F-14 Tomcat Archives

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)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Don’t Tell the U.S. Navy: Iran Is the Only Country on Earth Still Flying the F-14 Tomcat Fighter

Iran is the only country on Earth still flying the F-14 Tomcat — the Top Gun jet the U.S. retired in 2006. On June...

Brandon WeichertJune 16, 2026

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

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 WeichertJune 10, 2026

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

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 BalestrieriJune 5, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

National Security Journal

All posts tagged "F-14 Tomcat"

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Don’t Tell the U.S. Navy: Iran Is the Only Country on Earth Still Flying the F-14 Tomcat Fighter

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

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