VF-194]] Red Lightnings (Disestablished 30 April 1988)
** [[VF-211]] Fighting Checkmates (Pacific Fleet through 1996, then transferred to Atlantic Fleet; redesignated [[VFA-211]] with F/A-18F, 1 October 2004)
** [[VF-213]] Black Lions (Pacific Fleet through 1996, then transferred to Atlantic Fleet; redesignated [[VFA-213]] with F/A-18F, May 2006)
* Naval Air Systems Command Test and Evaluation Squadrons
** [[VX-4]] Evaluators (Disestablished 30 September 1994 and merged into [[VX-5]] to form [[VX-9]])
** [[VX-9]] Vampires (Currently operates F/A-18C/D/E/F, [[Boeing EA-18G Growler|EA-18G]], [[Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II|F-35C]], [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B]], [[McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II|AV-8B]], [[Bell AH-1 Cobra|AH-1]] and [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1]])
** [[VX-23]] Salty Dogs (Currently operates F/A-18A+/B/C/D/E/F, EA-6B, EA-18G, F-35C and [[McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk|T-45]])
** [[VX-30]] Bloodhounds (Currently operates P-3, C-130, S-3)
* Fleet Replacement Squadrons
** [[VF-101]] Grim Reapers; Atlantic Fleet, then sole single-site, F-14 FRS (Disestablished 15 September 2005; squadron heritage and nickname adopted by [[VFA-101]], an F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron established in May 2012. VFA-101 itself would be disestablished 23 May 2019)<ref>[http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=66309 Navy's Newest Squadron Prepares for New F-35 Fighters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613120309/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=66309 |date=13 June 2013}}. Navy.mil.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=109696|title=Strike Fighter Squadron 101 Deactives|access-date=14 April 2020|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226225748/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=109696|url-status=dead}}</ref>
** [[VF-124]] Gunfighters; Pacific Fleet F-14 FRS (Disestablished 30 September 1994)
* Naval Air Force Reserve Squadrons
** [[VF-201]] Hunters (Redesignated [[VFA-201]] and reequipped with F/A-18A+ on 1 January 1999; disestablished 30 June 2007)
** [[VF-202]] Superheats (Disestablished 31 December 1994)
** [[VF-301]] Devil's Disciples (Disestablished 11 September 1994)
** [[VF-302]] Stallions (Disestablished 11 September 1994)
* Naval Air Force Reserve Squadron Augmentation Units (SAUs)
** VF-1285 Fighting Fubijars (Disestablished September 1994); augmented VF-301 and VF-302
** VF-1485 Americans (Disestablished September 1994); augmented VF-124
** VF-1486 Fighting Hobos (Disestablished September 2005); augmented VF-101
* Flight and weapons test units
** Naval Air Test Center, NAS Patuxent River<ref>Colors and Markings of the F-14 Tomcat part 3, p.18, ISBN 9798410341745</ref>
** Naval Missile Center, NAS Point Mugu<ref>Colors and Markings of the F-14 Tomcat part 3, p.26, ISBN 9798410341745</ref>
** [[Pacific Missile Test Center]], NAS Point Mugu<ref>Colors and Markings of the F-14 Tomcat part 3, p.29, ISBN 9798410341745</ref>
** [[Naval Air Warfare Center]]-Weapons Division, NAS Point Mugu<ref>Colors and Markings of the F-14 Tomcat part 3, p.34, ISBN 9798410341745</ref>
** Naval Weapons Test Squadron-Point Mugu, NAS Point Mugu<ref>Colors and Markings of the F-14 Tomcat part 3, p.36, ISBN 9798410341745</ref>
** [[Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster|Naval Air Development Center]], NADC Warminster<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airfighters.com/photo/181909/M/USA-Navy/Grumman-F-14A-Tomcat/161137/ |title=USA - Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat 161137 Photo |last= |first= |date= |website=www.airfighters.com |publisher= |access-date=17 December 2024 |quote=}}{{Non-primary source needed|date=December 2024}}</ref>
* [[NASA]] operated two F-14As. First F-14A #157991 was used High-Angle-of-Attack and Spin-Control-and-Recovery test program, between 1979 and 1985.<ref>Colors and Markings of the F-14 Tomcat part 3, p.66, ISBN 9798410341745</ref> Second F-14A #159834 at [[Dryden Flight Research Center]] in 1986 and 1987 in a program known as the Variable-Sweep Transition Flight Experiment (VSTFE). This program explored laminar flow on variable sweep aircraft at high subsonic speeds.<ref>{{cite web|title=F-14 Tomcat|date=20 August 2015|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/imagegallery/F-14/F-14_proj_desc.html|publisher=NASA|access-date=7 June 2021|archive-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112161921/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/imagegallery/F-14/F-14_proj_desc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Aircraft on display==
[[File:F-14A at Grumman Memorial Park.jpg|thumb|An F-14A on display at [[Grumman Memorial Park]] in New York]]
[[File:F-14 Tomcat.jpg|thumb|F-14A BuNo 160661 on display at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Aviation Challenge facility in Huntsville, Alabama, 2009]]
[[File:Grumman F-14 Tomcat 23.jpg|thumb|YF-14A at the [[Cradle of Aviation Museum]] ]]
[[File:Grumman F-14 Tomcat 2.JPG|thumb|F-14D at the [[Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum]] ]]
[[File:F14 Tomcat Seattle.jpg|thumb|F-14A of VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" at the [[Museum of Flight]] ]]

Notable F-14s preserved at museums and military installations include:
;Bureau Number (BuNo) – Model – Location – Significance
;F-14A
*157982 – [[Cradle of Aviation Museum]], [[Garden City, New York]]; Prototype No. 3 Nonstructural demonstration testbed<ref>[http://www.cradleofaviation.org/history/permanent_exhibits/jet_gallery/grumman_f-14a_tomcat.html "F-14 Tomcat/157982."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221015117/http://www.cradleofaviation.org/history/permanent_exhibits/jet_gallery/grumman_f-14a_tomcat.html |date=21 December 2015}} Cradle of Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*157984 – [[National Naval Aviation Museum]], [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]], Florida. Fifth F-14 manufactured and one of the prototypes used in flight testing. Mounted on pedestal at entrance to museum.<ref name="F-14 Tomcat/157984.">[http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=f-14a_tomcat "F-14 Tomcat/157984."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211123053/http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=f-14a_tomcat |date=11 December 2015}} National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*157988 – [[NAS Oceana]] Air Park, [[Virginia]]<ref>[http://warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f14-157988.html "F-14 Tomcat/157988."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404082701/http://warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f14-157988.html |date=4 April 2015}} Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 27 March 2013.</ref>
*157990 – [[March Field Air Museum]], [[Riverside, California]]. Eleventh F-14 manufactured and one of the prototypes used in carrier suitability testing.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141020165530/http://www.marchfield.org/aircraft-exhibits/aircraft/yf-14a-tomcat-grumman/ "F-14 Tomcat/157990."]}} March Field Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*158617 – Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7293, [[Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania|Whitehall, Pennsylvania]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/60pDmvhprf/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/somanyaircraft/1059652380003834591 |archive-date=23 December 2021 |url-access=subscription|title=Instagram photo by So Many Aircraft |date= 25 August 2015 |time= 10:07&nbsp;pm UTC |website=Instagram |access-date= 17 May 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
*158623 – [[Naval Base Ventura County]], [[NAS Point Mugu]], [[California]]; pedestal mount at Front Gate Airpark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=F-14 Tomcat Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=154330 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref>
*158627 – [[Hickory Aviation Museum]], Hickory, NC.
