The F-14 Tomcat reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

F-14 Tomcat

F-14 Tomcat
300px Sailors prepare an F-14 Tomcat for flight on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (year 2003).
Description
Role	Fleet Defense Interceptor
Crew	2, Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer
Dimensions
Length	62 ft 8 in	19.1 m
Wingspan	64 ft 1 in (extended) 38 ft 2 in (swept)	19.54 m 11.65 m
Height	16 ft	4.9 m
Wing area	565 ft²	54.5 m²
Weights
Empty	39,762 lb	18,036 kg
Loaded (w/4 AIM-54s and two drop tanks)	68,649 lb	31,139 kg
Maximum take-off	74,438 lb	33,724 kg
Powerplant
Engines	2 Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-412A turbofans
Power	20,900 lb each	9,480 kg each
Performance
Maximum speed	1,544 mph (Mach 2.34)	2,485 km/h
Combat range	576 mi	927 km
Ferry range	2,000 mi	3,220 km
Service ceiling	> 56,000 ft	> 17,070 m
Rate of climb
Armament
Guns	M61A1 20mm Vulcan multibarrel cannon
Missile Configurations	6 AIM-54s + 2 AIM-9s 6 AIM-7s + 2 AIM-9s 2 AIM-54s + 3 AIM-7s + 2 AIM-9s 4 AIM-54s + 2 AIM-7s + 2 AIM-9s

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a United States Navy supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place strike fighter. The Tomcat's primary missions are air superiority, fleet air defense and precision strike against ground targets.

The F-14 has visual and all-weather attack capability to deliver Phoenix and Sparrow missiles as well as the M-61 gun and Sidewinder missiles for close in air-to-air combat. The F-14 also has the LANTIRN targeting system that allows delivery of various laser-guided bombs for precision strikes in air-to-ground combat missions. The F-14, equipped with Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) is the Navy's only manned tactical reconnaissance platform.

The F-14 entered the fleet in 1973, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. The F-14B, introduced in November 1987, incorporated new General Electric F-110 engines. In 1995, an upgrade program was initiated to incorporate new digital avionics and weapon system improvements to strengthen its multi-mission competitive edge. The F-14D, delivered in 1990, was a major upgrade with F-110 engines, new APG-71 radar system, Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) and Infrared Search and Track (IRST). Additionally, all F-14 variants were given precision strike capability using the LANTIRN targeting system, night vision compatibility, new defensive countermeasures systems and a new digital flight control system.

The F-14 is currently scheduled to be retired from the US Navy arsenal in the year 2010. It is to be replaced by the McDonnel Douglas F/A-18 Super Hornet.

The F-14 is named for late Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly, whose testimony before the Senate was critical in the cancellation of the deeply-flawed F-111B Naval interceptor.

General Characteristics

• Function: Carrier-based multi-role strike fighter
• Contractor: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
• Unit Cost: US$38 million
• Propulsion:
  • F-14A: Two Pratt and Whitney TF-30P-414A turbofan engine with afterburners
  • F-14B and F-14D: Two General Electric F110-GE-400 turbofan engines with afterburners
• Thrust:
  • TF-30P-414A: 20,900 pounds (93 kN) static thrust per engine
  • F110-GE-400: 27,000 pounds (120 kN) static thrust per engine
• Length: 61 feet 9 inches (18.6 m)
• Height: 16 feet (4.8 m)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 72,900 pounds (32,805 kg)
• Wingspan: 64 feet (19 meters) unswept, 38 feet (11.4 m) swept
• Ceiling: Above 50,000 feet (15,000 m)
• Speed: Mach 2+
• Crew: Two; pilot and radar intercept officer (RIO)
• Armament: Up to 13,000 pounds (5,900 kg) to include AIM-54 Phoenix missile, AIM-7 Sparrow missile, AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, air-to-ground precision strike ordnance, and one M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon.
• First flight: December 1970

Operators

• United States Navy
• Iranian Air Force (F-14A)

Related content
Related Development
Similar Aircraft
Designation Series	F-10 - F-11 - YF-12 - F-14 - F-15 - F-16 - F-17
Related Lists	List of military aircraft of the United States - List of fighter aircraft

List of Aircraft - Aircraft Manufacturers - Aircraft Engines - Aircraft Engine Manufacturers

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