AIM-54C (ECCM/SEALED) can be installed on all Tomcat models given the time of production, but coolant is still needed on the A and B models.
Afaik, F-14B(U) never gets LAU-132 launcher because the upgrade program was primarily limited to JDAM, GPU, Sparrowhawk HUD, and PTID, and didn’t include any retrofits related to AIM-54.
In any case, it was very rare to mount an AIM-54 on anything other than Station 3/6 because of the massive drag.
Man I hope the f14D comes to game in next update or the one after that
Just to put this in perspective, if that pilot’s claim that the F-14D IRST can detect from 190+ miles away is true, then the F-14D can single out bomber sized and fighter sized targets from 305km away, slave it to radar, and get a track from that range. That’s almost Cleveland, Ohio to Washington DC. With a radar and IRST system that powerful that really shows how advanced American IRST is. It makes sense that the F-14D could radar lock reduced RCS targets from up to 175km and even the F-22 using the IRST.
And that isn’t some one, off thing the pilot was talking about. The F-22’s rumored IRST ranges are even higher than that.
I got a question about the an/awg 9 radar band being I band and not X band I thought it was x band?
I band it is part of X band.
I band it is NATO code, when X band - IEEE code.
Oh okay thanks
The range at which one can detect a 22 with IRST or the range for the F-22’s planned IRST?
I would assume around 60-80 miles. That’s if the F-22 wasn’t using the IR reflective coat. The F-22s is estimated around 250-305.
The F-14D (and B by proxy) can supercruise.
Someone should test these acceleration times. This is great info.
That time-to-climb is crazy. That’s matching the F-15E and EFT. And that’s with a payload!
Wow the tomcat was incredible. Makes me wonder what other teen series are actually capable of. I mean they are still around for a reason
What source did you use to find those figures?
Thanks. Since it’s an encyclopedia, which often oversimplifies things, I’m taking it with a grain of salt and questioning its accuracy and credibility. The book was published in 1998, so it’s likely that not much information about the F-14D was available at the time.
Here’s the background of the authors and editor:
Since two of them served in the US Air Force and one worked with the US Naval Institute, they may have some credibility, as they could have had access to highly sensitive or classified information.
Here’s the acknowledgement regarding how they obtained such data:
It definitely sounds trustworthy. However, the authors did not provide sources to back up the data on the F-14D, so we can’t be certain of its accuracy.
Nevertheless, it’s interesting, thanks for sharing. I’m curious to hear what others think about this.
“The only completely new weapon adopted by the F-14D was the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile)” - Grumman F-14 Tomcat (Crowood Aviation) | David Baker
Which skin should be the base livery?
I like them all, but the Black Lions and Grim Reapers are my favorites. The Tomcatters aint bad either.
1st one it looks the most generic (still good looking) which makes sense for default livery
Yeah. That makes sense. I will still hope they add the Black Lion’s one though. Especially because the F/A-18C’s Late Default Livery is a high-vis squadron theme.
F-14 VX-9 “Vandy 1”
And
VX-4
where are thou my beloved F-14D