*158978 – [[USS Midway Museum]], [[San Diego, California]]<ref>[http://www.midway.org/Aircraft-Museum "F-14 Tomcat/158978."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325094835/http://www.midway.org/Aircraft-Museum |date=25 March 2013}} USS ''Midway'' Museum. Retrieved: 27 March 2013.</ref>
*158985 – [[Yanks Air Museum]], [[Chino, California]]<ref>[https://yanksair.com/Products/64/70/Grumman-G-303-Tomcat-F-14A/ "F-14 Tomcat/158985."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814012240/https://yanksair.com/Products/64/70/Grumman-G-303-Tomcat-F-14A/ |date=14 August 2014}} Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 27 March 2013.</ref>
*158998 – Air Victory Museum, [[Lumberton, New Jersey]]<ref>[http://www.airvictorymuseum.org/html/displays.html "F-14 Tomcat/158998."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404101910/http://www.airvictorymuseum.org/html/displays.html |date=4 April 2013}} Air Victory Museum. Retrieved: 27 Match 2013.</ref>
*158999 – [[Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth]] (former Carswell AFB), [[Fort Worth, Texas]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=F-14 Tomcats on Display {{!}} On Display {{!}} F-14 Tomcat |url=https://www.f-14association.com/on-display/f-14-tomcats-on-display.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=www.f-14association.com}}</ref>
*159025 – [[Patriot's Point]] Naval and Maritime Museum, [[Charleston, South Carolina]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=F-14 Tomcat |url=https://www.patriotspoint.org/things-to-do/aircraft/f-14-tomcat |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum |language=en}}</ref>
*159445 – [[Naval Station Norfolk]] (former Naval Air Station Norfolk) East Gate Airpark, [[Virginia]]<ref>[http://warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f14-159445.html "F-14 Tomcat/159445."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404061022/http://warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f14-159445.html |date=4 April 2015}} Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 27 March 2013.</ref>
*159448 – NAVSUP WEAPONS SYSTEMS SUPPORT, Philadelphia [[Pennsylvania]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warbird Registry - Grumman F-14 Tomcat - A Warbirds Resource Group Site |url=https://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f14-159448.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=www.warbirdregistry.org}}</ref>
*159455 – [[NAS Patuxent River]], [[Lexington Park, Maryland]]; a former VX-23 flight test squadron aircraft<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aircraft Photo of 159455 {{!}} Grumman NF-14A Tomcat {{!}} USA - Navy {{!}} AirHistory.net #609587 |url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/609587/159455 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=AirHistory.net |language=en}}</ref>
*159620 – [[NAF El Centro]], [[California]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Warplanes of the USA: Grumman F-14 Tomcat |url=https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/warplanes-of-the-usa-grumman-f-14-tomcat |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=www.silverhawkauthor.com |language=en}}</ref>
*159626 – [[Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center]], [[Naval Air Station Fallon]], [[Nevada]]<ref name=":0" />
*159631 – [[San Diego Aerospace Museum|San Diego Air & Space Museum]], [[San Diego, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=San Diego Air & Space Museum Gillespie Field Annex |url=https://vcm-photography.co.uk/gallerys/aviation_other/photos/san_diego_gillespie_field/plates/san_diego_gillespie_field_plate08.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=vcm-photography.co.uk}}</ref> Used in ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26523/photos-show-f-14-used-in-top-gun-2-production-snared-in-carriers-crash-barricade | title=Photos Show F-14 Used in Top Gun 2 Production Snared in Carrier's Crash Barricade | date=15 February 2019 | access-date=18 May 2022 | archive-date=18 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518165107/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26523/photos-show-f-14-used-in-top-gun-2-production-snared-in-carriers-crash-barricade | url-status=live}}</ref>
*159829 – [[Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum]], former [[Lowry AFB]], [[Denver, Colorado]]. From VF-211, later used for aircraft maintenance training by Naval Air Reserve Center Denver at Buckley AFB.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150317054351/http://wingsmuseum.org/f14-tomcat/ "F-14 Tomcat/159829."]}} Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*159830 – [[Western Museum of Flight]], [[Torrance, California]]<ref>[http://www.wmof.com/f14a.htm "F-14 Tomcat/159830."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203224331/http://www.wmof.com/f14a.htm |date=3 February 2013}} Western Museum of Flight. Retrieved: 27 March 2013.</ref>
*159848 – [[Tillamook Air Museum]], [[Tillamook, Oregon]]<ref>[http://www.tillamookair.com/grumman-f-14a-tomcat "F-14 Tomcat/159848."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211134431/http://www.tillamookair.com/grumman-f-14a-tomcat |date=11 December 2015}} Tillamook Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*159853 – Defense Supply Center Richmond, [[Richmond, Virginia]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warbird Registry - Grumman F-14 Tomcat - A Warbirds Resource Group Site |url=https://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f14-159853.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=www.warbirdregistry.org}}</ref>
*160382 – [[Museum of Flight]], [[Tukwila, Washington]]. VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" AJ202. Stationed on the aircraft carrier USS ''Nimitz''. This aircraft, as well as several other F-14As from the famous "Jolly Rogers" squadron, appear in the 1980 film ''[[The Final Countdown (film)|The Final Countdown]]'', which was filmed on board USS ''Nimitz''. On loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida.<ref>[http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/grumman-f-14a-tomcat "F-14 Tomcat/160382."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613180833/http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/grumman-f-14a-tomcat |date=13 June 2013}} Museum of Flight. Retrieved: 27 March 2013.</ref>
*160386 – Recruit Training Command, Naval Station Great Lakes, [[Chicago]], Illinois<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warplanes of the USA: Grumman F-14 Tomcat |url=https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/warplanes-of-the-usa-grumman-f-14-tomcat |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=www.silverhawkauthor.com |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:F-14 Tomcat at the TAM.jpg|thumb|F-14 Tomcat at the [[Texas Air Museum]] in [[Slaton, Texas]] ]]
*160391 – [[Texas Air Museum]], [[Slaton, Texas]], on loan from the [[National Naval Aviation Museum]], appeared in the films ''The Final Countdown'' and ''[[Executive Decision]]''.<ref>[http://www.thetexasairmuseum.org/aircraft/staticaircraft/F-14/ "F-14 Tomcat/160391".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218134008/http://www.thetexasairmuseum.org/aircraft/staticaircraft/F-14/ |date=18 February 2013}} Texas Air Museum. Retrieved: 27 March 2013</ref>
*160395 – [[Air Zoo]], [[Kalamazoo, Michigan]]<ref>[http://www.airzoo.org/page.php?page_id=210 "F-14 Tomcat/160395."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814023144/http://www.airzoo.org/page.php?page_id=210 |date=14 August 2014}} Air Zoo. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*160401 – Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility Virginia Capes (FACSFAC VACAPES), [[Naval Air Station Oceana]], [[Virginia]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*160402 - NAS Oceana Virginia Beach.
