Hobby Master HA5236 | Grumman F14A Tomcat 3-6020 82nd TFS IRIAF Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Khatami Air Base 1987

In the early 1970s the Soviet Union began sending MiG-25 over flights of Iran who was unable to stop this using their F-4s. During a visit by US President Richard Nixon in 1972, Iran was offered the latest in American military technology and in January 1974 it ordered 30 F-14s for the Imperial Iranian Air Force and then another 50 in June 1974. The first two aircraft arrived in January 1976 with 10 more by May 1977, making it the only foreign power to operate the aircraft. This put an end to Soviet over flights. The Khatami Air Base was constructed specifically for the F-14 but poor relations between the US and Iran eventually led to an arms embargo being imposed, which cut off the supply of spare parts for the both the aircraft themselves and the potent AIM-54 Phoenix missiles they carry. The Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) became the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) in 1979 and continued to operate the F-14, although it is estimated that less than 20 aircraft are still operational today.

The Grumman F-14A Tomcat is designed to carry the formidable long range AIM-54 Phoenix missile, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was first flown on December 21st, 1970. Made famous by the Hollywood film Top Gun, the F-14 replaced the F-4 Phantom II as the US Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter. Its design includes a variable geometry wing that can sweep back for high speed supersonic intercepts and forward for improved positioning in air to air dogfights. Nicknamed "Bombcat," the F-14 spent much of its late career in an air-to-ground role, carrying the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system.