Often called upon to perform missions across significant distances, the F-111 had a large fuel capacity and efficient turbofan engines.
The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark was ahead of its time, combining a variety of innovative features with strategic versatility to become one of the stand-out military aircraft of its generation. First introduced in the 1960s, the F-111 was designed to fill a Pentagon request for a multi-role aircraft that could fulfill the needs of both the US Air Force and the US Navy. While the US Navy eventually withdrew from the program, the US Air Force adopted the F-111 for long-range strike missions.
To fulfill the demanding role, the F-111 was outfitted with several unique features, including variable-geometry wings, terrain-following radar, and an internal weapons bay—all of which allowed the F-111 to perform admirably across strategic bombing, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance missions.
The most prominent feature of the F-111 was its swing-wing, which allowed the aircraft’s wings to be swept forward for takeoff, landing, and loitering, and swept back for high-speed, low-level penetration. The variable-geometry wing allowed the F-111 to operate from shorter runways and still reach supersonic speeds at low altitude.
The F-111 Aardvark’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1967
- Number Built: 563
- Length: 73 ft 6 in (22.4 m)
- Height: 17 ft (5.2 m)
- Wingspan:
- Spread: 63 ft (19.2 m)
- Swept: 32 ft (9.75 m)
- Weight:
- Empty: ~47,200 lb (21,400 kg)
- Standard Conditions (Typical loaded): ~72,000 lb (32,600 kg)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 100,000 lb (45,400 kg)
- Engines: 2 × Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 afterburning turbofans
- Top Speed: Mach 2.5 (approx. 1,650 mph or 2,655 km/h) at altitude
- Range:
- Ferry range: ~3,565 mi (5,738 km)
- Combat radius: ~1,300 mi (2,100 km)
- Service Ceiling: ~60,000 ft (18,300 m)
- Loadout:
- Up to 31,500 lb (14,300 kg) of ordnance, including Conventional bombs and Nuclear weapons
- Air-to-surface missiles (e.g., AGM-69 SRAM, AGM-130)
- Paveway laser-guided bombs
- Internal weapons bay and external hardpoints
- Aircrew: 2 (pilot and weapons systems officer)
The Navy and the Air Force Both Loved the F-111
During the height of the Cold War, the F-111 flew fast and low to avoid radar detection. The aircraft was dependent upon terrain-following radar, which was the first of its kind anywhere in the world, allowing the jet to fly automatically at low altitudes, following the contours of the terrain. The benefit of the terrain-following radar is that the aircraft was able to penetrate defended enemy airspace with minimal risk of detection and engagement from either surface-to-air (SAM) missiles or enemy aircraft.
After reaching targets deep within enemy territory, the F-111 was capable of delivering devastating payloads. With an internal weapons bay and external hardpoints, the F-111 could carry a wide variety of ordnance, including both conventional and nuclear bombs, precision-guided munitions, and air-to-surface missiles.
Often called upon to perform missions across significant distances, the F-111 had a large fuel capacity and efficient turbofan engines. As a result, the plane was often able to complete long-range missions without the need for aerial refueling.
The capabilities of the F-111 made the aircraft especially valuable to US strategic planners who deployed the aircraft repeatedly in strategic strike roles. Early examples include the Vietnam War, where the F-111 flew frequent deep-penetration bombing missions that were too dangerous for less capable aircraft. Another high-profile application of the F-111 was Operation El Dorado Canyon, where F-111s departed from the United Kingdom to strike targets in Libya, demonstrating the aircraft’s capabilities in a politically sensitive operation.
While the US Air Force retired the F-111 in the 1990s, the jet’s lineage lives on with contemporary aircraft such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle and the Rockwell B-1B Lancer, iterating on its design.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
