Almost everybody recognizes Maverick, Goose, and the excitement from Top Gun’s aerial combat scenes, and many are aware that the F-14 Tomcat is a twin-seat aircraft designed for air-to-air warfare.
What is less widely recognized is that the aircraft reached almost unparalleled velocities of Mach 2.3, matching the speed of a fifth-generation F-22 fighter jet.
F-14 Tomcat Specs
Upon examining the provided specifications, it becomes evident that the F-14 ranks amongst the swiftest planes ever built and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the F-22, known for achieving speeds up to Mach 2.2. Both the F-22 and F-14 significantly outpace other fighter jets like the F-35 which has a listing of Mach 1.6, whereas the F/A-18 Super Hornet is rated at 1.8.
The difference in speed between the F-14 and the comparatively slower F-35 and F/A-18 planes—some might argue this highlights intriguing points, foremost among them whether retiring the F-14 Tomcat happened prematurely. Could the aircraft have provided many additional productive years of service and engagement in combat? Did its retirement in 2006 lead to losing a distinctive capability?
Air Dominance
Several important aspects should be considered here. Was the introduction of the F-22 as a premier air superiority fighter responsible for diminishing the importance of the F-14? While this idea holds some weight, the F-22 project ended sooner than expected with fewer than 170 units produced. Additionally, since the F-22 can only be launched from land bases and does not have a naval carrier version, it potentially left navy vessels lacking in terms of both speed and aerial supremacy.
The retirement of the F-14 Tomcat rendered aircraft carriers devoid of an agile air superiority fighter. Although the F/A-18 entered service about ten years later than the F-14—in the early '80s instead of the early '70s—it has proven remarkably enduring through extensive upgrades far exceeding initial expectations. It raises questions whether the F-14 reached technical limits preventing further enhancements. Additionally, the absence of stealth technology may render the F-14 inadequate against sophisticated enemy air defense systems found in today's most challenging theaters. Nonetheless, numerous combat situations and tasks could significantly benefit from deploying the capabilities of the Tomcat, thereby enhancing naval operations considerably.
Truncated Service Life
We understand that airframes can stay functional for many years with certain structural reinforcements, as shown by the B-52 and still airborne F/A-18 . Upgrades with computing, weapons systems, software, mission systems, and sensors can all easily happen without major rebuilding or restructuring of an aircraft, something already demonstrated with numerous platforms such as enhancements to the F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet , along with 3.2b software updates for the F-22, significantly enhancing its weapon reach and target acquisition capabilities.
Actually, this type of upgrade method is essential for the expected multi-decade operational lifespan of the F-35, which is planned to be the center of " continuous modernization through software, computation, weapon systems integration, and sensory capabilities extending into the 2070s and beyond.
What all of this may point to is the simple fact that perhaps the F-14 Tomcat was simply retired much too soon, particularly in light of its speed, aerial maneuverability, and combat performance. While the F-14 Tomcat may go all the way back to service in Vietnam , the aircraft destroyed two Libyan Su-22s during the 1980s and carried out multiple assaults Iraq’s Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom prior to retirement in 2006.
Another possibility for the F-14 may simply be that the advent of long-range sensors and advances in weapons guidance and flight trajectory meant that fighter jets are much less likely to “need” to dogfight, something often cited with regard to the F-35. The F-35 For example, as demonstrated in war games, it has proven capable of detecting and neutralizing massive formations of opposing 4th-generation fighter jets from such great distances that it remains undetected itself.
Does this, though, imply that you sacrifice, abandon, or forgo the capability to engage in dogfights? I wouldn’t believe so, which is why the The Pentagon is continuing to enhance the F-22. and fast-track it Next-Generation Air Dominance The 6th-generation stealth aircraft, expected to establish new benchmarks for speed.
The Navy hasn't disclosed much on this topic. F/A-XX The sixth-generation carrier-based fighter appears poised to achieve unprecedented speeds and stealth capabilities. It’s likely that the retirement of the F-14 has driven the Navy to expedite development of this next-generation aircraft, highlighting the ongoing necessity for effective aerial combat engagement through superior agility and fighting prowess.
Certainly, we cannot overlook the matter concerning Iran since approximately 80 F-14 Tomcats were sold to them before the revolution. 1979 Islamic Revolution , a situation that probably still causes significant distress at the Pentagon. The worry may be intensified due to reports indicating that Iran has somehow succeeded in managing upgrade , sustain, and update the aircraft. Even though Iran may not possess them in significant quantities, this could be why the U.S. Navy F-14 reportedly withdrew prematurely, as mentioned in various news accounts.
Multiple reports suggest maintenance costs were part of the challenge with keeping the F-14. Given maintenance for all fighter jets, this does not appear to be a solid reason to compromise Naval air superiority.
Next up is the question about having a "two-person" team, which could be influenced by advancements in artificial intelligence and sophisticated computing technologies. Is there really an essential requirement for a dual human presence within a combat jet, or might experiments currently underway with the Air Force prove successful—replacing one person with an AI-driven robotic system designed to enhance the capabilities of the pilot?
Although this topic invites significant discussion, considering the distinct qualities linked to human observation and judgment remains crucial. Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that tasks such as data management, analysis, detection, guidance, aiming, and numerous others can be executed much quicker and more effectively through computer systems. Has the era of lightweight combat aircraft ended, rendering the F-14 outdated? For instance, the Air Force has conducted successful trials involving artificial intelligence-assisted co-pilot robotics and AI-driven aerial combats alongside completely autonomous drones over several years now. Nevertheless, none of these advancements confirm or imply that sophisticated computational capabilities can genuinely mimic the more abstract aspects of human thought processes, awareness, and choices.
Hence, even though a solo-piloted fighter is anticipated to remain crucial for many years ahead, could there be merit in maintaining a dual-crew setup? For instance, a pilot might conduct complex analyses, gather insights, and execute specific types of reasoning and decisions that machines cannot replicate. Maybe a fighter aircraft could benefit from having both a two-member crew and advanced artificial intelligence capabilities? Could adding another person impair the efficiency of a fighter jet? This appears unlikely when considering the F-14’s agility and aerial combat prowess.
A person might easily recognize specific variables and connections among various elements in ways that computers struggle with. Consider aspects like intuition, morals, emotions, or intricate and personal forms of logic. Although the Army and Air Force Research Labs have started investigating how AI-driven systems could mimic these more abstract types of data processing and decision-making, conventional thinking indicates that the best combat strategy involves combining human skills with machine capabilities. This has led to an increased focus on integrating humans and unmanned systems into collaborative teams.
F-14: Retired Too Soon
All these points suggest that retiring the F-14 Tomcat might have been premature, potentially sacrificing possible enhancements and superior air-to-air capabilities. There’s an argument for bringing back a twin-cockpit fighter aircraft. This could indeed prove sensible since it may take several decades—or possibly never—for technology to match human performance in crucial areas.
Kris Osborn The President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization is Osborn. Previously, he held a position at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army focusing on Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Additionally, Osborn has experience working as an anchor and military correspondent for major television networks. His expertise led him to be featured as a military analyst on various channels including Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. Furthermore, he holds a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
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