The F-14 Tomcat paired a powerful radar with the AIM-54 Phoenix to create an unusually effective long-range fleet interceptor. The F-14 and upgraded Sea Harrier are identified as the two maritime fighters certified for beyond-visual-range work in the period under discussion. The Sea Harrier reached that status after the Falklands War opened funding for a much more capable radar and weapons fit. Its enlarged radar installation prompts the joke that the resulting aircraft looked like a radar with an airframe attached.
Notable Point · 1:10:40-1:11:49
F-14 and Sea Harrier beyond-visual-range interception
The F-14/Phoenix combination and the post-Falklands Sea Harrier illustrate two naval routes to certified beyond-visual-range interception.