F-14 Tomcat: what made it powerful comes down to 1 word

The F-14 Tomcat was passed over because of it Range: : The US Navy currently faces limitations in its strike capabilities due to the short range of Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, which can fly approximately 600 km with a full weapons load and can be increased to approximately 500 km in flight . refueling. This range limitation is concerning as China’s anti-ship ballistic missile technology advances. Historically, the Navy has relied on aircraft like the F-14 Tomcat introduced in the 1970s, which boasted a much longer range of about 2,600 miles and advanced weapons.

– Tomcat’s extended coverage would be very valuable in the fight against denial of access/area denial (A2/AD) threats today. With the F-14 retired and focusing on the Hornets and F-35C, the Navy now needs new platforms or strategies to fill this critical long-range strike role.

Why the US Navy lacks the long-range power of the F-14 Tomcat

The U.S. Navy’s strike aircraft fleet lacks a key feature: range. The Navy’s Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets can fly approximately 600 km with an almost full weapons load. That range could extend to about 500 miles for a companion pod with another F-18 fighter. As Beijing continues to develop anti-ship ballistic missiles, this limited range could pose a problem.

The Navy once relied on fleets of A-6 bombers and F-14 Tomcat fightersboth of which could fly much greater distances than their successors. The Super Hornet may be a more capable aircraft in many respects, but the service’s rediscovery of the need for longer-range strike capabilities has likely left it short of the Tomcat.

Introducing the F-14 Tomcat

The F-14 Tomcat was invented in the late 1950s. The Navy was looking for a long-range and survivable interceptor capable of protecting carrier battle groups. Under Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, the Navy joined the Air Force in the Joint Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) program. Although the resulting TFX airframe could function as both a fighter-bomber and an interceptor, it lacked adequate range, speed, and payload.

Ultimately, manufacturer Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract to produce the F-14 prototype, a twin-engine air-to-air fighter that could reach a top speed of Mach 2.2.

First Tomcat it made its maiden flight in 1970, and the fighter achieved initial operational readiness three years later. The fighter was equipped with AIM-54B and later AIM-54C air-to-air missiles and could carry up to six Phoenix missiles. Additionally, Tomcat it was armed with a General Electric Vulcan M61A 120 mm gun with 675 rounds of ammunition. The F-14 boasted advanced sensors and countermeasures, and each Tomcat was equipped with an AN/ALQ-126 jammer. The platform also includes a Raytheon AN/APG-71 digital multi-mode radar, which provides, among other things, non-cooperative target identification.

Why the Navy misses Tomcat coverage

Perhaps the most respected feature of the Tomcat was its long range of approximately 2,600 miles. The platform was powered by two Pratt & Whitney engines providing over 20,000 pounds of static thrust. This energy allowed the fighter to attack enemy targets from a distance of up to 150 km.

If Tomcat still in service, it would be a huge asset as the Navy grappled with the growing threat from China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities. Although the concept of an improved Super Tomcat was considered at one point, the service ultimately decided to devote all its efforts to the Hornet and later the F-35C.

No F-14 Tomcat coverage and its ability to counter A2/AD threats, the Navy will need to rely on other assets and new platforms to fulfill this defense role.

About the author: Maya Carlin, defense expert

Maja Carlinauthor of articles on national security in The National Interest magazine, is an analyst at the Security Policy Center and a former Anna Sobol Levy fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. Her articles can be found in numerous publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

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