The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an iconic Cold War–era U.S. Navy carrier-based supersonic fighter/interceptor best known for its role as a fleet air defense fighter, its distinctive variable-geometry (swing) wings, and its starring appearance in popular culture. Designed to protect carrier battle groups from long-range threats, the F-14 combined long-range radar and missiles with robust dogfighting ability.
 
The F-14 Tomcat remains one of the most recognizable U.S. Navy fighters ever built — a symbol of carrier-based air power from the late Cold War into the 21st century. Its combination of swing-wing design, powerful radar, and Phoenix missile made it uniquely suited to long-range fleet defense. The Tomcat’s retirement in 2006 marked a shift to multirole fighters (F/A-18E/F Super Hornet) and networked weapons tactics, but the Tomcat’s influence on naval aviation tactics and culture endures.
 
General Information:
Role: Fleet air defense, air superiority, interceptor, and tactical reconnaissance
Manufacturer: Grumman Aerospace (later Northrop Grumman)
First flight: December 21, 1970
Introduced: 1974 (U.S. Navy)
Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.13 m)
Wingspan: 64 ft (19.55 m) unswept / ~38 ft (11.58 m) fully swept (approx.)
Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)
Max speed: ~Mach 2.34 (~1,544 mph / 2,485 km/h)
Service ceiling: ~50,000 ft
Crew: 2 (pilot + Radar Intercept Officer / RIO)