F-14 Tomcat
Naval Fighter
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engined two-seat
carrier-based supersonic sweep wing jet fighter aircraft produced by the
US-American manufacturerGrumman Aerospace Corporation. The Tomcat was operated
by the United States Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only.
Specifications
|
|
Function
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Carrier-based multi-role strike fighter
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Contractor
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Grumman Aerospace Corporation
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Unit Cost
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$38 million
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Propulsion
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F-14: two Pratt & Whitney TF-30P-414A
turbofan engines with afterburners;
F-14B and F-14D: two General Electric F-110-GE-400
augmented turbofan engines with afterburners |
Thrust
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F-14A: 20,900 pounds (9,405 kg) static thrust per engine;
F-14B and F-14D: 27,000 pounds (12,150 kg) per engine |
Length
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61 feet 9 inches (18.6 meters)
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Height
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16 feet (4.8 meters)
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Maximum Takeoff Weight
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72,900 pounds (32,805 kg)
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Wingspan
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64 feet (19 meters) unswept, 38 feet (11.4 meters) swept
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Ceiling
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Above 53,000 feet
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Speed
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Max Mach Number = 1.88
Cruise Mach Number = .72 Carrier Approach Speed = 125 kts |
Mission Radius
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500 nm Hi-Med-Hi strike profile
380 nm Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi strike profile |
Crew
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Two: pilot and radar intercept officer
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Armament
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Up to 13,000 pounds of
air-to-ground ordnance
MK-82 (500 lbs.) 4 MK-83 (1,000 lbs.) 4 MK-84 (2,000 lbs.) MK-20 cluster bomb 4 GBU-10 LGB GBU-12 MK-82 LGB 4 GBU-16 MK-83 LGB 4 GBU-24 MK-84 LGB
one MK-61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon
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Countermeasures
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AN/ALR-45 radar warning receiver [Itek]
AN/ALR-67 radar warning receiver [F-14D]
AN/ALQ-167 ECM Pod [F-14D]
AN/ALE-50 towed decoy [F-14D]
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Date Deployed
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First flight
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December 1970
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Inventory
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157 F-14A/B
53 F-14D Phasing out one squadron / year All to be withdrawn by 2010
F-14 orginally designed for 6,000 flight hours
Currently certified for 7,350 flight hours Potential for extension to 8,000 or 9,000 flight hours |
·
The F-14A Aircraft
is the basic platform of the F-14 series. It is equipped with two TF30-P-414A
engines. Sixty "core" F-14A Aircraft are being upgraded with the
AN/ALR-67 Countermeasure Warning and Control System, LANTIRN and the
Programmable Tactical Information Display (PTID). In all F-14 series aircraft,
the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) will be replaced by the Digital
Flight Control System (DFCS). In the late 1970s the Defense Department
experienced very substantial engine problems both with the F-14 with the TF-30
engine, and with the F-16 and the F-15 with F-100 engines. They were so serious
that there was consideration given to developing new engines for the aircraft,
which would have been an enormously difficult undertaking. It was decided
instead to make upgrades and improvements in the engines. The engines in the
later models of the F-14 are entirely adequate for the purpose. The engines in
the F-14As have been improved so that they are also effective, although they
are not the engine the Navy would have put in the airplane from the beginning
if there had been a more powerful engine design then. In the mid-1990s one
change that was made in the F-14 was the introduction of a Digital Flight
Control System to the F-14 to prevent the pilot from making an unsafe or
unauthorized maneuver, reducing the burden on the pilot to remember what cannot
or should not be done under certain conditions. Funding for the new Digital
Flight Control System -- about $80 million -- was obtained by reprogramming
money in Fiscal 1996. The existing TARPS Pod System will be replaced with the
TARPS Digital Imaging System. The Bol Chaff System will be added as part of an
integrated modification program. The incorporation of these changes will not
change the designation of the F-14A.
