The US and Israel Are Blowing Up the Last Flying F-14 Tomcats on Earth

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The United States and Israel are working to destroy Iran’s fleet of F-14 Tomcats—the final remaining airworthy F-14s anywhere in the world.

Multiple Iranian F-14 Tomcat fighters have been destroyed on the ground during US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s 8th Tactical Air Base in Isfahan, a major hub for the Iranian Air Force.

Images released by satellite firm Vantor appear to confirm the strikes, which took place during Operation Epic Fury. The United States and Israel have targeted Iran’s air bases, missile infrastructure, and command centers. The destruction of these aircraft could mark the final chapter of the last operational F-14s in the world, which the US Navy retired two decades ago.

What We Know About the F-14s from Satellite Footage over Iran

Comparisons between satellite images of the Isfahan base taken in late February and again in early March give some idea of the destruction visited on the airfield by Operation Epic Fury.

In the first images, five F-14 Tomcats are positioned around the base. In post-strike imagery, the Tomcats appear to be damaged, destroyed, and in one instance, completely obliterated (all that remains is a large scorch mark on the tarmac where the F-14 had been).

The F-14s weren’t the only aircraft destroyed in the US-Israeli strikes. Imagery also shows at least 10 other Iranian aircraft destroyed along taxiways—which analysts believe are F-7 fighters, an export variant of China’s Chengdu J-7. The J-7 is itself derived from the Soviet MiG-21, a Cold War-era interceptor that Iran has long relied on due to sanctions limiting access to modern fighters. 

Iran’s F-14 Tomcats Are the Last of Their Kind

The destruction of Iran’s F-14 fleet marks a sad day for aviation enthusiasts, long fascinated with Iran’s continued operation of the beloved aircraft. Iran’s F-14s are the last remaining operational Tomcats anywhere in the world.

The United States delivered 79 F-14A Tomcats to Iran in the 1970s, and the theocratic government of Iran inherited them following the 1979 revolution. After the United States imposed sanctions on Iran and instituted strict export controls on F-14 components, Iran struggled to maintain its Tomcat fleet due to lack of spare parts and technical support. Despite those challenges, however, it has managed to keep a portion of the fleet flying for decades through extensive cannibalization and domestic repair efforts.

Still, the operational status of Iran’s F-14 has long been uncertain. Estimates suggested that anywhere from only a handful to perhaps two dozen aircraft might still be airworthy. It would appear that the Isfahan strikes took out the most airworthy among these, whittling the fleet away even further.

Israel Has Been Cutting Down Iran’s Airfleet for Years

Iran’s F-14 fleet had already been shrinking prior to Epic Fury. During the 2025 12-Day War with Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released imagery of strikes on at least five F-14s at Iranian airbases.

In Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing strikes on Isfahan are part of a broader campaign targeting Iran’s military aviation infrastructure. Other airbases across Iran have also reportedly suffered aircraft losses, including the Su-22, C-130, Il-76, and F-5s (also US-supplied before the Revolution).

From a strategic perspective, the destruction of Iran’s remaining F-14s represents more than just a sentimental loss. It further erodes an already fragile Iranian Air Force, neutralizing the state’s ability to operate fighter aircraft. And it seems that Iran’s remarkable decades-long run of operating the F-14 through resourcefulness and improvisation may be ending; the world’s last operational F-14s may soon disappear entirely, marking a bittersweet moment for enthusiasts who grew up loving the high-speed, sweep-wing fighter, but despaired to see it in the hands of America’s greatest Middle Eastern adversary.

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.

© The National Interest