*160403 – [[Midland Army Air Field Museum]], [[Midland, Texas]]. Nicknamed "Fast Eagle 102", it is the sole surviving aircraft involved in the [[Gulf of Sidra incident (1981)|1981 Gulf of Sidra incident]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://highskywing.org/?page_id=4241 |title=Restoration of Fast Eagle 102 |website=The High Sky Wing |access-date=23 January 2025}}</ref>
*160411 – [[Empire State Aerosciences Museum]], [[Glenville, New York]]<ref>[http://www.esam.org/ "F-14 Tomcat/160441."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529222610/http://esam.org/ |date=29 May 2013}} Empire State Aeroscience Museum. Retrieved: 29 March 2013.</ref>
*160658 – [[NAES Lakehurst]], [[New Jersey]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*160661 – [[U.S. Space and Rocket Center]]'s [[Aviation Challenge]] facility in [[Huntsville, Alabama]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aircraft: F-14 Tomcat {{!}} U.S. Space & Rocket Center |url=https://www.rocketcenter.com/tour/ac/F14Tomcat |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=www.rocketcenter.com}}</ref>
*160666 – [[Western Aerospace Museum]], [[Oakland, California]]. Originally delivered to VF-111 in 1978, subsequently reassigned to NAVAIR test duties, permanently modified for development of follow-on avionics and weapons systems.<ref>[http://oaklandaviationmuseum.org/aircraft_3.html "F-14 Tomcat/160666."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326183035/http://www.oaklandaviationmuseum.org/aircraft_3.html |date=26 March 2013}} Oakland Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*160684 – [[Pima Air and Space Museum]], adjacent to [[Davis-Monthan AFB]], [[Tucson, Arizona]]. Repainted in its original markings as "NL 211" of VF-111 aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63), as this particular aircraft appeared in its initial operational squadron service, c. 1978–1981.<ref>[http://www.pimaair.org/aircraft-by-name/item/grumman-f-14a-tomcat "F-14 Tomcat/160684."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211124821/http://www.pimaair.org/aircraft-by-name/item/grumman-f-14a-tomcat |date=11 December 2015}} Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*160694 – [[USS Lexington (CV-16)#USS Lexington Museum|USS ''Lexington'' Museum]], [[Corpus Christi, Texas]]. Former VF-51 aircraft used in the making of ''[[Top Gun]]''. Currently painted in fictitious markings from the movie. Aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida.<ref>[http://usslexington.com/aircraft/f-14-tomcat/ "F-14 Tomcat/160694."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329015941/https://www.usslexington.com/aircraft/f-14-tomcat/ |date=29 March 2016}} USS ''Lexington'' Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/did-you-know-that-mavericks-top-gun-f-14-tomcat-currently-features-vf-84-jolly-rogers-paint-scheme-and-is-on-display-aboard-uss-lexington/|title=Did You Know that Maverick's Top Gun F-14 Tomcat Currently Features VF-84 Jolly Rogers Paint Scheme And Is On Display Aboard USS Lexington?|author=Leone, Dario|publisher=The Aviation Geek Club|date=November 3, 2019|access-date=June 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://topgunmemos.com/ Top Gun Memos by Meredith Jordan]</ref>
*160889 – [[Pacific Coast Air Museum]] at [[Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport]], [[Santa Rosa, California]]<ref>[http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/aircraft/F14ATomcat.asp "F-14 Tomcat/160889."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224174619/http://www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org/aircraft/F14ATomcat.asp |date=24 February 2013}} Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*160898 – [[Palm Springs Air Museum]], [[Palm Springs, California]]<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20151031001630/http://palmspringsairmuseum.org/aircraft-2/ "F-14 Tomcat/160898."]}} Palm Springs Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*160902 – Grumman Memorial Park, [[Calverton, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grumman Memorial Park |url=https://www.discoverlongisland.com/listing/grumman-memorial-park/129/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.discoverlongisland.com |language=en-us}}</ref>
*160903 – [[Mid-America Air Museum]], [[Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport]], [[Liberal, Kansas]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*160909 – [[Aviation History & Technology Center]], [[Marietta, Georgia]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*160914 – [[Willmar Municipal Airport]], [[Wilmar, Minnesota]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=article |first=Gary Miller Share Share this |date=2015-07-14 |title=Willmar's Tomcat gets its first bath |url=https://www.wctrib.com/news/willmars-tomcat-gets-its-first-bath |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=West Central Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
* 160925 – Eisenhower Park, WaKeeney, Kansas<ref>[https://www.wakeeney.org/f-14-tomcat-fighter-jet "F-14 Tomcat fighter jet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412212033/https://www.wakeeney.org/f-14-tomcat-fighter-jet |date=12 April 2018}}. wakeeney.org</ref>
*161134 – [[Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum]], [[Space Coast Regional Airport]], [[Titusville, Florida]]<ref>[http://www.valiantaircommand.com/#!static-collection/cee5 "F-14 Tomcat/161134."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211103729/http://www.valiantaircommand.com/#!static-collection/cee5 |date=11 December 2015}} Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*161598 – [[Tulsa Air and Space Museum]], [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]. It has VF-41 "Black Aces" markings.<ref>[http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.org/ "F-14 Tomcat/161598."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327213136/http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.org/ |date=27 March 2013}} Tulsa Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*161605 –[[Wings of Eagles Discovery Center]]/National Warplane Museum, [[Horseheads, New York]]<ref>[http://www.wingsofeagles.com/?page_id=535 "F-14 Tomcat/161605."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219154255/http://www.wingsofeagles.com/?page_id=535 |date=19 February 2014}} Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*161611 – [[Battleship Memorial Park]], [[Mobile, Alabama]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregistry/f14-161611.html | title=Warbird Registry - Grumman F-14 Tomcat - A Warbirds Resource Group Site }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-serial-14.htm#125 | title=HOME OF M.A.T.S. - the most comprehensive Grumman F-14 Reference Work - by Torsten Anft! }}</ref>
*161615 – [[Combat Air Museum]], [[Topeka, Kansas]]<ref>[http://combatairmuseum.org/aircraft/grummanF14A.html "F-14 Tomcat/161615."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704151619/http://combatairmuseum.org/aircraft/grummanF14A.html |date=4 July 2013}} Combat Air Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*161620 – [[Selfridge Military Air Museum]], [[Selfridge Air National Guard Base]], [[Mount Clemens, Michigan]]<ref>[http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org/F-14A.htm "F-14 Tomcat/161620."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211144128/http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org/F-14A.htm |date=11 December 2015}} Selfridge Military Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*161860 – [[Aviation Museum of Kentucky]]
