Iran's Historic F-14 Jets Made Famous by Top Gun May Have Been Destroyed by Israeli Airstrikes

Satellite imagery and military analysts suggest that Israel may have destroyed the last operational F-14 Tomcat fighter jets in Iran, ending a decades-long chapter in aviation history.

The retired US Navy aircraft, made famous worldwide by Top Gun, had been kept flying by Iran since the 1970s despite embargoes and technical challenges. A report from NPR stated that recent airstrikes appear to have targeted the remaining fleet.

Retired US Navy Cmdr. Ward Carroll, who flew the Tomcat throughout the 1980s and 1990s, believes the imagery could represent the destruction of the final F-14s anywhere in the world.

Iranian engineers keep the fleet operational through decades of careful maintenance. After the US Navy retired the F-14 in 2006, Iran remained the only country flying the aircraft.

Under strict sanctions, Tehran developed a long-running spare parts smuggling network and a domestic programme to reverse-engineer critical components. Carroll described his reaction to reports of the strikes: 'While I understand the tactical necessity of taking them out ... I'm also filled with sadness at their demise.'

Israeli Strikes May Have Destroyed the Last of F-14s in Iran

Israeli reports earlier this month claimed airstrikes had taken out several F-14s on the ground. Yet aviation experts remain cautious. Austrian military analyst Tom Cooper warned: 'Some of what the Israelis have shown us about the destruction of Iranian Tomcats is absolutely 100% wooden decoys. If you know where to search for them, you can actually see them standing in the same place for two, three, four or five years.'

Carroll estimates that only about 10 F-14s were operational at the onset of the current conflict. Even if destroyed, he noted, the loss is largely symbolic: 'Against today's more advanced aircraft, such as the F-18 or F-35, a Tomcat would have no chance.'

From US Ally to Isolated Operator

The F-14 story in Iran begins in 1972 when President Richard Nixon visited Tehran to meet Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was interested in acquiring the cutting-edge fighter.

Norman Friedman, a naval historian, explained: 'We regarded the Shah as an absolutely steadfast ally, and it was well known that he was interested in building up [his military] and would buy almost anything.'

The Shah purchased 79 Tomcats, complete with spare parts, a decade of maintenance support, Phoenix missiles, and pilot training.

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Shah was overthrown and relations with Washington collapsed. The new regime, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, initially considered returning the planes but ultimately kept them. Sanctions prevented easy access to parts, yet Iran managed to operate the Tomcats during the Iran-Iraq war, reportedly shooting down more than 160 Iraqi aircraft.

Farzin Nadimi of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy noted that US-trained pilots returned as instructors, enabling Iran to keep its F-14s combat-ready despite limited resources.

The End of an Era

Over the years, Iran adapted its military technology, including repurposing US-made Hawk missiles for air-to-air use and developing a domestic supply chain. International brokers and front companies helped move parts into the country despite restrictions. Arrests in the 1980s and 1990s also revealed attempts to smuggle F-14 components from US carriers.

The Pentagon's decision to destroy its own retired F-14s in 2006 showed the sensitivity of the aircraft. Instead of mothballing them in the desert, officials used a mechanical shearing machine to rip the planes apart, ensuring Iran could not gain access to their components.

Now, Israel's move will prevent Iran from gaining or maintaining advanced military capabilities that could shift the balance in the Middle East.