F-14 Tomcat: History, Performance & Discussion

[ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn]

I posted this in an unrelated thread a bit ago. Thought I’d share it here.

F-14 Update:

F-14D
New Armament:
8-10x Aim-120A/B
6x Aim-54C+ ECCM
4x Aim-9M-8
6x Aim-7P Block II

New Avionics:
AN/APG-71
F-15E Radar Modes, AWG-9 Range, New Exclusive Radar Mode, 80% resistance to chaff/notch/ECM
New Radar Mode for AN/APG-71:
TWS DL ET (Track-While-Scan Datalink Extended Track) | Allows radar to reach ranges up to 740km when paired with another AN/APG-71. Automatically enabled/disabled upon entering battle with another F-14D/Exiting 370km range of an F-14D

AAS-42 IRST
110mi Range, Radar Slaving, TCS Slaving, IR slaving

F-14 Changes

Missiles:
Aim-54 (All) - Drag reduced marginally, 25G overload

Added Mk.47 and Mk.60 Aim-54 Boosters to Modifications.
Mk.47: 30 Second Burn Time, Less Thrust, Slightly Less Heavy
Mk.60 33 Second Burn Time, More Thrust, Slightly More Heavy (Bonus: Smokeless)

Aim-54C and C+ ECCM receive their new seekers, allowing them to track rear aspect, use Anti-Chaff capabilities, and use the best possible loft profile.

Flightmodel: Getting hit in the wings now doesn’t mean you instantly depart flight, drag with the wings back at extreme speeds reduced, and the wing hitbox now follows where the wing actually is. Landing flaps now do around 20% more than combat flaps do for maneuverability and reduce the stall speed down to ~100kph.

Engines: F-14B/D get 30,200 Pounds of thrust and a TWR of ~1.39.

F-14A+IRIAF
A: Aim-9L, F-14B RWR, 13.0, Upgraded to best TF-30 Engines giving it a ~0.99 TWR.
IRIAF: R-73, 6X Fakour-90, Upgraded Radar/RWR, weight reduction giving it a 1:1 TWR.

All F-14s and 2 Seater jets without HMD get this too: Mouse designated radar lock for 2 seater jets

RIO changes:

• The RIO can now spot IR missiles

• Inform you of enemy positions in a dogfight.

• Has the ability to be controlled in the multifunction menu to automatically deploy flares when an IR missile is spotted, automatically switch radar modes to keep lock, and automatically switch between chaff/flares depending on the type of missile (only switches to chaff/flares once the threat is confirmed through a missile’s radar signal/an IR missiles presence).

• They now have voicelines corresponding to what the Betty system says is already in-game + these new features.

Personally, I think this would fix most if not everything wrong with the F-14. I tried to keep it realistic with what actually could be done, so lmk your thoughts.

[joshje100]

I’d like to see the TISEO/TCS screen properly modelled instead of using the standard TV camera screen. Took this from DCS.

It would actually be useful then instead of this.

The current screen is only actually usable under 1km. Anything above and it’s covered by the lines. And yes this is zoomed in with the MFD Zoom keybind.

[QUIETARTIFACT10]

@ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn

8-10x Aim-120A/B

the double missile rails that would be needed for the 8x configuration can also be mounted to the AIM-54 belly rails via the ADU-703 adapter, meaning it would actually be 8-12.

[BACKRAGE44428]

does the F14B-A over perform in flight performance in game taking into account the 1.5X multiplier?

[tripod2008]

@BACKRAGE44428

does the F14B-A over perform in flight performance

Somewhat, due to the fact that the slats are deployed when they shouldn’t be, even though it’s been reported, and rejected.

https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/9d7ZQcU4uV1J

[ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn]

It’s more like 1.4 for the tomcat but yeah pretty much.

