The IDF destroyed two of Iran’s final remaining Cold War-era aircraft—signaling its intent to prevent Iran from regaining control of its airspace.
Overnight, on June 16th-17th, Israeli forces conducted an airstrike near Tehran, targeting aircraft on the ground. The attack destroyed two US-made F-14 Tomcats and a drone-launch team that was preparing to attack Israel.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released footage on the social media platform X showing the F-14s engulfed in flames, confirming that both aircraft were destroyed. The destruction of two F-14s is a strategic blow to Iran, as the F-14s are the last of its Cold War-era US-built fighters. While many of the F-14s are likely non-operational, their radar and surveillance avionics are still valuable in Iran’s fleet, which is aging and atrophying in an era where Tehran has become a pariah on the global stage.
The Destruction of the F-14s Was a Strategic Blow to Iran
The airstrikes were part of an intensified Israeli operation against Iran, which has included extensive bombing of nuclear and military infrastructure, missile launchers, and command centers. Israel has effectively gained air superiority over Tehran, enabling precision strikes on high-value military targets.
The strikes represent a stunning escalation in a conflict that has simmered for decades. Israel has long threatened direct military action against Iran. In turn, Tehran has upheld a simple doctrine: Israel should not exist.
The strike against the F-14s serves as both a tactical and symbolic hit in the conflict. The strike was tactical in the sense that it neutralized unique radar and surveillance platforms that Iran had meticulously maintained for decades, to keep them in operational rotation. However, it was also symbolic because it demonstrated Iran’s inability to defend itself, on its home soil, against Israel. The strikes also complement Israel’s broader efforts to cripple Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure and to tightly control the airspace above Tehran.
How Did Iran Get Its Hands on the F-14 Tomcat?
The F-14s were gifted before the US-Iran relationship deteriorated in the late 1970s, at a time when Iran was still a key US ally in the Middle East. Under the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the United States considered Iran to be a crucial bulwark against Soviet influence in the region.
Iran, looking to assert itself as the dominant military power in the region, turned to the United States for modern aerospace technology to complement the Shah’s ongoing military modernization program. The F-14 Tomcat, originally developed by the US Navy to counter high-speed Soviet bombers and serve as a fleet defender/interceptor, was attractive to the Iranians, who faced comparable threats from Soviet MiG-25 reconnaissance flights that routinely violated Iranian airspace.
In 1974, Iran signed a deal to purchase 80 F-14A Tomcats—along with the AIM-54 Phoenix missile, spare parts, training, and logistics. The first F-14 was delivered in 1976, and deliveries continued until 1979, when the Islamic Revolution erupted, the Shah was overthrown, and American citizens working at the US Embassy in Tehran were taken hostage. The United States stopped sending spare parts or support following the deterioration of relations, and the F-14 fleet began to slowly wither. By 2025, only a handful of the 80 F-14A Tomcats shipped to Iran were still operational or semi-operational. The two F-14s destroyed by Israel were likely among the last surviving F-14 aircraft in the world.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
