From Tomcat to Bombcat
The F-14 Tomcat was first introduced in 1973, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. Of the initial version, the F-14A, the Navy bought 557 aircraft. Then in 1987, the F-14B was introduced, which incorporated more powerful General Electric F-110 engines. Eighty-five of those were built before the F-14D was delivered in 1990, which included a new radar system, jammer, joint tactical information distribution system (JTIDS) and infrared search and track (IRST). The Navy bought 55 of the D version.
There are 195 F-14s remaining in the fleet (72 F-14As, 73 F-14Bs and 50 F-14Ds), all of which have been given precision strike capability with the incorporation of the Air Force LANTIRN targeting system, night vision capability, defensive countermeasures systems, and new digital flight control systems.
The F-14B and D aircraft are being upgraded to carry new all-weather, air-to-ground weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM).
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