*162591 – [[United States Naval Academy]], [[Annapolis, Maryland]]; transferred from [[Quonset Air Museum]], [[North Kingstown, Rhode Island]]<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/cgnews-navy-f14a-tomcat-arrives-at-naval-academy-20180622-photogallery.html | newspaper= Baltimore Sun | location= Baltimore, Maryland | title= Navy F-14A Tomcat arrives at Naval Academy | first= Paul W. | last= Gillespie | date= 22 June 2018 | quote= buno 162591 visible in photo | access-date= 22 June 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180623004905/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/cgnews-navy-f14a-tomcat-arrives-at-naval-academy-20180622-photogallery.html | archive-date= 23 June 2018 | url-status= live}}</ref>
*162592 – [[Ronald Reagan Presidential Library]], [[Simi Valley, California]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=F-14 |url=https://www.reaganfoundation.org/library-museum/permanent-exhibits/f-14 |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute |language=en}}</ref>
*162595 – Naval Test Wing Atlantic, [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]], [[Maryland]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warplanes of the USA: Maryland, Patuxent River Naval Air Museum |url=https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/warplanes-of-the-usa-maryland-patuxent-river-naval-air-museum |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=www.silverhawkauthor.com |language=en}}</ref>
*162607 – [[Yanks Air Museum]], [[Chino Airport]], [[Chino, California]]; partial cockpit section painted in fictitious markings from ''[[Top Gun]]'' movie.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*162608 – [[Southern Museum of Flight]], [[Birmingham, Alabama]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Southern Museum of Flight |url=https://www.aviationmuseum.eu/Blogvorm/southern-museum-of-flight/ |website=Aviationmuseum |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref>
*162689 – {{USS|Hornet|CV-12}}, [[USS Hornet Museum]], former Naval Air Station Alameda, [[Alameda, California]]<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081226153447/http://www.uss-hornet.org/exhibits/aircraft/jet/tomcat.shtml "F-14 Tomcat/162689."]}} USS ''Hornet'' Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*162694 – [[MAPS Air Museum]], [[North Canton, Ohio]]<ref>[https://sites.google.com/a/mapsairmuseum.org/f-14-tomcat/home "F-14 Tomcat/162694."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312080623/https://sites.google.com/a/mapsairmuseum.org/f-14-tomcat/home |date=12 March 2014}} MAPS Air Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*162710 – [[National Naval Aviation Museum]], [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]], [[Florida]]<ref>[http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=f-14a_tomcat_flightline "F-14 Tomcat/162710."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205145742/http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=f-14a_tomcat_flightline |date=5 December 2018}} National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
;F-14B
*161422 – [[Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*161426 – [[Naval Air Station DeLand|DeLand Naval Air Station Museum]], Florida{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*162912 – [[Grissom Air Museum]], [[Grissom Air Reserve Base]] (former Grissom AFB), [[Indiana]]<ref>[http://www.grissomairmuseum.com/gallery/fighters/plane-11 "F-14 Tomcat/162912."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313053951/http://www.grissomairmuseum.com/gallery/fighters/plane-11 |date=13 March 2013}} Grissom Air Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*162916 – Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8896 – Richard R. Gross Post, [[East Berlin, Pennsylvania]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat No. 162916 Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=224433 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref>
*162926 – [[New England Air Museum]], [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]] (not on display in winter)<ref>[http://neam.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90 "F-14 Tomcat/162926."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814023108/http://neam.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90 |date=14 August 2014}} New England Air Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*162911 – [[Estrella Warbird Museum]], [[Paso Robles, California]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ewarbirds.org/f14-tomcat.html |title=Estrella Warbirds Museum – 1975 Northrop Grumman F-14B |website=ewarbirds.org |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017190935/http://www.ewarbirds.org/f14-tomcat.html |archive-date=17 October 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
;F-14D(R)
*159600 – Fort Worth Aviation Museum, [[Fort Worth, Texas]]. On loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. Nicknamed "Christine", it was the longest-serving F-14 Tomcat in U.S. Navy. Remanufactured from F-14A to F-14D(R) configuration, it was originally built in 1976 and made the final combat deployment/cruise of the F-14 in 2006.<ref>[http://vmapaircraft.weebly.com/f-14d-tomcat.html "F-14 Tomcat/159600."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918020220/http://vmapaircraft.weebly.com/f-14d-tomcat.html |date=18 September 2015}} OV-10 Bronco Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*159610 – Smithsonian [[National Air and Space Museum]], [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]], [[Chantilly, Virginia]]. This F-14 was one of those involved in the [[Gulf of Sidra incident (1989)|second Gulf of Sidra incident]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120522101842/http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A20040156000 "F-14 Tomcat/159610."]}} NASM. Retrieved: 27 March 2013.</ref>
*159619 – [[Florida Air Museum]] at Sun 'n Fun, [[Lakeland Linder International Airport]], [[Lakeland, Florida]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*159629 - Veterans Park, [[Kenner, Louisiana]]
*161159 – [[National Naval Aviation Museum]], [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]], Florida.  Completed the last combat flight and the last combat carrier arrested landing (trap) by a U.S. Navy F-14.<ref>[http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=f-14d_tomcat "F-14 Tomcat/157984."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211112940/http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=f-14d_tomcat |date=11 December 2015}} ''National Naval Aviation Museum''. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*161163 – [[Prairie Aviation Museum]], [[Bloomington, Illinois]]. Depot Level Conversion performed September 1991. Retired as MODEX 205 of Fighter Squadron 213 (VF-213), Black Lions.<ref>[http://prairieaviationmuseum.org/exhibits/aircraft/grumman-f-14d-tomcat/ "F-14 Tomcat/161163."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008045712/http://prairieaviationmuseum.org/exhibits/aircraft/grumman-f-14d-tomcat/ |date=8 October 2012}} Prairie Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*161166 – [[Carolinas Aviation Museum]], [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]<ref>[http://www.carolinasaviation.org/military/grumman-f-14d-tomcat "F-14 Tomcat/161166."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306185940/http://www.carolinasaviation.org/military/grumman-f-14d-tomcat |date=6 March 2013}} Carolinas Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 29 Marc 2013.</ref>
;F-14D
