The variable-sweep wing was the third - and most important - major technical advance of the F-14 over the F-4. The "B" engine gave the F-14 an aircraft thrust-to-weight ratio greater than 1, assuring tremendous acceleration, high speed, and even the ability to climb vertically, if required. These new engines on the F-14 provided even wider cruising radii for the same total fuel consumption. The second technical improvement of the F-14 over the F-4 was the use of new gas turbine turbofan power plants, which shaved something on the order of twice the thrust-to-weight ratio and half the specific fuel consumption of the engines originally employed on the F-4.
It was anticipated that its structural strength and high thrust-to-weigh ratio, particularly with the "B" engine, will enable the F-14 to have speeds substantially in excess of Mach 2, with great agility in close-in air-to-air combat. The F-14 made far more substantial use of titanium to gain optimum strength-to-weight ratios. Later models increased that use by a factor of two. of titanium were used in each of the early Phantom II's. The F-4 Phantom II made effective, if limited, use of titanium primarily in the main structural keel member between the engines and for inner liners for the pressurized engine compartments. The F-14's percentage was greater, being some 25%. Only about 9% of the F-4's structural weight was titanium. The reduced deadweight improves just about every performance parameter, including range, payload, acceleration, characteristics of climb, etc. The first of these is the replacement of more aluminum with titanium, (and, to a lesser extent, boron composites), which reduces structural weight and improves high maneuver "G" limits. The upgraded F-14A+ version, with new General Electric F-110 engines, widespread throughout the fleet, was more than a match for enemy fighters in close-in, air combat.Įven at the time the F-4 was developed, it was recognized that considerably improved performance could be gained through three technical advances which were incorporated in the F-14. The F-14A was introduced in the mid-1970s. F-14s provided air cover for the joint strike on Libyan terrorist targets in 1986. The Grumman F-14, the world's premier air defense fighter, was designed to replace the F-4 Phantom II fighter (phased out in 1986).
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