Article 10026 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: New Fighter Series--Grumman F-14 Tomcat (14 of 14)
Message-ID: <D20KnJ.46I@ssbunews.ih.att.com>
Summary: Super Tomcat 21
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Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 1995 02:38:07 GMT
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The Super Tomcat 21 is a proposed multi-role adaptation of the F-14D 
Tomcat.  It was proposed as a low-cost alternative to the Naval ATF, 
and drew heavily on the work done on Grumman's "Quickstrike" proposal.  

Like the "Quickstrike", the Super Tomcat 21 was to have a FLIR, and 
was to be provided with more modes for its APG-71 radar, such as 
synthetic aperature and Doppler Beam Sharpening for mapping.  Four 
underfuselage hardpoints would have five munitions substations each, 
while the two wing glove pylons would have two substations.  
Naviagation and targeting pods could be installed.  The Super Tomcat 
21 differed, however, from the Quickstrike in making an attempt to 
reduce its radar cross section by a significant amount.  In addition, 
it was to have been powered by improved F110-GE-129 turbofan engines 
which offered "supercruise" (the ability to achieve sustained 
supersonic cruising speeds without the need for afterburning) and 
would even have included thrust vectoring capability.  The Super 
Tomcat 21 would also have featured enlarged tailplanes with extended 
trailing edges giving greater area, plus newly-configured wing gloves 
housing additional internal fuel.  It would also have featured 
increased-lift slotted flaps and extended-chord leading edeg wing 
slats to allow no-wind carrier takeoffs or conventional carrier 
takeoffs at higher loaded weights.  A new more powerful radar suite 
would be fitted, and the weapons delivery capability would be markedly 
enhanced by the adoption of helmet-mounted sights.  

The Attack Super Tomcat 21 was based on the Super Tomcat 21 but had 
thicker outer wing panels that carried more fuel.  In addition, the 
aircraft would have provision for carrying larger external fuel tanks.  
Refinements to the leading-edge slats and the trailing-edge flaps were 
to give a 18-mph reduction in the landing approach speed.  The 
aircraft was to have had the Norden radar that had been developed for 
the abortive General Dynamics/McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II.  The 
Attack Super Tomcat 21 has received quite a bit of attention as a 
potential alternative to the cancelled A-12.  

However, in the present military drawdown mode, both of these Tomcat 
21 proposals share an uncertain future.  

Sources:

   F-14 Tomcat: Fleet Defender, Robert F. Dorr, World Airpower
   Journal, Vol 7, 1991.
 
   Grumman F-14 Tomcat Variant Briefing, World Airpower Journal,
   Vol. 19, 1994.

   Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft, Volume 1, David Donald
   and Jon Lake, AirTime, 1994.


Joe Baugher			  **************************************
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