F-14B TARPS Tomcat VF-103 Enterprise 1996

F-14A-120-GR Buno 161428 / AA-212 delivered USN 1981. Converted to F-1A+ TARPS, KB-06. AA-212 on USS Enterprise CVN-65 1996.

- TACAN antenna
- ECM blister on left nose gear
- ECM blisters on sides of intakes
- NACA gun vents
- GE F110 engines
- TCS/ALQ-100 chin pod
- Beaver tail with ECM
- nose alpha probe


The F-14 received its first of many major upgrades in March 1987 with the F-14A Plus (or F-14A+). The F-14A's TF30 engine was replaced with the improved GE F110-GE-400 engine. The F-14A+ also received the state-of-the-art ALR-67 Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system. Much of the avionics as well as the AWG-9 radar were retained. The F-14A+ was later redesignated F-14B on 1 May 1991. A total of 38 new aircraft were manufactured and 48 F-14A were upgraded into B variants. The F-14B arrived in time to participate in Desert Storm.

With the development of the TARPS pod system, the Tomcat added aerial reconnaissance to its bag of tricks, and by the mid 1990s, it also evolved into outstanding strike fighter and forward air controller (informally nicknamed the “Bombcat”) with the addition of a LANTIRN targeting pod and precision laser- and GPS-guided munitions.