The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a variable wing geometry "lifting-body" fighter and was the US Navy's main air superiority and fleet defence interceptor from 1974 to 2006. The F-14 Tomcat was designed in response to lessons learned with the F-4 Phantom in Vietnam which the F-14 Tomcat eventually replaced, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was also destined to replace the US Navy's RF-8G Photo Reconnaissance Crusaders in the 1980's following their retirement. The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was finally retired after over three decades of USN service in September 2006 being replaced with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet however the Tomcat remains operational with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Air Force. It is of note that the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was the aircraft featured in the 1986 Academy Award winning film "Top Gun" GrummanF-14D Super Tomcat Specifications: - Crew: Pilot and Radar Operator
- Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.1 m)
- Wingspan Spread: 64 ft (19.5 m)
- Wingspan Swept: 38 ft (11.58 m)
- Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)
- Wing area: 565 ft² (54.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 43,735 lb (19,838 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 74,350 lb (33,720 kg)
- Engines: Twin 27,800 lbf (124.7 kN) General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h)
- Combat radius: 500 nmi (575 mi, 926 km)
- Ferry range: 1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km)
- Rate of climb: 45,000 ft/min (229 m/s)
Armament: - Guns: Single M61 Vulcan 20 mm Gatling Gun
- Missiles: AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
- Bombs: GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-16, GBU-24, GBU-24E Paveway I/II/III LGB, GBU-31, GBU-38 JDAM, Mk-20 Rockeye II, Mk-82, Mk-83 and Mk-84 series iron bombs
Avionics: - Hughes AN/APG-71 radar
- AN/ASN-130 INS, IRST, TCS
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