The F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, twin-seat supersonic fighter aircraft. The F-14 was the United States Navy's primary air superiority fighter from 1972 to 2006. It also has ground attack capability after being equipped with the LANTIRN system.[2] This aircraft began to be developed after the failure of the F-111B project, and is the United States' first 4th generation fighter aircraft, which was designed based on combat experience with Soviet-made MiG aircraft during the Vietnam War.

This aircraft entered service by the United States Navy in 1972, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was also briefly exported to Iran in 1976. On September 22, 2006, this aircraft was officially retired and replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.[3]

The Tomcat F-14D, designed by Grumman, is one of the fastest types of military aircraft. The Tomcat F-14D is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.34. The plane was made to be able to destroy enemy aircraft at night.

While many aircraft are only permitted to fly in decent weather, the F-14D can fly and destroy in all kinds of conditions. Not only that, apart from being able to attack at night and in not-so-good weather, this plane is also capable of shooting 6 targets at the same time. Tomcat is also great for detecting enemy aircraft from 100 miles away.

Its maiden flight was on November 23, 1987 from the Calverton Grumman yard and the final prototype took flight on February 9, 1990. The Tomcat F-14D was the last of the F-14 F series to be upgraded with much more reliable and sophisticated computer software. However, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney deemed the aircraft not competitive enough to compete with today's modern technology and canceled production of the F-14 in 2008.

On March 10, 2006, the F-14D Tomcat retired from service in the United States Navy. But actually February 8, 2006 was marked as the last date this aircraft was used when engaging in combat in Iraq.

This plane was built as many as 712 units, but most of them today must be 'punished' harshly. Tomcats still intact without much mechanical damage are kept at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. You'll also find many models in the various air tracks and museum spaces. However, others were intentionally destroyed, so that Iran and other countries would not have access to spare parts for this aircraft (reportedly 20 F-14s in Iran are still operational, out of a total of 44 units).

In 2007, 23 of the 165 Tomcats were intentionally destroyed. The cost of destroying the aircraft properly is about $900,000, this is equivalent to about 42% of the total cost of making the F-14D Super Tomcat.