Random
Source Code
Random
IRST is the abbreviation for "Infrared Search and Track". This system is found on many aircraft like the F-4C, Su-33, F-14D etc. It is the shape of a dome and is transparent/translucent with a small infrared camera connected to a few hinges so it can track and follow targets.
The IRST is tracking an SA-6 SAM site currently
The F-14 was a great, yet overrated aircraft built by the Grumman corporation. The Navy needed an aircraft that was able to fly at supersonic speeds that was still able to maneuver fairly well. In development, the aircraft was known as the XF-14. The earlier versions of the F-14 used Pratt and Whitney TF30 engines which were famous for its frequent compressor stalls. Later variants (A late, B, D) fixed this by replacing the engines with General Electric F110's which are found in a lot of other modern American fighters currently. Another issue found on the Tomcat was that there was no "fly by wire" system. That made it easier for the plane to get into a flatspin or exceed the G-limit (the wings could rip off). The early A variant had special retractable fins in the LEX called glove vanes. They were found to be almost completely useless so they removed it on all the later variants. The F-14B had almost nothing different except for the "Tomcat Eyes". The F-14D had a camera and an IRST under the nose. It also had automatic wing sweep which the earlier variants didn't have.
The F-14 Tomcat was capable of higher AoA than the early Hornets. The Tomcat would most likely win in a dogfight against a Hornet.
2👍 1👎