Little Jeff Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 (edited) Hi everyone. I just started another project. It's the Tamiya 1/32nd scale F-14A tomcat, the kit the version that has precision bombing capabilities with LGB's. Does or can the F-14A carry the AMRAAM missle. Thinking about putting some on there that are left overs from the Academy F/A-18C kit. Just thought it would look kind of cool compared to the Sparrow missiles. Little Jeff Edited September 5, 2009 by Little Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I don't believe that they ever carried AIM-120s operationally. As the F-14 was slated for retirement, it was too expensive to add the capability to the remaining aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sv51macross Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 The only happening of a F-14 carrying AMRAAMs is the first six minutes of Macross Zero (youtube Macross Zero F-14 dogfight) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sauragnmon Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I would question if it could have, because there are quite a few weapons that it carried Unofficially - the Lantirn Adapter, for example, was originally used when they tested the bird with the AGM-88 HARM. They've also carried Harpoons as well, and other weapons, so don't write it off entirely as possible, but probably not Official. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 F-14's where not autnorized to carry AMRAAM's, HARPOON's or HARM. They may have done some ground tests and maybe one flight but that was it. The closest thing we got to carrying AMRAAM's out in the fleet is that we were issued the wings and fin tools for the missile. Reddog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Hingtgen Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) More than flew--they fired it! The F-14 was the first plane to fire an AMRAAM IIRC. Also IIRC, there was a grand total of 4 AMRAAM rails made for the F-14. Edited September 6, 2009 by David Hingtgen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Little Jeff Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 David, Was there a special rail that the AMRAAM was carried on? Were they stored under the fuselage where the Pheonix missiles were carried or where the Sparrows were carried under the sidewinders? In that pic, is that ECM pod under the fuselage Sorry for all the questions, I am just really curious as to why they never carried them in combat operations and the F/A-18C Hornet did. Little Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) I'm pretty positive that picture above shows a launch from the wing glove pylon (you can see the ejector crutch under the wing pylon), not the belly, like this picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F-14_carrying_AMRAAM.jpg Although you can hang about anything on a modern aircraft for a display, being ably to fly with it and employ it is another thing. Weapons have to be tested cleared for flight and separation, the avionics may have to be upgraded to interface and handle the weapon, wiring may have to be added, and so on. It is very doubtful that F-14s flew around carrying AIM-120s, HARPOONs, or any unauthorized loads "unofficially". Edited September 6, 2009 by Dave Williams Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Let's not forget that the F-14 has also flown and fired operationally the modified Hawk SAM/AAM. The Iranians, for all their other faults, are nothing if not ingenious. J Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zerosystem Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) i believe the legend goes something like during the last few years of tomcat use the lantirn systems were coming on line as well as the amraam's. there was a budget thing about being able to get the tomcat modified/cleared for both so it was decided to best make use of the lantirns to increase the capabilities of the airframe. there were more things to drop bombs on than shoot missles at during the following years so supposedly it helped lengthen the tomcats career. hth Edited September 6, 2009 by zerosystem Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Hingtgen Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) The F-14 AMRAAM rails were similar to an F-15/16/18's----they just replaced the Sidewinder rails. And they were pylon-mounted like the Sidewinder rails. I'm certain that had the program progressed, they would have done like the F-15 and adapted the conformal Sparrow mounts for AMRAAMs. Edited September 6, 2009 by David Hingtgen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skull Leader Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Actually Dave (I checked on this, because when they had the AAE gear clearing house a few years back, these pylons were up for grabs as well). The AMRAAMS were carried on modified Sparrow rails. Externally they are identical to the Sparrow ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 As shown, a test F-14 did fly with AMRAAMs and fire an unguided missile. With the Tomcat slated for retirement, it was far to costly to upgrade it to employ the AMRAAM. Also, the F-14 was not the first aircraft to fire an AMRAAM. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Hingtgen Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Darn it--I knew Skull Leader knew exactly what they looked like---I think I never saved the pics of the Tomcat AMRAAM rails when I saw it. (didn't find any on the hard drive) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sauragnmon Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) I didn't say Cleared, I said they FLEW with them, as in, were Tested with them. If I recall, the Harpoon was hung on tunnel pallets, the HARM was on a glove adapter (which later was used for LANTIRN) and as we can see, the AMRAAM was tested off the glove. Could it? Yes. Did it? No. If you want to put AMRAAM on your Tomcat, put it in the colours of, oh, VX-9 and she's good to go most likely. For kicks, put a pair of Harpoons on too. Edited September 6, 2009 by Sauragnmon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skull Leader Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 If you want to put AMRAAM on your Tomcat, put it in the colours of, oh, VX-9 and she's good to go most likely. For kicks, put a pair of Harpoons on too. PMTC. (Pacific Missile Test Center) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 David, Was there a special rail that the AMRAAM was carried on? Were they stored under the fuselage where the Pheonix missiles were carried or where the Sparrows were carried under the sidewinders? Since the updated F-4F ICE carries AMRAAM in the fuselage Sparrow wells, for a 'what-if' you can put them under the fuselage of a Tomcat where it would normally carry the four Sparrows as well. Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Little Jeff Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 (edited) Thanks for all the replies guys. I think I will put them in the spots for the sparrows under the fuselage. I know they probably didn't carry them there, in testing or in real life, but I think it just looks pretty cool. A hypothetical armament loadout that just looks bad a--! Thanks for all the replies again. Little Jeff Edited September 6, 2009 by Little Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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