*157986 – {{USS|Intrepid|CV-11}}, [[Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum]], [[Manhattan, New York]]. 7th Tomcat built, retained as research and development airframe.<ref>[http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/AircraftCollection.aspx "F-14 Tomcat/157986."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219014823/http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/AircraftCollection.aspx |date=19 December 2015}} USS ''Intrepid'' Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Intrepid Museum Interactive Map {{!}} Intrepid Museum |url=https://intrepidmuseum.org/intrepid-museum-interactive-map |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=intrepidmuseum.org |language=en}}</ref>
*163893 – main gate, Arnold Engineering and Development Center, [[Arnold AFB]], [[Tennessee]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The F-14 Tomcat Association. |url=https://www.f-14association.com/images/display/display-163893.htm |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=www.f-14association.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Arnold+AFB+Visitor's+Center/@35.3824595,-86.0296502,618m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x88616f9e3473b193:0x5289adb670fe9ee0!2sArnold+Air+Force+Base!8m2!3d35.3828616!4d-86.0303306!16s/m/03bx5qm!3m5!1s0x88616e93d4a5f489:0x2e8a1e0f6a3a8255!8m2!3d35.38311!4d-86.0308609!16s/g/11g6qrws_2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw== |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref>
*163897 – [[Aerospace Museum of California]], [[McClellan Airfield]] (former McClellan AFB and current [[Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento]]), [[Sacramento, California]].<ref>[http://www.aerospaceca.org/grumman-f-14d-tomcat/ "F-14 Tomcat/163897."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207143533/http://www.aerospaceca.org/grumman-f-14d-tomcat/ |date=7 February 2013}} Aerospace Museum of California. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*163902 – [[Hickory Aviation Museum]] at [[Hickory Regional Airport]], [[Hickory, North Carolina]].  VF-31 Tomcatters aircraft Modex number 107; flew the F-14 retirement ceremony with LCDR Chris Richard and LT Mike Petronis at the controls.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150818121909/http://hickoryaviationmuseum.org/Assets/GrummanF-14D-Tomcat_LB_02.png "F-14 Tomcat/163902."]}} Hickory Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*163904 – [[Pacific Aviation Museum]], [[Ford Island]], [[Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam]], [[Hawaii]]<ref>[http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/F14D/ "F-14 Tomcat/163904."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211051743/http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/F14D/ |date=11 December 2015}} Pacific Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*164342 – [[Wings Over Miami]], [[Miami, Florida]].<ref>[http://www.wingsovermiami.com/exhibits/ "F-14 Tomcat/164342."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114033014/http://www.wingsovermiami.com/exhibits/ |date=14 January 2013}} Wings Over Miami Air Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>
*164343 – [[Evergreen Aviation Museum]], [[McMinnville, Oregon]]<ref>[http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/the-museum/aircraft-exhibits/military-aircrafts/ "F-14 Tomcat/164343."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206162346/http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/the-museum/aircraft-exhibits/military-aircrafts/ |date=6 December 2011}} Evergreen Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 29 March 2013.</ref>
*164346 – [[Museum of Flight (Georgia)|Museum of Flight]], [[Rome, Georgia]]. On loan from National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida. Last Tomcat to operationally trap aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://mofts.org/collection/f-14-tomcat/ |title= F-14 TOMCAT B/N: 164346 |date= 16 July 2018 |accessdate= 13 February 2023 |archive-date= 13 February 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230213201712/https://mofts.org/collection/f-14-tomcat/ |url-status= live}}</ref> It was previously displayed at [[Virginia Aviation Museum|Virginian Aviation Museum]] before being relocated to the current site upon the museum's closure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The F-14 Tomcat Association. |url=https://www.f-14association.com/images/display/display-164346.htm |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=www.f-14association.com}}</ref>
*164350 – [[Joe Davies Heritage Airpark]] at Palmdale Plant 42, [[Palmdale, California]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
*164601 – [[Castle Air Museum]] at former Castle AFB, [[Atwater, California]]<ref>[http://www.castleairmuseum.org/grummanf14d "F-14 Tomcat/164601."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218084143/http://www.castleairmuseum.org/grummanf14d |date=18 December 2015}} Castle Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 December 2015.</ref>
*164603 – Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City, New York. Felix 101 from VF-31 is the last Tomcat to fly in U.S. Navy service. Final flight was from NAS Oceana, Virginia to the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport Long Island, New York on 4 October 2006 where it was displayed for a year and a half before being moved to Grumman Plant 25,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aguiari |first=Moreno |date=2023-09-20 |title=Last F-14 Tomcat in US Navy Service Now on Display at The Cradle of Aviation Museum |url=https://vintageaviationnews.com/aviation-museum-news/last-f-14-tomcat-in-us-navy-service-now-on-display-at-the-cradle-of-aviation-museum.html |access-date=2026-03-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> and then to the Cradle of Aviation Museum after the Grumman facility was sold.<ref>{{cite news |author=Valenti, John|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/f-14-jet-cradle-of-aviation-museum-xqc6lzob |title=Last Grumman F-14 ever to fly set for display outside Nassau's Cradle of Aviation Museum|work=[[Newsday]] |date=26 October 2022 |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref>
*164604 – NAS Oceana Memorial Park, [[Naval Air Station Oceana]], [[Virginia]]. Last F-14 manufactured, assigned to VX-4, later VX-9, at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California during its operational service and used the callsign "Vandy 1".{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
;NF-14D
*161623 – [[Patuxent River Naval Air Museum]], [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]], [[Lexington Park, Maryland]]. It is a former VX-23 flight test squadron aircraft.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110130150933/http://paxmuseum.com/page/aircraft-1 "F-14 Tomcat/161623."]}} Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. Retrieved: 28 March 2013.</ref>

==Specifications (F-14D)==
[[File:F-14D.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Schematic diagram (F-14D)]]
[[File:F14 2 Wiki.jpg|thumb|F-14A of VF 111 "Sundowners" (USS ''Carl Vinson'')]]
[[File:AIM-54 6 Pack.jpg|thumb|F-14B from the VF-211 Fighting Checkmates carrying six [[AIM-54 Phoenix]] missiles]]
[[File:At the Intrepid Museum 2023 123.jpg|thumb|Intrepid Museum display showing Sidewinder (upper), Sparrow (middle) and Phoenix (bottom) missiles]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=U.S. Navy file,<ref name="USN_FF" /><ref name=SAC_F-14D/> Spick,<ref name="Spick_p81"/> Flight International March 1985<ref name=Flight300385p19>{{cite journal |last1=Warwick. |first1=Graham |title=F-14D for digital Grumman's Tomcat is to remain the US Navy's premier fighter |journal=Flight International |date=30 March 1985 |volume=127 |issue=3953 |pages=19–22 |issn=0015-3710}}</ref>