·
The F-14B is
either a remanufactured F-14A or new production aircraft, both equipped with
F110-GE-400 engines, which replaced the TF30-P-414A engines. The F110-GE-400 is
a new design which emphasizes reliability, maintainability, and operability.
The new high technology engine improves capability and maneuverability without
throttle restrictions or engine trimming. Sixty-seven F-14B Aircraft are being
modified to extend the service life of the airframes and improve the offensive
and defensive posture of the platform. This includes the F110-GE-400 engine,
Fatigue Engine Monitoring System, AN/ALR-67 Countermeasure Warning and Control
System, Gun Gas Purge Door Engineering Change Proposal (ECP), Direct Lift
Control/Approach Power Compensator ECP, AN/AWG-15F ECP, and Engine Door Tension
Fittings ECP. In addition, the AN/ASN-92 Carrier Aircraft Inertial Navigation
System (CAINS) I will be replaced with the Embedded GPS Inertial (EGI)
Navigation System. The F-14B Upgrade includes a MIL-STD-1553B Digital Multiplex
Data Bus (DMDB), Programmable Multi-Display Indicator Group (PMDIG), PTID, the
AN/AWG-15H Fire Control System, AN/ALR-67D(V)2 Radar Warning Receiver, EGI, and
Mission Data Loader. Other survivability improvements were developed under the
F-14 Airframe Change Number 828, Multi-Mission Capability Upgrade. The modified
F-14B Aircraft is referred to as the F-14B Upgrade; modifications will be
completed in FY01.
·
The F-14D is
either a remanufactured F-14A or new production aircraft, both equipped with
F110-GE-400 engines, new radar, and new avionics systems. The F-14D provides
controls and displays that increase aircrew effectiveness through automation
and simplicity. Additionally, the F-14D provides changes to the radar,
airframe, electronic countermeasures systems, Naval Flight Officer (NFO)
armament control panel, pilot air combat maneuvering panel, and emergency
jettison panel which enhance the offensive and defensive posture of the
platform. The AN/APG 71 Radar replaces the AN/AWG-9 Radar used in the F-14A/B
and has fewer Weapon Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs), thereby reducing both
weight and space requirements. The functional expansion is achieved by
replacement of AN/AWG-9 analog processing hardware with more flexible digital
processing. Major changes were made in the following areas: Signal Processor,
Data Processor, Digital Display, Central Processor, Receivers, and Antenna
configuration. The Infrared Search and Track System (IRSTS) is a Navy developed
system which provides long range detection in the long wave infrared spectrum
of both subsonic and supersonic targets. The Air Force common Joint Tactical
Information Distribution System (JTIDS) terminal, when installed and
integrated, provides secure, jam resistant, high capacity digital data and
voice information distribution, and accurate relative navigation capabilities.
Production shifted to the F-14D in 1988, and Initial
Operational Capability for the F-14D Aircraft was in FY92. The original program
schedules envisioned the first D delivery in March 1990 with an all-D fleet
achieved by 1998. Plans called for 127 new-production F-14D and modification of
400 F-14A and F-14A+ to D configurations. The revised defense budget submitted
in April 1989 proposed cancelling the new-construction portion of the program,
but Congress authorized 18 new F-14Ds for 1990 with the stipulation that these
would be the last new aircraft authorized--a total of 37. The first F-14D was
delivered in February 1990. The funding plans for remanufacturing F-14As into
F-14D(R)s in the 1990-1994 period included 6 in 1990, 12 in 1991, 24 in 1992,
48 in 1993, and 60 in 1994; the schedule was later scaled back to 18 in 1992,
20 in 1993, and 24 aircraft in 1994 and 1995. Further defense spending cutbacks
eliminated almost all procurement funding for 1991 and provided no money at all
in 1992-1993. The final blow fell in mid-February 1991 when the Navy cancelled
an already-funded $780 million contract for 12 remanufactured F-14, effectively
ending further production.
hp
photo credit: Google Image
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