INDIAFOXTECHO - NORTHOP GRUMMAN F-14D TOMCAT FOR (FSX & P3D)









The final variant of the F-14 was the F-14D Super Tomcat. The F-14D variant was first delivered in 1991. The original TF-30 engines were replaced with GE F110-400 engines, similar to the F-14B. The F-14D also included newer digital avionics systems including a glass cockpit and replaced the AWG-9 with the newer AN/APG-71 radar. Other systems included the Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS), SJU-17(V) Naval Aircrew Common Ejection Seats (NACES) and Infra-red search and track (IRST).

Although the F-14D was to be the definitive version of the Tomcat, not all fleet units received the D variant. In 1989, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney refused to approve the purchase of any more F-14D model aircraft for $50 million each and pushed for a $25 million modernization of the F-14 fleet instead. Congress decided not to shut production down and funded 55 aircraft as part of a compromise. A total of 37 new aircraft were completed, and 18 F-14A models were upgraded to D-models, designated F-14D(R) for rebuild. An upgrade to the F-14D's computer software to allow AIM-120 AMRAAM missile capability was planned but was later terminated.

While upgrades had kept the F-14 competitive with modern fighter aircraft technology, Cheney called the F-14 1960s technology. Despite an appeal from the Secretary of the Navy for at least 132 F-14Ds and some aggressive proposals from Grumman for a replacement, Cheney planned to replace the F-14 with a fighter that was not manufactured by Grumman. Cheney called the F-14 a "jobs program", and when the F-14 was canceled, an estimated 80,000 jobs of Grumman employees, subcontractors, or support personnel were affected. Starting in 2005, some F-14Ds received the ROVER III upgrade.

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, with 675 rounds

  • Hardpoints: 10 total: 6× under-fuselage, 2× under nacelles and 2× on wing gloves[167][N 2] with a capacity of 14,500 lb (6,600 kg) of ordnance and fuel tanks[168]

  • Missiles:

  • Loading configurations:

    • 2× AIM-9 + 6× AIM-54 (Rarely used due to weight stress on airframe)

    • 2× AIM-9 + 2× AIM-54 + 3× AIM-7 (Most common load during Cold War era)

    • 2× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-54 + 2× AIM-7

    • 2× AIM-9 + 6× AIM-7

    • 4× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-54

    • 4× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-7

  • Bombs:

  • Others:

    • Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)

    • LANTIRN targeting pod

    • 2× 267 US gal (1,010 l; 222 imp gal) drop tanks for extended range/loitering time

Avionics


 

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