She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. Maya Carlin, now 1945’s Middle East Defense Editor, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. Additionally, these improved-upon supersonic jets remain some of the best fighters in the region. In fact, Iran’s 40 remaining F-14 fighters make up the world’s sole active Tomcats. made a concerted effort to block Tomcat parts from falling into Iran’s hands.ĭespite America’s efforts to wipe all remnants of the F-14 from the globe, Tehran continues to fly the aging fighters. In 1988, an Iranian-American was arrested by federal agents in New York after being charged with attempting to purchase parts for the Tomcat’s engine.Ī string of similar arrests followed closely behind, increasing in scope once the U.S. Iran’s prioritization of self-sufficiency at this time supplemented by its weapons smuggling allowed the regime to keep the fighters operable. Recently, Iran has successfully reverse-engineered parts for the F-14 airframe and AIM-54 missiles, ultimately producing an effective native-grown variant of the original F-14 Phoenix missile. cut off Iran from acquiring its F-14 missiles, the regime modified its fleet to carry Soviet R-27 and R-73 missiles. The remaining Iranian Tomcat fleet now showcases brand new wiring, avionics and sensors. Eager to garner support from the region, President Nixon visited the Iranian head of state, Mohamed Reza Shah, and set up the deal that would give Imperial Iran 79 operational Tomcats.Īccording to reports, Iran’s technicians may have developed nearly 300 separate modifications to the supersonic fighter. F-14 Tomcat: History Specifications Bureau Numbers Walk-Around Squadrons Photos Books Memorabilia Other Topics: Grumman A/C EXTRA 400 A/C Photos Links Guestbook Credits The Author. This mission set became abundantly important in the 1970’s as U.S.-Soviet tensions began to escalate. The Tomcat featured many improvements, including advanced dog-fighting capabilities, agility and the ability to perform both long-range interception and air-superiority missions. Navy in 1972 and was meant to replace its predecessor, the F-4 Phantom fighter. As the most powerful and lethal interceptor jet ever built at the time, the F-14 was rightfully the true icon of the classic blockbuster. The American-made Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat fighter jet was already widely recognized when the platform made its debut in the 1986 film Top Gun. A complicated history leads to how Iran obtained the U.S.-made fighter and how they keep the old planes flying. Iran is flying the F-14 Tomcat, the same plane Tom Cruise piloted in the original Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick.
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