| The United States Navy has formally retired the | | | | AIM-54 missiles to destroy their opposing force. |
| Grumman F-14 Tomcat. I discovered this while | | | | Unofficial kills using their limited number of missiles go |
| watching a TV news channel in Los Angeles. The | | | | as high as 40. We will probably never know the |
| ceremony took place at Miramar which is located | | | | exact number, but Iran continues to fly their |
| near San Diego. Most Americans equate the F14 to | | | | Tomcats. |
| the movie, "Top Gun". When you mention to | | | | The USAF and USN practice their combats skills over |
| someone you spent many years in the Navy working | | | | the Nevada desert in an exercise called, "Red Flag". It |
| on F14's, they usually say something about the | | | | is one of the most realistic combat simulations |
| movie. It's always interesting to talk to someone | | | | anywhere in the world. Air Forces all over the world |
| who does not know it up close and personal. I never | | | | come to these exercises to hone their combat skills. |
| flew the airplane, but I knew how keep it combat | | | | On one deployment, I was told that the navy F-14 |
| ready for the fleet. I spent six years in the Navy as | | | | crews were not allowed to use their airborne radar |
| an F-14 Radar technician. I spent another 7 years | | | | outside of the conflict area because this would give |
| working for the Navy as a civilian "Tech Rep". I have | | | | them an advantage. Typically, one F-14 would sweep |
| been at sea onboard the USS Enterprise, USS | | | | a section of the sky to look for enemy targets. This |
| Roosevelt, USS America, and closed out my Naval | | | | aircraft would share its data with other patrolling |
| career by flying out to the USS Forrestal in 1991. At | | | | F-14's without turning on their radars. This discrete |
| that time, the USS Forrestal was at sea in the | | | | information sharing would keep the enemy guessing |
| Mediterranean, so this required a flight to the ship | | | | as to their true location. This tactic would not give |
| while at sea. So, when I overhear someone talking | | | | away their location since it wasn't necessary to turn |
| about the F-14 Tomcat in Naval Aviation, I carry | | | | on their individual radars. |
| some personal knowledge. | | | | As far as one on one combat between fighter USAF |
| My first experience with the aircraft was in 1977. At | | | | and USN pilots, I can't speak for them. But I do know |
| the time, I was a 19 year old sailor from St. Louis and | | | | that a World War II ace and test pilot Chuck Yeager |
| I had only seen a few still pictures of it in magazines | | | | wrote about what makes a good pilot. He said first |
| prior to my arrival at NAS Miramar, California. The | | | | you must have excellent eyesight since the first to |
| F-14's were replacing the old Navy F-4 Phantoms in | | | | detect the other at long range has the advantage in |
| 1977 and the Tomcats appeared to be something | | | | combat. But he also said he was a good pilot because |
| out of a science fiction book. At the time, I had | | | | he had a lot of flying experience. I deployed to the |
| tribulations on learning how to master its complexity. | | | | U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in 1977 and |
| My specialty was in the AN/AWG-9 Radar which was | | | | spent the next four years and three months |
| the most powerful airborne radar ever mounted into | | | | onboard. The one thing that really amazed me was |
| a supersonic fighter. The radar was unique in its | | | | how aircraft were able to land at night on a slick |
| primary function to shoot down small low flying high | | | | flight deck that was pitching up and down and from |
| speed cruise missiles skimming the ocean surface and | | | | side to side. I'm not saying Navy pilots are better, but |
| also MIG 25's flying at MACH 3 up at 80,000 feet. | | | | they are very experienced and good at what they |
| After spending almost two years in Navy technical | | | | do. If I had a couple of MIG fighters inbound with |
| schools, I was deemed worthy to work on the | | | | hostile intent, I would feel really comfortable knowing |
| complex F-14 radar system. At the time, the aircraft | | | | one of our F-14's was patrolling over the horizon. I |
| was a truly revolutionary upgrade to Naval Aviation. | | | | took a picture of an F-14 cockpit that had five red |
| Even to this day, some of its unique capabilities are | | | | stars painting on it from squadron VF-2. The RIO |
| still unmatched. | | | | (Radar Intercept Officer) Willie Driscol flew with |
| My family has a history of being involved with United | | | | fighter pilot Randy Cuningham in a Navy F-4 Phantom |
