Tomcat technical

F-14 Tomcat "Fleet Defender"

Technical Review

Although overshadowed in the close-in manoeuvring arena by purpose-built air superiority fighters it is worth remembering that the F-14 was never intended to destroy its targets in the aeronautical equivalent of a hands-on, down-and-dirty knife-fight. The Tomcat is an assassin, armed with weapons which enable it to pick off its victims at such extreme range that they often do not even know they are in danger. In that long-range intercept role it remains unbeatable, and a steady progression of improvements has led to successive new variants, each further adding to the aircraft's formidable long-range kill capability and adding new ones, including ground attack and all-weather reconnaissance.

Into the Frame

Specifications

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

_{Unless stated, these specifications are for the "A" variant.}

POWERPLANT

F-14A

2 Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-414A turbofans, 20,900 lb thrust with afterburner

F-14B

2 General Electric F110-GE-400 turbofans, 23,100 lb thrust with afterburner

F-14D

2 General Electric F110-PW-400 turbofans, 27,600 lb thrust with afterburner

WINGS

>Height	4.88 m (16 ft 1 in)	Length	19.10 m (62 ft 8 in)	>Wing area	52.49 m (565 sq ft)
Overswept	10.15 m (33 ft 3 in)	Airborne swept	11.65 m (38 ft 2in)	Wing span unswept	19.54 m (64 ft 1 in)

TAILS

Tailplane area

13.01 m2 (140 sq ft)

Tailplane span

9.97 m (32 ft 8 in)

Distance between fin tips

3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)

WEIGHTS

Empty	18191 kg (40,104 Ib)	Maximum take-off	33724 kg (74,349 lb)	Take-off with six Phoenix	32098 kg (70,764 Ib)
Landing weight	23510 kg (51,830 lb)	External weapons load	6571kg (14,500 Ib)	Internal fuel load	7348 kg (16,200 lb)
External fuel load	1724 kg (3,800 lb)

PERFORMANCE

Maximum speed at altitude	Mach 2.34 (2485 km/h, 1 544 mph)	At low level	Mach 1.2 (1468 km/h; 912 mph)	Take-off distance	427 m (1,400 ft)
Maximum rate of climb (sea level)	9140m (30,000 ft) per minute	Service ceiling	above 15240 m (50,000 ft)	Carrier approach speed	248 km/h (154 mph)
Landing run	884 m (2,900 ft)

WEAPONS

Type	Lenght	Diameter	Fin Span	Weight
AIM-7E Sparrow	143.71"	7.87"	39.37"/32.28"	441 lbs
AIM-9H Sidewinder	113"	5"	15"/25"	190 lbs
AIM-9L Sidewinder	113"	5"	22"/25"	190 lbs
AIM-54A Phoenix	155.9"	15"	36"	985 lbs

One M-61A1 20-mm gun with 675 rounds and MK-82, MK-83, MK-84 Bombs