|prime units?=kts
<!--  General characteristics
-->
|crew=2 (pilot and radar intercept officer)
|length ft=62
|length in=9
|length note=
|span ft=64
|span in=1.5
|span note=
|swept ft=38
|swept in=2.5
|swept note=
|height ft=16
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqft=565
|wing area note=wings only
**{{cvt|1008|sqft|m2|0}} effective area including fuselage<ref name="mc_f14designevolution"/>
|swept area sqft=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=<br>
**Grumman (1.74)(35)(9.6)-(1.1)(30)(1.1) root
**Grumman (1.27)(30)(9.0)-(1.1)(40)(1.1) tip<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326174850/https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |archive-date=26 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=43735
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=61000
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=74350
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{cvt|16200|lb|0}} internal fuel; 2 × optional {{cvt|267|USgal|impgal l}} / {{cvt|1756|lb|0}} external drop tanks<ref name="Spick_p81"/>
|more general=
<!--   Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[General Electric F110]]-GE-400
|eng1 type=[[afterburning turbofan]]s
|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 lbf=16333
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=26950
|more power={{refn|These figures are static, sea-level uninstalled thrust. Static, sea-level installed thrust is {{cvt|13800|lbf|kN|0}} at military power and {{cvt|23600|lbf|kN|0}} in full afterburner. At Mach 0.9 at sea-level, installed thrust is {{cvt|30200|lbf|kN|0}} in full afterburner.<ref name="NAVAIR"/>|group=N}}
<!--   Performance
-->
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=2.34, {{cvt|1544|mph|kn km/h|0}} at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
** Mach 1.2, {{cvt|794|kn|mph km/h|0}} at sea level
|cruise speed kts=420
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range nmi=1600
|range note=
|combat range nmi=503
|combat range note=fighter escort
**{{convert|204|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} deck launched intercept
**{{convert|150|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} fleet air defense with 1.91 hours of loiter{{refn|All figures are for external stores loading of 2× AIM-54, 2× AIM-7, 2× AIM-9, 2× 267 U.S. gal fuel tanks.|group=N}}
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=53000
|ceiling note=plus
|g limits=+7.5 g (+6.5 g operational limit){{refn|The g limit was operationally limited by the U.S. Navy to +6.5 g to increase service life.|group=N}}
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ftmin=45000
|climb rate note=plus
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=96
|wing loading note=<br>
**{{cvt|48|lb/sqft|kg/m2}} effective<ref name="mc_f14designevolution"/>
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|thrust/weight=0.88 at gross weight (1.02 with loaded weight & 50% internal fuel)
|more performance=<br>
* '''Takeoff roll:''' {{convert|2500|ft|abbr=on}}
* '''Landing roll:''' {{convert|2400|ft|abbr=on}}
<!--   Armament
-->
|guns= 1× [[20 mm caliber|20 mm (0.787 in)]] [[M61 Vulcan|M61A1 Vulcan]] 6-barreled rotary cannon, with 675 rounds
|hardpoints= 10 total: 6× under-fuselage, 2× under [[nacelle]]s and 2× on wing gloves<ref name="Spick_p112">Spick 2000, pp. 112–115.</ref>{{refn| The hardpoints between nacelles include two on centerline plus four others next to nacelles. Points between nacelles can only carry a maximum of four missiles at one time. Each wing glove can carry one large pylon for larger missiles, with one rail on the outboard side of the pylon for a Sidewinder.|group=N}}
|hardpoint capacity= {{convert|14500|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of ordnance and fuel tanks<ref name="baug_F-14D">Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f14_5.html "Grumman F-14D Tomcat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124021828/http://joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f14_5.html |date=24 November 2010}} ''Grumman F-14 Tomcat''. 5 February 2000.</ref>
|hardpoint missiles= [[AIM-54 Phoenix]], [[AIM-7 Sparrow]], [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] air-to-air missiles{{refn|Loading configurations:
* 2× AIM-9 + 6× AIM-54 (Rarely used due to weight stress on airframe)
* 2× AIM-9 + 2× AIM-54 + 3× AIM-7 (Most common load during Cold War era)
* 2× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-54 + 2× AIM-7
* 2× AIM-9 + 6× AIM-7
* 4× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-54
* 4× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-7
|group=N}}
|hardpoint bombs=<br>
*** [[Joint Direct Attack Munition|JDAM]] [[precision-guided munition]] (PGMs)
*** [[Paveway]] series of [[laser-guided bomb]]s
***[[Mark 80|Mk 80 series]] of unguided [[Gravity bomb|iron bombs]]
*** [[CBU-100 Cluster Bomb|Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster munition]]
|hardpoint rockets= 7x [[LAU-10]] rocket pods (for a total of 28 rockets)
|hardpoint other=<br>
*** [[Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System]] (TARPS)
*** [[LANTIRN]] Targeting System (LTS) pod (AN/AAQ-14)
*** 2× {{convert|267|gal|abbr=on}} [[drop tank]]s for extended range/loitering time
|avionics=
* [[Hughes Aircraft|Hughes]] [[AN/AWG-9|AN/APG-71]] radar
* [[AN/ALR-67]] radar warning receiver
* AN/AAS-42 [[infrared search and track]], AAX-1 [[Television Camera System|TCS]]
* AN/ASN-130 [[Inertial navigation system]]
* [[ROVER|Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver]] (ROVER) upgrade
}}

==Tomcat logo==
[[File:Original F14 Tomcat logo.jpg|thumb|upright|Tomcat logo]]

The Tomcat logo design came when Grumman's Director of Presentation Services, Dick Milligan, and one of his artists, Grumman employee Jim Rodriguez, were asked for a logo by Grumman's Director of Business Development and former Blue Angels No. 5 pilot, Norm Gandia.<ref name=f-14assoc-02>{{cite web |title=Tomcat Association |url=http://www.f-14association.com/tales/the-birth-of-the-tomcat-logo.html |access-date=26 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026163205/http://www.f-14association.com/tales/the-birth-of-the-tomcat-logo.html |archive-date=26 October 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Per Rodriguez, "He asked me to draw a lifelike Tomcat wearing boxing gloves and trunks sporting a six-shooter on his left side, where the guns are located on the F-14, along with two tails."  The cat was drawn up after a tabby cat was sourced, used for photographs, and named "Tom".  The logo has gone through many variations, including one for the then–[[Imperial Iranian Air Force]] F-14, called "Ali-cat".  The accompanying slogan, "Anytime Baby!" was developed by Norm Gandia as a challenge to the U.S. Air Force's McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.<ref name=f-14assoc-02/><ref>[http://www.grummanpark.org/content/tomcat-logo The Tomcat Logo {{!}} Grumman Memorial Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728231346/http://www.grummanpark.org/content/tomcat-logo |date=28 July 2012}}. Grummanpark.org. Retrieved on 16 August 2013.</ref>

==Notable appearances in media==
{{main|Aircraft in fiction#F-14 Tomcat}}

[[File:VF-111 TOPGUN MOVIE.jpg|thumb|F-14A Tomcats of Fighter Squadrons [[VF-51]] "Screaming Eagles" and [[VF-111 (1956-95)|VF-111]] "Sundowners" in formation with [[Northrop F-5|F-5E/F Tiger IIs]]. The squadrons provided F-14s for filming aerial sequences in the movie ''[[Top Gun]]''.]]
