Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:40:19-3:40:46

Why Britain could not readily adopt the F-14A

A naval F-14A purchase depended on a carrier such as CVA-01; the RAF question also requires a comparison with available alternative aircraft.

CVA-01F-14 TomcatNaval AviationRoyal Air ForceRoyal Navy
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Should the Royal Navy or RAF have bought the F-14A in the 1970s?

Short answer

The Royal Navy needed a suitable carrier such as CVA-01. No firm RAF recommendation is given without considering alternative aircraft.

Notes

The Royal Navy lacked a suitable carrier for the F-14A in the 1970s. CVA-01 would have been needed even to offer a chance of operating it. Buying the fighter therefore depended on a corresponding carrier decision. The RAF part of the question is left open by asking which other aircraft it could buy at the time.