| States fighters. My oldest brother retired as a USAF | | | | in during the Vietnam War. They were the first |
| Lt. Colonel and flew the F-4 phantom, F-5 and F-16. | | | | American fighter aces of the War. I slept at ease on |
| He spent years as an aggressor pilot teaching pilots | | | | the ship knowing we had experienced crews |
| dog fighting skills. My other brother retired as a USAF | | | | protecting our aircraft carrier at sea. |
| Radar Technician and worked on the F-106, F-4, F16 | | | | During the first Gulf war, the F-14's were restricted |
| and F-15. So, being the sole Navy man in the family, I | | | | from flying fighter cover over the Iraqi territory with |
| get a lot of ribbing when I speak of the F-14 as | | | | the highest concentration of MIG fighters. Most of |
| being the true top gun. When they say the F15 and | | | | the tomcats were limited to stay over water near |
| F16 are better in close in combat, I say it depends on | | | | the carriers for air cover. When the Iraqi Air Force |
| the pilot just as much as the machine. But more | | | | decided to fly all of their remaining fighters to Iran, |
| importantly, if your job is to take off and destroy an | | | | the coalition Air Forces had nothing in place that could |
| enemy aircraft, you're not going to fight a fair fight. | | | | shoot them down. As a result, the Iranian Air Force |
| You're going to use whatever advantage you have | | | | now has an extra 50 to 100 fighters. Iran fought a |
| to kill him before he kills you. | | | | long hard war with Iraq and I doubt if they ever let |
| The F-14 can out gun the others by using its superior | | | | them fly back after the war ceased. It would have |
| radar, so the Navy has eyes on target first. The F-14 | | | | been a beautiful sight to see dozens of AIM-54's in |
| could detect an airborne treat at much longer range | | | | the sky shrieking at their targets at Mach 4 as they |
| than any other airborne fighter. The F-14D Tomcat | | | | tried to escape to Iran. |
| could also fly at supersonic speed without lighting up | | | | The USAF now has a wonderful new stealth fighter, |
| it's afterburner for supersonic cruise. The Naval | | | | the Lockheed Martin "F/A-22 Raptor". The first |
| Aviators called it, "Super Cruise". And the Navy can | | | | operational squadrons are now based in Langley AFB, |
| shoot first using their long range AIM-54 Phoenix | | | | Virginia. This airplane will dominate the airspace of any |
| missiles. The USAF currently uses the new AIM-120 | | | | enemy. Its full capabilities are still somewhat classified, |
| AMRAAM missile which is an outstanding air to air | | | | but it is a truly revolutionary fighter for the 21st |
| missile, but it has less than half the range of the | | | | Century. I have never seen it fly, but I will attend the |
| AIM-54. This means the Navy fighter pilot can shoot | | | | open house at Edwards AFB this weekend and |
| his missiles at longer range and still be effective. Once | | | | watch the airborne flight demo of the F/A-22. When |
| the missile gets within close range of the target, it | | | | I watch this flight, I will be almost 50 years old, but |
| uses its active onboard radar to steer to final impact. | | | | my thoughts will go back almost 30 years ago when |
| During live firing missile exercises, the kill rate of the | | | | as a young Navy enlisted man, watching F-14 |
| AIM-54 exceeded 90 percent which is outstanding. | | | | Tomcats fly over NAS Miramar (Fighter Town USA). |
| The AIM-120 uses this same concept and this | | | | The Tomcat provided the United States Navy with a |
| technology was carried over from our experience | | | | proud history. I'm sure the F/A-22 will do the same |
| with the AIM-54. The F-14 Tomcat is the only fighter | | | | for the USAF in the next 30. |
| to use the long range AIM-54. | | | | In conclusion, I didn't write this article to stir any |
| The only AIM-54 ever used in combat was by the | | | | animosity between the USAF and USN fighter |
| IAF (Iranian Air Force) which purchased 100 F-14 | | | | community. Each service has a proud history and will |
| Tomcats in the mid 70's. Iranian airspace was being | | | | continue to have pilots that are truly, "The Best of |
| violated by high flying MIG 25's flying at Mach 3. For | | | | the Best". I have the utmost respect for the men |
| this reason, Iran selected the F-14 Tomcat to | | | | and women who serve our nation, especially in the |
| protect their airspace. Once their F-14 aircraft | | | | difficult war we're faced with today. God bless them |
| downed an unmanned high speed Russian resonance | | | | all and may they all come home safely when their |
| aircraft, the flights over from Russia ceased. During | | | | tours of duty are completed. |
| the Iraq / Iran war, they effectively used their | | | | |