F-14 Tomcat Designations

[Apophenia]

Here's a rough start (including a bunch of unofficial 'designations'). Who has more?

F-14A - Grumman entry for Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX); x 557
- XF-14A: Unofficial designation for the first of the service test F-14A
- YF-14A: Unofficial designation for the service test F-14As; x 12
- F-14A : Effectively a replacement for the failed GD F-111B program
- F-14A : 2 x TF30-P-412A (Pratt & Whitney JTF10A) or TF30-P-414A
- F-14A (Upgrade): Introducing F-14D standard avionics into F-14As
-- F-14A (not 'F-14A-GR');* 1974 Iranian Project Persian King; x 80
-- * GR (standing for Grumman) was just part of the block numbers**
-- ** For Iranian contract, made up of F-14A-90-GR & F-14A-95-GR
- F-14AM: Iranian designation (c.2000) for IRIAF's upgraded F-14As
- F-14A (1X): NASA 991; high AOA/spin testbed; Dryden 1979-1985
- F-14A (1X): NASA 991 then joined VSTFE program with NASA 834
- JF-14A: NASA test F-14As; 1986-1987 NASA VSTFE program***
-- *** VSTFE = Variable Sweep Transition Flight Experiment
- JF-14A: 2 x F-14As fitted with natural laminar-flow wing 'gloves'
-- F-14++: Not a designation; rather F-14A modernization program
-- F-14++: To 1988 Multi-Mission Capability Avionics Program

F-14A+ - 1984 designation for F110-GE-400s in F-14A airframe; x 81
- F-14A+: 43 x F-14A conversions & another 38 x F-14A+ new-builds
- F-14A+: New equipment; AN/AWG-15F radar; no wing glove vanes
- F-14A+: aka F-14A (Plus); later redesignated by BuAer as F-14B (qv)s
- F-14 ADC: (Project) USAF Aerospace Defense Command interceptor
- F-14 Optimod: (Project) USAF Interim Manned Interceptor (IMI)
- F-14 Optimod: AN/AWG-9 + IRST; belly conformal fuel tanks
- F-14 ADC IMI: (Project) Alternative reference to the F-14 Optimod

F-14B (I) - 1973 prototype re-engining conversion to F401-P-100
- F-14B (I) : Poor performance; BuNo 157986 placed into storage
- YF-14B : Unofficial designation for this engine trials F-14B*
-- * Same unofficial designation used regardless of engine type

F-14B (II) - 1981 BuNo 157986 re-engining conversion to F401-P-100
- F-14B (II): Poor performance; BuNo 157986 placed into storage
- F-14B (II): 2nd prototype BuNo 158630 canc.; completed as F-14A

F-14B (III) - 1981 BuNo 157986 re-engining with GE F101DFEs*
- F-14B (III): This F-14 variant successful but no F101DFE prod'n
-- * GE's F110 was effectively prod'n development of F101DFE

F-14B (IV) - 1984 BuNo 157986 re-engining with F110-GE-400s*
- F-14B (IV): This F-14 variant results in F-14A+ (later F-14B)
-- * GE's F110 was effectively prod'n development of F101DFE

F-14B - May 1991 F-14A+ redesignation (both conv. & new-builds)
- F-14B (Upgrade): Introduced F-14D standard avionics to F-14Bs
- NF-14B : Redesignated F-14B; reflecting permanent test status
- NF-14B : BuNo 163223 (msn 584); NAWCWD, NAS Point Mugo
- NF-14B : F-14B Avionics Upgrade Prototype; scrapped in 2007
-- F-14++: Not a designation; rather F-14B modernization program
-- F-14++: To 1988 Multi-Mission Capability Avionics Program

F-14C - (Project) New-build upgrade program parallel to F-14B (III)
- F-14C : GE F101DFEs; upgraded avionics; improved radar & FCS*
-- * Avionics upgrades realized in late F-14As, F-14A+, and F-14D

F-14D - Super Tomcat; upgraded development of F-14B; x 37
- YF-14D: Prototype BuNo 157986 (preserved at Intrepid Museum)
- F-14D : F110-GE-400s (no A/B for T/O); AN/APG-71 radar & IRST
- F-14D(R): Upgraded F-14As; note 'R' for Rebuild not recon; x 18
- NF-14D: Redesignated F-14Ds; reflecting permanent test status
-- F-14D Projects: Grumman proposed numerous F-14D derivatives ...
-- Quickstrike: Early '90s multi-role deriv.; A-6 Intruder replacment
-- Quickstrike: aka F-14D Quickstrike; aka 'Block IV upgrade'
-- 'F/A-14D': Unofficial use for Quickstrike A-6 Intruder repl.
-- ST-21 : Super Tomcat 21; Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NAFT)
-- ST-21 : Lower-cost NAFT; vectoring-thrust F110-GE-429 engines
-- (A)ST-21: Attack Super Tomcat 21; potentially F-14 rebuilds
-- (A)ST-21: Emphasizing attack, obviously; AESA radar from A-12
-- ASF-14 : Advanced Strike Fighter 14; replacing for ST-21 concept
-- ASF-14 : Redesign; winning ATF engines; some stealth elements

F-14T - (Project) 1970s reduced-cost 'economy' Tomcat variant
- F-14T: Reduced avionics capability; AIM-7 and AIM-9 missiles

F-14X - (Project) 1970s reduced-cost 'economy' Tomcat variant
- F-14X: Downgraded radar capabilities; AIM-54 missiles only

RF-14 - (Project) Dedicated reconnaissance type; RA-5C replacement
- RF-14: Non-official designation; dropped for simpler TARPS pod*
-- * Late 1970s Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System**
-- Later TARPS-DI (for DIgital) & TARPS-CD (Completely Digital)

 

[Kiltonge]

Early ( speculative ) use of F-14D, circa June 1973, was for a stripped-down 'Tomkitten' dogfighter ( preceding the F-14X ) at least 1,000lb lighter than the 14A and with F401 engines. Primary driver was cost saving, to bulk-out the fleet's airframes as an alternative to an unpalatable LWF derivative.

By later 1973 the avionics options for the D-dogfighter had narrowed to:

1. Westinghouse WX-200, no Phoenix capability
2. Simplified AWG-9 with 12-target engagement instead of 24, cost saving about $0.5 million
3. AWG-10
4. APG-64, basically the '63 with an additional PD mode

The D would also have eliminated the direct lift control and automatic power control to save weight and cost.

The DoD was looking for about $116 million for D development and a fly-off against the F-15N, but this was rejected and the concept died in July / Aug 1973, replaced by the forced choice of an LWF derivative.

Nevertheless the idea lingered into late 1973 with the F-14(WX-250), F-14(APG-64) and F-14X(MiniMod)* still being considered for a purchase of 400 units to replace the F-4, F-8 and A-7.

By March 1974 the F-14X had become F-14 Optimod, and the F-14(T) was also tossed around as an option; a Tomcat so basic it was equivalent to a Ford Model T. Optimod would still have retained Phoenix capability, though without the pallets and only as a secondary function.

The DoD finally killed the notion of a cheaper Tomcat in late April 1974 and instructed the Navy to develop something even cheaper to replace the A-7 and supplement the F-14A. Given that wouldn't be available until 1981, the Navy applied for funding for a further 150 F-14As over the 333 already bought.


* much simplified, max dash M1.6, optimised to fight at M0.5 and up to 20,000ft
~~

When the F-14D designation re-appeared in 1981 it was associated with the now-familiar, full-fat Super Tomcat.