[kitsune_qq]

at same time it’s missing auto-flaps
gaijin when normal mechanization control

[ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn]

Yeah there’s no doubt they could do that (at least geometrically) but I was basing it on what this doc says so Gaijin has some basis:

[ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn]

Do the slats deploy at extreme speeds (Mach 2+) and would that hurt or help the energy retention and turning capability at those speeds? Kinda curious because the Tomcats hold their speed pretty well at extreme speeds and can do a full 90-degree pretty quickly turn without going below Mach 2.

[tripod2008]

It’s not my report, So I’m not entirely sure but they are definitely automatically deploying when they shouldn’t be.

The Slats trade additional energy for greater turn rate, so the F-14 looses speed / turns too quickly at higher wing sweeps.

[Slipz]

Simple radar which compensated by being powerful it’s hilariously bad in war thunder.

[BeautifulTai_wan]

That’s why I call it the caveman radar.

Huge power, but primitive.

[Nick_Cloud]

@ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn

• The RIO can now spot IR missiles
• Inform you of enemy positions in a dogfight.

That’s a must for all 2 seaters. And that’s very realistic.
Man even in ww2 planes multi-person crew planes should have better spotting. And as spotting is RNG-ish a simple better modifier will suffice.

@ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn

Has the ability to be controlled in the multifunction menu to automatically deploy flares when an IR missile is spotted, automatically switch radar modes to keep lock, and automatically switch between chaff/flares depending on the type of missile (only switches to chaff/flares once the threat is confirmed through a missile’s radar signal/an IR missiles presence).

Like a MAW system? It’s already in game. They can just name it RIO for those planes :P .

Also , i don’t believe the community is ready for AIM-54 changes. You see what’s happening with Fakours.

[kitsune_qq]

@Nick_Cloud

Also , i don’t believe the community is ready for AIM-54 changes. You see what’s happening with Fakours.

TT F-14B already got unfair BR
So, changes are needed

[ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn]

@Nick_Cloud

That’s a must for all 2 seaters. And that’s very realistic.

Yup. Most 2 seaters in-game (except planes like the F-15E/I) aren’t survivable much. Getting an F-14, F-4, or Tornado into the mix will almost always result in death. Having their RIOs actually do something like IRL makes them great uses of that extra weight you gotta carry and accommodate.

@Nick_Cloud

Like a MAW system? It’s already in game. They can just name it RIO for those planes

Basically an Adaptive MAWS system. If a missile goes pitbull on you, the countermeasures are switched to chaff only and the RIO would automatically start chaffing for you. Unfortunately, there won’t be a way to automatically start chaffing Fox-1 missiles, as radar locks won’t always mean a missile is on the way. I think that’s somewhat of a balance feature though.

@Nick_Cloud

Also , i don’t believe the community is ready for AIM-54 changes.

The only community that complains about the Aim-54 would barely be touched by the Aim-54 if it got buffed. (Since the F-14s could be uptiered, away from most of the premium spammers) I think the whole Fakour thing is massively overblown and people will truly see how garbage these missiles are if the IRIAF actually does go to 13.0.

@kitsune_qq

So, changes are needed

Yup.

[sudo_su1]

Should be possible to measure the AoA based on the angle between the missile and the smoke trail and then compare it with the max that it can achieve in the game at the same time after launch.

[ItzMikeyzWRLD-psn]

I completely forgot I found this, but (kinda) relating to AoA, here’s this footage of the Aim-54C being fired and the camera following the aggressive loft. https://youtu.be/4bT9gQ4gVhw?si=1A7cic1bfWHoMtFY&t=270

[DutchDragon24]

AIM-54 leaving to get the milk (lore accurate)

[DutchDragon24]

If I recall correctly pilots and RIOs of the Tomcat often said that in spite of the older radar, skilled RIOs could handle the radar so precisely that it could negate if not beat the difference against notching planes.

It’s a shame that in the game they seem to give you a corpse in the backseat instead.

[Slipz]

yeah but it’s also underperforming like insane, The notion that it’s completely blind towards anything not flying towards you is ludicrous.