F-14 Tomcat

An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Tomcatters" of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31), is on display as part of the "Sunset Ceremony" held at Naval Air Station Oceana. The ceremony commemorated those who designed, flew and maintained the jet for 36 years. The F-14 Tomcat is being replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason R. Zalasky)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14D Tomcat attached to the “Bounty Hunters” of Fighter Squadron Two (VF-2) makes a sharp pull-up in full afterburner after streaking by the USS Constellation (CV 64), during practice for Constellation's upcoming “Tiger Cruise.” VF-2 is returning home from deployment with the Constellation Carrier Strike Group in which it supported Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14 Tomcat embarked aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) flies a combat mission in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing fighter whose primary missions are air superiority, fleet air defense, and precision strike against ground targets. Truman and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) are conducting combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Paul Farley)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the “Tomcatters” of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) launches from the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in route to support coalition ground troops. Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW 14) are conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Philip A McDaniel)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14A Tomcat fighter aircraft launches from one of four steam powered catapults aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk is deployed with coalition forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14A Tomcat assigned to the “Black Knights” of Fighter Squadron One Five Four (VF-154) makes a catapult launch from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are conducting combat missions in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. Kitty Hawk is the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom)

F-14 Tomcat

A plane captain conducts a daily inspection of his F-14D Tomcat that is assigned to the “Tomcatters” of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31). Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW 14) are conducting combat operations in support of Operation Southern Watch. (Photo: U.S.Navy/Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Philip A. McDaniel)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14D “Tomcat” from the "Black Lions" of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213) lands on the ship’s flight deck after a training mission. VF-213 is embarked aboard Roosevelt and is currently underway conducting training missions in the Atlantic Ocean. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer’s Mate Airman Brad Garner)

F-14 Tomcat

Two F-14 “Tomcats” assigned to the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) fly over the Mediterranean Sea. VF-103 is part of Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), embarked aboard George Washington. CVW-17 and the George Washington are nearing the end of a scheduled six-month deployment after completing combat missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Captain Dana Potts)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Tomcatters" of Fighter Squadron Thirty One (VF-31) launches from the flight deck of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). In keeping with the holidays, the Tomcat displays the squadron logo Felix the Cat in a Santa's hat, painted on the vertical stabilizers. Lincoln and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Southern Watch. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Ensign Charles M. Abell)

F-14 Tomcat

A Tactical "Tomahawk" Block IV cruise missile is escorted by a Navy F-14 Tomcat fighter during a controlled test over the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) western test range complex in southern California. During the second such test flight, the missile successfully completed a vertical underwater launch, flew a fully guided 780-mile course, and impacted a designated target structure as planned. The Tactical "Tomahawk", the next generation of Tomahawk cruise missile adds the capability to reprogram the missile while in-flight to strike any of 15 preprogrammed alternate targets or redirect the missile to any Global Positioning System (GPS) target coordinates. It also will be able to loiter over a target area for some hours, and with its on-board TV camera, will allow the war fighting commanders to assess battle damage of the target, and, if necessary redirect the missile to any other target. Launched from the Navy's forward-deployed ships and submarines, Tactical Tomahawk will provide a greater flexibility to the on-scene commander. Tactical Tomahawk is scheduled to join the fleet in 2004. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14 “Tomcat” heads back to Key West Naval Air Station (NAS) after intense “dog fight” training over the Atlantic Ocean during exercise Cope Snapper 2002. Cope Snapper is a multi-aircraft exercise that engages dissimilar air combat training with on fighter data link and joint operations with the Navy. The members involved in Cope Snapper consist of the 159th Fighter Wing from Louisiana, the 169th AGS McEntire Air National Guard from South Carolina, and the Navy's F/A-18 “Hornet” and F-14 “Tomcat” fighter jets. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14A “Tomcat” from the “Black Knights” of Fighter Squadron One Five Four (VF-154), part of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), launches from the flight deck. Kitty Hawk's current mission is to provide a forward presence in the Asia/Pacific region, conduct training and exercises with regional allies, and, as America’s “9-1-1” Battle Group, remain available to respond to emergent national tasking when and where needed. Kitty Hawk is the U.S. Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Calvert T. Frantom)

F-14 Tomcat

Lt. West McCall, an F-14 “Tomcat” pilot from Deland, Fla., and Lt. Kimberly Arrington, a Radar Intercept Officer from King, N.C., both assigned to the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103), test fire a Phoenix air to air missile as part of the annual proficiency test during Exercise Mediterranean Shark. The Phoenix missile is the Navy's only long-range air-to-air missile. It is an airborne weapons control system with multiple-target handling capabilities. Exercise Mediterranean Shark is a bilateral training exercise conducted in Morocco by a U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit MEU/SOC (Special Operations Capable), to show the effectiveness of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). George Washington and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) are on a scheduled six month deployment and have participated in combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Southern Watch. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Capt. Dana Potts)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14 "Tomcat" from the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) flies over the Mediterranean Sea at sunset. The George Washington, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is participating in the NATO exercise “Destined Glory 2002.” Washington and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) are approaching the end of scheduled deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Capt. Dana Potts)

F-14 Tomcat

An F-14 Tomcat jet fighter of the VF-102 "Diamondbacks" lands on the flight deck. On this sortie in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Commander of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1), Captain S. Voetsch, goes over 4,000 flight hours serving as Radar Intercept Officer (RIO). The pilot for his milestone flight is the Commanding Officer of the VF-102 Diamondbacks, Commander Roy J. Kelley. The airwing is embarked on the aircraft carrier. (Photo: U.S. Navy /Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jason Scarborough)

F-14 Tomcat

At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sept. 2, 2002 -- An F-14 "Tomcat" from the "Jolly Rogers" of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) launches from the waist catapult. Washington and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Seventeen are on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo: U. S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Corey T. Lewis)

F-14 Tomcat

At sea aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Aug. 6, 2002 -- An F-14D "Tomcat" from Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) launches from catapult three during flight operations aboard USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are on a regularly scheduled deployment conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate Airman Philip A. McDaniel)

F-14 Tomcat

Aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) -- An F-14B “Tomcat” from the “Pukin’ Dogs” of Fighter Squadron One Four Three (VF-143) is launched from one of four steam-powered catapults aboard ship. Kennedy and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) are on a regularly scheduled deployment conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Jim Hampshire)

F-14 Tomcat

At sea with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) May 5, 2002 -- An F-14A "Tomcat" assigned to the "Checkmates" of Fighter Squadron Two One One (VF-211) performs a high speed pass over the ship’s flight deck. John C. Stennis and its embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) has recently completed combat missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Jayme Pastoric)