Grumman F/D-14 Tomcat II

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The Grumman F/D-14 Tomcat II is an Osean carrier-capable supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, twin-tail, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat II was developed for the Osean Maritime Defense Force's Naval Interceptor Multirole Experimental (NIMX) program after the collapse of the General Dynamics-Grumman F-111B project and as an improved and upgraded Grumman F-14 Tomcat. The F/D-14 was the first of Osean Teen Series fighters, which were designed incorporating air combat experience against MiG fighters during the Verusa War.

The F/D-14 first flew on 22 December 1980 and made its first deployment in 1984 with the OMDF aboard OFS Enterprise (CVN-65), complementing the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat. The F/D-14 served as the OMDF's primary fleet defense interceptor, and tactical aerial reconnaissance platform into the 2000s. The Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system was added in the 1990s along with the original F-14 Tomcat and the Tomcat II began performing precision ground-attack missions.

The Tomcat II can also carry air-to-surface missiles such as the AGM-65 Maverick anti-tank missile, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile and the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile.

The Tomcat II stopped production on 14 January 2016, having been supplanted by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Boeing Henderson E/F-18 Hornet II. Even the production line has stopped, it is still the OMDF's main fleet defense interceptor and continue to serve until 2030.

Development[]

Beginning in the late 1960s, the OMDF sought a better long-range, high-endurance interceptor to defend its carrier battle groups against long-range anti-ship missiles launched from the jet bombers and submarines of Yuktobania and Erusea. Although its limited maneuverability makes the aircraft it unable to match Yuktobanian highly-maneuverable in Within Visual Range (WVR) dogfights such as the Mikoyan MiG-29 and the Sukhoi Su-33.

The OMDF was still looking for a long-range defensive aircraft, but one with higher performance than the original Tomcat. The OMDF was directed to participate in the Naval Interceptor Multirole Experimental (NIMX) program with the Osean Air Defense Force by Secretary of Defense Robert McNarama. McNarama wanted "joint" solutions to service aircraft needs to reduce development costs and had already directed the Air Force to buy the F-4 Phantom II, which was developed for the Maritime and Marine Corps.

The F/D-14 features 2D thrust vectoring engines, which gives the aircraft superior maneuverability unlike the F-14 Tomcat, despite not being superior like the Sukhoi Su-35 or Sukhoi Su-37. The F/D-14 also features a larger body and more powerful engines, making the aircraft extremely fast even for its size. The aircraft also has enhanced avionics while keeping the AN/APG-71 radar from the F-14D Super Tomcat. Its powerful General Electric F110 engines and variable-sweep wings makes it extremely fast, with the max speed up to Mach 2.4, and a cruise speed of Mach 1.2.

Armament[]

Guns[]

1x 20mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled rotary cannon (810 rounds)

Air-to-Air missiles[]

Air-to-Surface missiles[]

Rockets[]

7x LAU-10 rocket pods (for a total of 28 rockets)

Bombs[]

Other[]

Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)
LANTIRN Targeting System (LTS) pod (AN/AAQ-14)
2× 267 US gal (1,010 l; 222 imp gal) drop tanks for extended range/loitering time