Israel’s strike on two grounded F-14s deals a symbolic blow to Iran’s aging air force, further straining its ability to maintain Cold War-era jets without US parts.
A pair of Iranian-operated Grumman F-14 Tomcats used up their proverbial nine lives. A video of the aircraft has gone viral on social media, showing two of the fighters destroyed on the ground in Israel’s recent attacks on the Islamic Republic. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) confirmed the destruction of the F-14s on Monday.
According to open-source military intelligence analyst OSINTtechnical data, the fighters were stored airframes at Mehrabad International Airport outside Tehran. The Clash Report added, “It appears that both Iranian F-14 Tomcats were in a non-operational state.”
Even if the F-14 Tomcats weren’t airworthy, their destruction is still a blow to the Iranian military, which remains the last operator of Cold War fighters. Without access to spare parts, it cannibalizes retired airframes.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force currently operates a motley mix of antiquated US aircraft, Chinese Cold War-era fighters, and a few dozen Soviet and Russian fighters. Exactly, how it came to operate the F-14, a plane that has been a favorite of aviation enthusiasts since the 1980s, when it appeared in the Tom Cruise film Top Gun, is a complex story.
How Did Iran Receive the F-14 Tomcat Fighter Jet?
The quick answer is that F-14 was among the US military hardware sold to Tehran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It was simply another time, coupled with events on the world stage.
Iran had been a close ally of the US and had even established ties with Israel.
In the 1970s, driven by the oil crisis that boosted revenue for the Middle Eastern state, Iran dramatically increased its arms purchases. In 1972, the government under the Shah became the largest foreign buyer of American military hardware, surpassing South Vietnam.
Few could have anticipated the changes; otherwise, the State Department would never have approved the sale. Discontent over the Shah’s autocratic leadership led to student protests. At the same time, the same spike in oil prices caused rampant inflation, resulting in further demonstrations and strikes, leading to a crackdown.
By early 1979, the Islamic Revolution brought down the government.
After that, Iran became an adversary of the United States and Israel, and efforts were made to ensure that the US hardware couldn’t be readily maintained. After the United States Navy retired the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in September 2006, efforts were made to destroy spare parts to ensure they wouldn’t help keep Tehran’s aging Tomcats in the fight.
The IRIAF was believed to have around 40 airframes in its inventory, and TheAviationist cited a 2019 Flight Global estimate that Tehran was operating around two dozen. How many are still functional is anyone’s guess, but as noted, there are at least two fewer aircraft to supply any necessary parts for the remaining litter of Tomcats.
What Is the F-14 “Tomcat” Fighter Jet?
The name “Tomcat” honors US Navy Admiral Thomas “Tomcat” Connelly, who had called upon Congress for the US Navy to develop a new carrier-based fighter.
The first F-14As were delivered to the Navy in June 1972, with Fighter Squadron (VF) 124 designated to provide crew training.
However, it was more than a decade until the Tomcat drew its first blood in August 1981 during the “Gulf of Sidra incident,” when a pair of F-14s came under attack from two Soviet-made Sukhoi Su-22 (NATO reporting name Fitter) jet fighters operated by the Libyan Air Force.
Both Fitters were shot down, while the events would be replayed nearly eight years later, when in January 1989, another pair of F-14s shot down two Libyan Mikoyan MiG-23 (NATO reporting name Flogger) fighters again over the Gulf of Sidra.
The United States Navy relied on the combat-proven war cat throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, utilizing it in strike escort and reconnaissance roles in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Deliberate Force, and Operation Allied Force during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. The F-14’s final combat mission took place in February 2006, when two Tomcats were used in a bombing mission in Iraq.
As Christian D Orr previously reported for The National Interest, the IRIAF has been far more successful with the Tomcat than the US Navy.
“Iran’s pilots, flying US-supplied F-14s, claimed 130 aerial victories during the Iran-Iraq War, with one pilot, Col. Mostafa Roustaie, achieving ace status,” Orr explained.
Although the Tomcat is well past its prime, it has still been among the best fighters operated by the IRIAF. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) went to great lengths to ensure Tehran may have further trouble keeping its remaining F-14s flying.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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