Israeli Air Force destroys rare Iranian F-14 fighter jet
The Israeli Air Force has released imagery confirming the destruction of two Iranian F-14 Tomcat fighter jets during precision airstrikes on military facilities in Isfahan.
According to Israeli officials, the attack was part of a broader campaign against Islamic Republic military infrastructure, with a focus on platforms capable of defending critical airspace and coordinating offensive operations.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the airstrikes were conducted with “full operational control of the skies” and that the F-14s were struck while parked at an air base near the central Iranian city.
In total, Iran received 79 F-14s, though years of sanctions and embargoes have made spare parts and maintenance a growing challenge.
As of early 2025, Iran was believed to operate a small number of Tomcats out of Shahid Babaei Air Base in Isfahan, using them primarily for air defense and intercept missions. Despite their age, these aircraft remained one of the most capable platforms in Iran’s inventory due to their long-range radar and missile pairing, a legacy of Cold War-era U.S. design.
The F-14 fleet represented a symbolic and strategic asset for the Islamic Republic’s air force.
However, it appears that both Iranian F-14 Tomcats destroyed in the recent strike were in a non-operational state. Defense analysts reviewing the imagery suggest that the aircraft had likely been grounded for some time and were no longer airworthy.