An Iranian F-14 [Credit: Nasim Online/Wikimedia Commons]
Key Takeaways:
Israeli forces destroyed two Iranian F-14 Tomcats in Isfahan, with the IDF confirming the jets were intended to intercept Israeli aircraft.
The F-14s were reportedly not parked under hardened shelters, further depleting Iran's unique and aging fleet of these fighter jets.
Iran is the only country still operating the F-14 Tomcat, an aircraft retired by the U.S. in 2006, and this incident could signify the end of its global operational life due to Iran's struggles with maintenance and parts acquisition under sanctions.
Israeli forces destroyed a pair of Iranian F-14 Tomcats, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Monday.
The Defence Blog reports that the jets were parked in Isfahan, Iran, while Israel carried out airstrikes on military targets in the region. According to The War Zone, these F-14s were not parked under hardened shelters.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Ryan is Sr. Director of Digital for Firecrown's Aviation Group. In 2013, he founded AirlineGeeks.com, a leading trade publication covering the airline industry. Since then, his work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the airline industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Previously, he worked for a Part 135 operator and later a major airline. Ryan is also an Adjunct Instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.