Editing Grumman F-14 Tomcat (section)

===Projected variants===
[[File:Grumman F-14B 157986 (mfr via RJF) (16947709020).jpg|thumb|A prototype F-14B test aircraft with F401 engines installed]]

When the F-14 was still in development, Grumman had planned an upgrade path for the Tomcat's propulsion and avionics. The first ''F-14B'' was to be an improved version of the F-14A with more powerful [[Pratt & Whitney F401]] turbofans; the F-14B prototype equipped with the F401 first flew in 1973. The ''F-14C'' was a projected variant of this initial F-14B with advanced multi-mission avionics.<ref>Spick 2000, p. 75.</ref> Grumman also offered an interceptor version of the F-14B in response to the U.S. Air Force's Improved Manned Interceptor Program as one of the contenders to replace the [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart]] as an [[Aerospace Defense Command]] interceptor in the 1970s. The F-14 ADC interceptor variant was to be armed with a [[GAU-7 cannon|GAU-7/A 25mm caseless cannon]] and powered by F100 turbofans.<ref>Air Enthusiast February 1973</ref> The F-14B program was terminated in April 1974. The actual F-14B and D upgrades that went into service did somewhat follow the initially projected ''B'' and ''C'' upgrade path in practice, although it was much more delayed and with fewer airframes.<ref>Isham, Marty. ''U.S. Air Force Interceptors: A Military Photo Logbook 1946–1979''. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press Publications, 2010. {{ISBN|1-58007-150-3}}.</ref>

[[File:USAF ADCOM Grumman F-14 Tomcat proposed interceptor - 1972.jpg|thumb|Grumman's proposed F-14 ADC Interceptor for USAF Aerospace Defense Command in 1972 with the simulated "Buzz Code" and Aerospace Defense Command livery and emblem on the tail |alt=]]
In the early 1990s, Grumman proposed a few improved ''Super Tomcat'' versions. The first was the ''Quickstrike'', which would have been an F-14D with navigational and targeting pods, additional attach points for weapons, and added ground attack capabilities to its radar, turning the Tomcat into a multirole [[strike fighter]]. The Quickstrike was to fill the role of the A-6 Intruder after it was retired. This was not considered enough of an improvement by Congress, so the company shifted to the ''Super Tomcat 21'' (ST-21) proposed design. The ST-21 was a proposed lower-cost alternative to the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF), and would mostly have the same shape and body as the Tomcat, and an upgraded AN/APG-71 radar. The improved [[General Electric F110]]-GE-429 engines{{refn|The F110-GE-429 is the [[United States military aircraft engine designations|designation]] of the proposed Navy version of the F110-GE-129.|group=N}} were to provide a supercruise speed of Mach 1.3 and featured [[thrust vectoring]] nozzles. The version would have reshaped leading-edge gloves, increased fuel capacity and modified control surfaces for improved takeoffs and lower landing approach speed. The ''Attack Super Tomcat 21'' (AST-21) version was the last proposed Super Tomcat design and was meant to be a more attack-oriented version of the ST-21 with possibly an [[active electronically scanned array]] (AESA) radar from the canceled [[McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II|A-12]] attack aircraft. The (A)ST-21 was to be able to be rebuilt from existing F-14 airframes.<ref name=Donald_p9-11/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/29653/this-is-what-grummans-proposed-f-14-super-tomcat-21-would-have-actually-looked-like |title=This Is What Grumman's Proposed F-14 Super Tomcat 21 Would Have Actually Looked Like |work=The War Zone |date=1 December 2019 |access-date=3 July 2022 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703185406/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/29653/this-is-what-grummans-proposed-f-14-super-tomcat-21-would-have-actually-looked-like |url-status=live}}</ref>

The last "Tomcat" variant was the ''ASF-14'' (Advanced Strike Fighter-14), Grumman's replacement for the NATF concept. By all accounts, it would not be even remotely related to the previous Tomcats save in appearance, incorporating the new technology and design know-how from the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) and Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) programs. The ASF-14 would have been a new-build aircraft with considerably greater development costs; however, its projected capabilities were not that much better than that of the (A)ST-21 variants. Even Grumman was not enthusiastic about it.<ref name=Donald_p9-11/> In the end, the proposed Super Tomcat variants were considered too costly and also faced stiff political opposition from the Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. The Navy decided to pursue the cheaper F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to fill the fighter-attack or strike fighter role.<ref name=Donald_p9-11>Donald 2004, pp. 9–11.</ref>