The Grumman F-14 Tomcat
In this issue, we take a closer look at what became the primary maritime air superiority fighter of the United States Navy for over 30 years, the versatile and very powerful Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
Born of a need
It is no surprise that most military aircraft are born of an emerging threat and as the Cold War entered the 1960s, the United States Navy (USN) required an aircraft that could be used to protect the carrier fleets at longer range to counter advances in weaponry. While various modifications of the F-4 Phantom and F-111B were trialled, the USN ultimately sought a new design that could also accommodate new and emerging weapons systems.
