What is the future for the F-14 Tomcat?

Answer 1

Will be retired this year and replayced by the F/A-18F Super Hornet which is already started since 2002

Answer 2

In my opinion, the aircraft should be kept on the rolls as an active air-superiority aircraft. The F-14 Tomcat was ansd still is one of the finest aerial dogfighters of the modern era, replaciing such venerable classics as the P-51 Mustang and the F4U Corsair, and the P-40 Warhawk. The aircraft has a good service record and currently has the longest ranged AAW missile on the market, the AIM-120 Pheonix. It is slated to be replaced by the Joint Strike Fighter.

Answer 3

While the F-14 had been developed as a light weight alternative to the 80,000 lb F-111B, the F-14 was still the largest and most expensive fighter in its time. VFAX was revived in the 1970s as a lower cost solution to replacing the Navy's fleet of USMC Phantoms, and A-7. VFAX would be merged with the USAF Light Weight Fighter fighter competition, from which the F/A-18 Hornet emerged as roughly a midsize fighter.

In 1994, Congress would reject Grumman proposals to the Navy to upgrade the Tomcat beyond the D model (such as the Super Tomcat 21, the cheaper QuickStrike version, and the more advanced Attack Super Tomcat 21). Instead, the Navy elected to retire the F-14 and chose the F/A-18E/F to fill the roles of fleet defense and strike formerly filled by the F-14.

The F-14 has completed its retirement from US Naval service. At one point, it was slated to remain in service through at least 2008, but all F-14A and F-14B airframes have already been retired, and the last two squadrons, the VF-31 Tomcatters and the VF-213 Black Lions, both flying the "D" models, arrived for their last fly-in at Naval Air Station Oceana on March 10, 2006.

The last F-14 combat mission was completed on February 8, 2006, when a pair of Tomcats landed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt after one dropped a bomb in Iraq. That aircraft assigned to VF-31 and the aircrew credited with the last bomb dropped in combat by a Navy Tomcat was pilot LT Justin Halligan and RIO LT Bill Frank. The other Tomcat on that mission was a F-14D from VF-213 piloted by Commander Air Wing Eight, Capt. William G. Sizemore, and became the last F-14 to land on an aircraft carrier after a combat mission. During their final deployment with the USS Theodore Roosevelt, VF-31 and VF-213 collectively completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours, and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance during reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On March 10, 2006, the 22 planes from these squadrons flew in formation into Naval Air Station Oceana after the last deployment of the F-14. VF-31 remained operational in the F-14 Tomcat under the Fleet Response Plan (FRP) through September and conducted the last carrier qualifications in late July maintaining their ability to deploy right up until the end. VF-213 and VF-31 would transition to the Super Hornet training.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) shot from its catapult an F-14D, assigned to VF-31, for the last time on July 28, 2006. It was piloted by Lt. Blake Coleman & RIO (Radar Information Officer) Lt. Cmdr. Dave Lauderbaugh. The last trap recovery was made a while before by Lt. Chris Rattigan & Lt. Paul Dort, on aircraft no.110.The "official" final flight retirement ceremony was on September 22, 2006 at Naval Air Station Oceana. Two F-14s were readied for the ceremonial final flight; after the primary plane experienced mechanical problems, the backup was flown instead, by Lt. Cmdr. Chris Richard & RIO Lt. Mike Petronis. The failure was a reminder of the reason for its retirement: high maintenance costs. The last flight of the F-14 Tomcat in US service took place October 4, 2006, when an F-14D of VF-31 was ferried from Oceana to Republic Airport on Long Island, NY. The F-14 fleet is mothballed at the Davis-Monthan "Boneyard."

Answer 4

Done - gone away - Casper for the American Navy. They have been replaced with the F-18 and eventually the JSF. Now if Iran suddenly collapses; they might be in the market for the plane since they are the only ones with the system.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-14.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-14_Tomcat

Answer 5

It's being delisted from the U.S. military. Around the world, it's competing among several different weapons dealers and after the various boycotts by the U.S. military, many countries are looking to China and Russia for their aircraft, because they don't boycott or ban people from buying their aircraft.

Answer 6

I guess we'll sell our surplus to some other country. It's ashame, as it's a decent aircraft, still easily maintains air superiority compared to what other countries have. However, the F-18 Raptor really outdoes it.

Answer 7

It will be seen only in museums and airshows flown and operated by private owners or organizations. There will possibly be a few still operating in Iran but even they will be retired as well if they haven't already.

Answer 8

Not sure, but I know by 2010 the stealth bomber will be an antique for something much better.... It'll be a while before we know what takes it's place though.

Answer 9

I thought it was already taken out of service?

Answer 10

We can sell them to a foreign dictator, only to fight a war against him later.