The Real Reason the U.S. Navy Misses the F-14 Tomcat

Summary: The U.S. Navy's fleet of strike aircraft, including the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, faces a significant capability gap in terms of operational range, especially in comparison to retired aircraft like the A-6 bombers and F-14 Tomcat fighters. The Super Hornets can cover about 400 to 500 miles, which may be insufficient given the evolving reach of Beijing’s anti-ship ballistic missiles.

-The F-14 Tomcat, which was operational from the early 1970s, offered a substantial range of approximately 1,600 miles...