Won US Navy VFX fighter competetion 15 January 1969; first flight of 12 development aircraft 21 December 1970; original programme was for 497 Tomcats including 12 development aircraft; programme since extended into 1990s.

Initial F-14A deployed with USN squadrons VF-1 and VF-2 October 1972; total 557 including 12 development aircraft, delivered to US Navy bu April 1987, when production ended; final 102 aircraft (beginning 161, 597) delivered from FY 1983 powered by improved TF30-P-414A turbofans, having same rating as original 93 kN.

In F-14A, Hughes AN/AWG-9 weapons control system, with ability to detect airbone targets at ranges of more than 65-170nm according to their size, and ability to track 24 enemy targets and attack six of them simultaneously at varied altitudes and distances. Fairchild AN/AWG-15F fire control set; CP-1066/A central air data computer; CP-1050/A computer signal data converter; AN/ASW-27B digital data link; AN/APX-76(V) IFF interrogator; AN/APX-72 IFF transpoder; AN/ASA-79 multiple display indicator group; Kaiser Aerospace AN/AVG-12 vertical and head-up display system.

The Phoenix missile has a range of over 100 miles, and the Tomcat's powerful AWG-9 (F-14A) pulse-Doppler radar can track up to 6 targets at once. With the AIM-54 and AWG-9 working in tandem, the F-14 Tomcat can shoot down an aircraft without even being seen by the enemy. The AWG-9 is a pulse-Doppler, multi-mode radar with a designed capability to track 24 targets at the same time while simultaneously devising and executing fire control solutions for 6 targets. The cockpit is fitted with a Kaiser AN/AVG-12 Head-Up Display (HUD) co-located with an AN/AVA-12 vertical situation display and a horizontal situation display. A chin mounted Northrop AN/AXX-1 Television Camera Set (TCS) is used for visual target identification at long ranges. Electronic Support Measures (ESM) equipment include the Litton AN/ALR-45 radar warning and control system, the Magnavox AN/ALR-50 radar warning receiver, Tracor AN/ALE-29/-39 chaff/flare dispensers (fitted in the rear fuselage between the fins), and Sanders AN/ALQ-100 deception jamming pod.