F-14 Tomcat Archives

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The U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat Only Exists Because One of the Worst Programs in Pentagon History Failed First

The F-14 Tomcat is remembered as one of the greatest naval fighters ever flown. But it only exists because a defense secretary tried to...

Brandon Weichert9 hours ago

Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. (Sept. 25, 2004) - An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Black Lions" of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), conducts a high-speed pass at the conclusion of the tactical air power demonstration at the 2004 "In Pursuit of Liberty," Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. The demonstration showcased multiple F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets displaying various maneuvers and simulated bomb and staffing passes in front of the crowd. The air show, held Sept. 24-26, showcased civilian and military aircraft from the Nation's armed forces, which provided many flight demonstrations and static displays. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain (RELEASED)

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U.S. Navy Pilots Flying F-14 Tomcats Locked Onto What They Thought Was a Hostile Jet. It Was a Concorde Full of Passengers

Summary and Key Points: It was a tense night over the Red Sea in August 1990. A U.S. Navy cruiser picked up an extremely...

Steve Balestrieri5 days ago

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The F-14 Tomcat from Top Gun Could Have Had an Even Deadlier Successor — and the U.S. Navy Said No

Summary and Key Points: Top Gun: Maverick reminded the world why the F-14 Tomcat is the most beloved fighter the Navy ever flew. What...

Christian OrrJune 3, 2026

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The F-14 Tomcat Fighter Became a Legend — but It Nearly Died From Inflation and Engine Cracks First

Summary and Key Points: The F-14 Tomcat became one of the most successful fighters in U.S. Navy history — a Mach 2.3 jet that...

Harry J. KazianisMay 29, 2026

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A Navy TOPGUN Instructor Flew A Smaller Cheaper Jet So Low It Disappeared from The F-14’s Radar — And Then Killed Both Tomcats

Captain John Monroe Hawk Smith was the executive officer of the U.S. Navy’s TOPGUN program — and one of the most lethal air-to-air aviators...

Steve BalestrieriMay 23, 2026

F-14D Tomcat Onboard USS Intrepid in NYC

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Super Tomcat 21 Fighter Was Designed to Do What The F/A-XX Is Now Being Designed to Do — And The U.S. Navy Killed It 30 Years Ago

Grumman’s Super Tomcat 21 — and its ASF-14 evolution — was the company’s 1990s effort to transform the F-14 Tomcat into a long-range multirole...

Jack BuckbyMay 22, 2026

The F-14 Tomcat, famed for its role in "Top Gun" and its mission to protect U.S. carrier groups, underwent a significant transformation in its later years. Dubbed the "Bombcat," the F-14B variant was repurposed with advanced systems like the LANTIRN pod, enabling precision-guided munitions delivery from high altitudes.

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

An F-14 Tomcat Fighter Broke in Two and Slid Down A U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Flight Deck in Flames

The F-14 Tomcat served the U.S. Navy from 1974 to 2006. Three major F-14 disasters revealed a Navy maintenance and capability crisis. An F-14B...

Brandon WeichertMay 14, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Flat Spin That Killed Goose in Top Gun Was Real — The TF30 Engine Caused 28% of F-14 Tomcat Crashes Over Two Decades

The infamous flat spin that kills Goose in the 1986 film Top Gun is a real engine failure mode of the F-14 Tomcat —...

Harrison KassMay 9, 2026

F-14D Tomcat Fighter Image from National Security Journal

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Grumman Built an F-14 Tomcat in U.S. Air Force Colors in 1972 — But the Air Force Chose the F-15 Eagle Instead

In 1972, Grumman built a full-scale mock-up of an F-14 Tomcat painted in U.S. Air Force Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM) markings at its Calverton...

Jack BuckbyMay 9, 2026

National Security Journal

All posts tagged "F-14 Tomcat"

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat Only Exists Because One of the Worst Programs in Pentagon History Failed First

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

U.S. Navy Pilots Flying F-14 Tomcats Locked Onto What They Thought Was a Hostile Jet. It Was a Concorde Full of Passengers

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-14 Tomcat from Top Gun Could Have Had an Even Deadlier Successor — and the U.S. Navy Said No

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-14 Tomcat Fighter Became a Legend — but It Nearly Died From Inflation and Engine Cracks First

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

A Navy TOPGUN Instructor Flew A Smaller Cheaper Jet So Low It Disappeared from The F-14’s Radar — And Then Killed Both Tomcats

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Super Tomcat 21 Fighter Was Designed to Do What The F/A-XX Is Now Being Designed to Do — And The U.S. Navy Killed It 30 Years Ago

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

An F-14 Tomcat Fighter Broke in Two and Slid Down A U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Flight Deck in Flames

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Flat Spin That Killed Goose in Top Gun Was Real — The TF30 Engine Caused 28% of F-14 Tomcat Crashes Over Two Decades

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Grumman Built an F-14 Tomcat in U.S. Air Force Colors in 1972 — But the Air Force Chose the F-15 Eagle Instead

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