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was central to the 1986 film ''[[Top Gun]]''.<ref name="Star Quality">{{cite journal |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/popculture.html |title=Star Quality |date=1 September 2006 |journal=[[Air & Space/Smithsonian|Air & Space]] |access-date=11 January 2010 |archive-date=1 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201112022/http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/popculture.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14958926 |title=Navy retires F-14 'Top Gun' jet |date=22 September 2006 |agency=Associated Press |website=NBC News |access-date=11 January 2010 |archive-date=2 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302055233/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14958926 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2009/0721/inside-the-news-the-f-22-raptor-warplane |title=Inside the news: The F-22 Raptor warplane |last=Shaer |first=Matthew |date=21 July 2009 |website=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |access-date=16 January 2010 |archive-date=2 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802141811/http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2009/0721/inside-the-news-the-f-22-raptor-warplane |url-status=live}}</ref> The aviation-themed film was such a success in creating interest in naval aviation that the US Navy, which assisted with the film, set up recruitment desks outside some theaters.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HW4pAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799,2509554&dq=military+hollywood&hl=en |title=The Pentagon is a big help for the right military movie |last=Vartabedian |first=Ralph |date=10 September 1986 |newspaper=[[Gainesville Sun]] |location=Gainesville, Florida |page=7B |access-date=17 January 2010 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205044144/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HW4pAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799,2509554&dq=military+hollywood&hl=en |url-status=live}}</ref> Producers paid the US Navy {{US$|886000|1985|long=no|round=-3}} as reimbursement for flight time of aircraft in the film with an F-14 billed at {{US$|7600|1985|long=no|round=-2}} per flight hour.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l5sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6815,7170538&dq=aircraft+in+movies&hl=en |title=Pentagon can shoot down film details |last=Halloran |first=Richard |date=31 August 1986 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=19 January 2010}}{{Dead link |date=October 2010 |bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/27/movies/top-gun-ingenious-dogfights.html?&pagewanted=all |title=Top Gun: Ingenious Dogfights |last=Lindsey |first=Robert |date=27 May 1986 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=19 January 2010 |archive-date=6 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306021134/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/27/movies/top-gun-ingenious-dogfights.html?&pagewanted=all |url-status=live}}</ref> The F-14 Tomcat was also featured in the sequel, ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'' (2022).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogoway |first=Tyler |date=February 15, 2019 |title=Photos Show F-14 Used In Top Gun 2 Production Snared In Carrier's Crash Barricade |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26523/photos-show-f-14-used-in-top-gun-2-production-snared-in-carriers-crash-barricade |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=The Drive |language=en |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518165107/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26523/photos-show-f-14-used-in-top-gun-2-production-snared-in-carriers-crash-barricade |url-status=live}}</ref> Two F-14As of [[VF-84 (1955-95)|VF-84]] from [[USS Nimitz|USS ''Nimitz'']] were featured in the 1980 film ''[[The Final Countdown (film)|The Final Countdown]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.almansur.com/jollyrogers/jollytomcats.htm |title=The Infamous Tomcats of VF-84 |website=almansur.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716032424/http://www.almansur.com/jollyrogers/jollytomcats.htm |archive-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> with four from the squadron in the 1996 release ''[[Executive Decision]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.dailypress.com/1996-09-08/features/9609060045_1_pentagon-fighter-recruitment/2 |title=The Military And the Movies |last=Kemper |first=Bob |date=8 September 1996 |newspaper=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]] |location=Newport News, Virginia |page=2 |access-date=11 January 2010 |archive-date=10 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810173835/http://articles.dailypress.com/1996-09-08/features/9609060045_1_pentagon-fighter-recruitment/2 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Multiple F-14s are featured in the 2008 documentary ''[[Speed & Angels]]'', featuring the story of two young Navy officers working to achieve their dream of becoming F-14 fighter pilots.<ref>{{Citation |title=Speed & Angels |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1112756/ |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=11 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811052311/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1112756/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The F-14 served as an inspiration for various fictional aircraft, most notably the ''[[Macross]]'' franchise's [[VF-1 Valkyrie]],<ref name="Luke Plunkett">{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/a-love-letter-to-the-f-14-tomcat-1797811000|title=A Love Letter To The F-14 Tomcat|author=Luke Plunkett|publisher=Kotaku|date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> the TurboKat of ''[[SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron]]'' also was featured in the anime Japanese TV series ''[[Area 88]]'',{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} and the Skystriker XP-14F from the ''[[G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' toyline.<ref name="Luke Plunkett"/> Actual F-14s were featured in the first episode of ''[[Macross Zero]]'', the [[OVA]] prequel to ''[[Super Dimension Fortress Macross]]'' (adapted as ''[[Robotech]]'' in the US).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macross2.net/m3/macrosszero/f-14.htm|title=Grumman F-14A+2 Tomcat|publisher=Macross Mecha Manual|access-date=January 18, 2024}}</ref>

<!-- ==Gallery==
===Video resources===
<gallery class="center" widths="220">
</gallery>
-->

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[General Dynamics–Grumman F-111B]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Dassault Mirage G8]]
* [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle]]
* [[Mikoyan MiG-31]]
* [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27]]
* [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23]]
* [[Panavia Tornado]]
* [[Sukhoi Su-27]]
* [[Sukhoi Su-33]]
*[[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]]
|lists=
* [[List of fighter aircraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
* [[List of military electronics of the United States]]
|see also=
* [[Fourth-generation jet fighter]]
* [[Grumman XF10F Jaguar]]
* [[Teen Series]]
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=N}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Bishop, Farzad and Tom Cooper. ''Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units (Osprey Combat Aircraft #49)''. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2004. {{ISBN|978-1-84176-787-1}}.
