End of an Era: Israeli Forces Demonstrate Destruction of Iranian F-14 Tomcats

Israeli forces struck an airport in the Iranian capital, Tehran, targeting a parking area where F-14 Tomcat fighter jets were located.

The Israel Defense Forces’ press office published the video of the incident.

The footage captures the destruction of two aircraft using unidentified munitions — likely small-caliber aerial bombs or air-to-ground guided missiles.

The destroyed aircraft were likely non-operational so-called “coffins” — airframes that are no longer in active service.

This is suggested by their unusual positioning in the parking area and corroborated by satellite imagery of Tehran airport showing aircraft in similar locations.

Still, losing two “donor” aircraft is a significant blow to Iran’s F-14 fleet. The Iranian Air Force has only a small number of airworthy Tomcats remaining, and international sanctions make it impossible to purchase spare parts.

Reports have surfaced online claiming that operational F-14s were destroyed at other air bases, but no evidence has yet confirmed this.

On June 15, Israel performed an airstrike that reportedly destroyed Iran’s only aerial refueling aircraft — a modified Boeing 707-3J9C.

Iranian F-14s

Iran remains the only foreign operator of the F-14 Tomcat. In 1974, during the reign of the Shah, Iran ordered 80 F-14A fighter jets along with 714 AIM-54 Phoenix missiles.

The purchase aimed to offer Iran a technological edge over regional rivals.

The first F-14s were delivered in January 1976. By the time of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran had received 79 of the 80 aircraft ordered.

Many trained personnel were purged after the revolution, and the U.S. suspended all spare parts and technical support.

When the Iran–Iraq War started in September 1980, the government was forced to reinstate experienced pilots and restore aircraft to operational status.

Facing sanctions and parts shortages, Iran kept its F-14s flying by cannibalizing grounded airframes and developing domestic alternatives.

The country launched large-scale reverse engineering programs to produce indigenous components, onboard systems, and even missiles. This included the Fakour-90, a local version of the AIM-54.

By the early 2000s, 15–20 Tomcats were believed to be in service. In the 2010s, Iran launched limited upgrades to radars, avionics, and weapon systems.