HEADLIGHT: The Tomcat
by Ethan Horgan, Sophomore
The Grumman F-14 was created during the cold war to combat soviet bombers and air-to-ship missiles. Two seats, twin engines, and swing-wing capabilities made this a revolutionary multi-role fighter that dominated against the Russian MiG-23 and SU-22. The F-14 was the predecessor of the f-4 phantom, which dominated the vietnam airspace.
The F-14 contains many internal and external aspects that all come together to make it such an important aircraft. Inside the cockpit, the F-14 was equipped with a powerful radar system called the AN/AWG-9, which had a range of over 100 miles and could track multiple targets simultaneously. The Tomcat was also equipped with various air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-54 Phoenix, which had a range of over 100 miles and cou...