* Crosby, Francis. ''Fighter Aircraft''. London: Lorenz Books, 2002. {{ISBN|0-7548-0990-0}}.
* Donald, David. ''Warplanes of the Fleet''. London: AIRtime Publishing Inc., 2004. {{ISBN|1-880588-81-1}}.
* Dorr, Robert F. "F-14 Tomcat: Fleet Defender". ''World Air Power Journal'', Volume 7, Autumn/Winter 1991, pp.&nbsp;42–99. London: Aerospace Publishing. {{ISSN|0959-7050}}.
* Drendel, Lou. ''F-14 Tomcat in Action''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1977. {{ISBN|0-89747-031-1}}.
* Eden, Paul. ''The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft''. London: Amber Books, 2004. {{ISBN|1-904687-84-9}}.
* Eshel, D. ''Grumman F-14 Tomcat'' (War Data No. 15). Hod Hasharon, Israel: Eshel-Dramit Ltd., 1982.
* Gillcrest, Paul T. ''Tomcat!: The Grumman F-14 Story ''. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 1994. {{ISBN|0-88740-664-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gunston |first1=Bill |last2=Spick |first2=Mike |date=1983 |title=Modern Air Combat |publication-place=New York |publisher=Crescent Books |isbn=0-517-41265-9 }}
* Holmes, Tony. ''US Navy F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Osprey Combat Aircraft #52)''. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2005. {{ISBN|1-84176-801-4}}.
* Holmes, Tony. ''F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Enduring Freedom (Osprey Combat Aircraft #70)''. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-205-9}}.
* Jenkins, Dennis R. ''Grumman F-14 Tomcat: Leading US Navy Fleet Fighter''. London: Aerofax, 1997. {{ISBN|1-85780-063-X}}.
* Lake, Jon. "Grumman F-14 Tomcat Variant Briefing". ''World Air Power Journal'', Volume 19, Winter 1994. pp.&nbsp;114–141. London: Aerospace Publishing. {{ISSN|0959-7050}}. {{ISBN|1-874023-47-6}}.
* Lake, Jon. "Focus Aircraft: Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat: US Navy Today". ''International Air Power Review'', Volume 3, 2002. Norwalk: Connecticut: AIRtime Publishing. {{ISSN|1473-9917}}. {{ISBN|1-880588-36-6}}.
* Marrett, George. "Flight of the Phoenix." ''Airpower,'' Volume 36, No. 7, July 2006.
* Razoux, Pierre. ''The Iran-Iraq War''. Harvard University Press, 2015. {{ISBN|978-0-674-91571-8}}.
* Razoux, Pierre. ''Le siècle des As (1915-1988): Une autre histoire de l'aviation'' {{in lang|fr}}. Place des éditeurs, 2019. {{ISBN|978-2-262-04827-3}}.
* Sgarlato, Nico. "F-14 Tomcat" {{in lang|it}}. ''Aereonautica & Difesa magazine'' Edizioni Monografie SRL., December 1988.
* {{cite book |last=Spick |first=Mike |date=1985 |title=F-14 Tomcat, Modern Fighting Aircraft |volume=8 |publication-place=New York |publisher=Arco Publishing |isbn=0-668-06406-4 }}
* {{cite book |last=Spick |first=Mike |date=2000 |title=The Great Book of Modern Warplanes |chapter=F-14 Tomcat |publication-place=St. Paul, Minnesota |publisher=MBI Publishing Company |isbn=0-7603-0893-4 }}
* Stevenson, J.P. ''Grumman F-14'', Vol. 25. New York: Tab Books, 1975. {{ISBN|0-8306-8592-8}}.
* Taghvaee, Babak. "New Claws for the Persian Cats". ''[[Air International]]'', Vol. 95, No. 3, September 2018. pp.&nbsp;58–63. {{ISSN|0306-5634}}.
* Taghvaee, Babak. "Persian cats of war". ''[[Air International]]'', Vol. 100, No. 3, March 2021. pp.&nbsp;34–41. {{ISSN|0306-5634}}.
* Thomason, Tommy. ''Grumman Navy F-111B Swing Wing'' (Navy Fighters No. 41). Simi Valley, California: Steve Ginter, 1998. {{ISBN|0-942612-41-8}}.
* Wilson, Stewart. ''Combat Aircraft since 1945''. Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications, 2000. {{ISBN|1-875671-50-1}}.

==External links==
{{Commons and category|F-14 Tomcat|Grumman F-14 Tomcat}}
*{{YouTube|VKbHxVR6pbM|A music video by F-14 pilot from VF-31 while tanking for the last time with a KC-135, titled "Boom Operator"}}, recorded 7 February 2006.
*{{YouTube|U2Erj6dlR2Q|The Lost Potential of the Tomcat, authored by Channel: Australian Military Aviation History}}
*{{YouTube|VX19GefftqU|Recorded Live Stream F-14 Tomcat 50th Anniversary Celebration, authored by Channel: Fight's On Military Aviation Enthusiasts}}

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