Not to mention the bug doesn’t have the complicated boxes and hydraulics associated with swing wings. I shudder to think of the nightmares that the maint guys had to go through to keep that supplied with enough fluid and in proper working order.
Somewhat related, but why was the TF30 not replaced with a derivative of the Allison TF41, as on the A-7?
Ultimately? Probably the same reason the F401 and F101 were canned and it took 15 years to get the F110: Money.
On paper the TF41 was also a non-afterburning engine. There was an afterburning variant used by the Royal Navy on their F-4Ks, but we never used it. I’d imagine buying the license for the AB variant, going through the necessary testing programs to verify it would work (quick and dirty check seems to suggest it would physically fit in the pod), was satisfactory, and then actually buying and retrofitting them was simply too costly.
I should ask my uncle about what it was like working with the 14D. I recently found out that he wrote manuals for the D’s mission computer system; most of his work at Grumman was apparently for the D.
Probably lack of funding. Congress sees an jet that is working and can do its primary mission of fleet defense so…why does the Navy need more funding to re-engne the thing. On “the Hilll”, the “Because it will more powerful and fly better” is not a winning argument.
Besides, in the Navy, the standard reason for not being able to do something is always “funding”…even if it’s not.
Fixed that for you. 
They’ve been talking about reengining the B-52 since…no remembers when, really. It’s eternal.
The re-engined the KC-135 and I think the E-3A a while ago.
At their current rate, they’re going to go through two or three more re-engines of those fleets while they beg for more F-35 money. They cut back KC-46 numbers in a big way.
Per the F-14, much like the super bug, it seems it was a case of better an aircraft with a problematic engine than no aircraft at all.
Yes!
Of course to anybody that paid a little attention, this is no suprise 
I don’t get it? It’s just an AI asset just like the Draken.
Meanwhile the HB store has a countdown for 36 days.
I sure do hope you’re right! 
Eeh, they put CFM-56 engines on it so they’ve got another 20 years of life in them minimum. They could jump on the LEAP-1A(I presume they use the Airbus version and not the 737 CFM) as that is the future of this engine size but why would they? They probably got the DAC version of the CFM so that should help them preserve a significant amount of fuel.
I must say I was stuck in my bunk for a while.
I will also admit it’s a jerk move (hehe) to show all that goodies worth of show- and only then put AI.
It was a cold shower.
I am happy that it’s being made…
I surely hope @MBot is right about being flyable eventually.
Looks like you’re right! Atleast, those are the long term plans
Furthering our commitment to trying to provide a full and rich experience to the community, and in line with our module development priorities, we’ve decided to introduce the A-6E and KA-6 as free AI units into DCS World shortly following the release of the F-14 Tomcat!
The Intruder is an aircraft that has been under active development at Heatblur Simulations for some time, and subject to a license agreement, we hope to eventually introduce it into DCS world as a full DCS module - and we are developing it with this intent in mind.
In the meantime, the AI Intruders will serve a critical role in the F-14 campaigns and provide an additional level of authenticity to the game and simulation battlespace environment. The A-6’s are built to our extremely exacting standards, with laser scanning forming the basis of our core workflow and ensuring complete accuracy in shape and dimensions. In-game, the KA-6 will provide the player with texaco services while the A-6E will serve as a venerable strike partner with an unmatched payload - good friends to have in the cockpit of an F-14.
Thanks as always for your support. We look forward to sharing much more!
Well… Back to my bunk…
Dev update!
https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=3612905#post3612905
@komemiute ready for your third trip to the bunk?
Jester controls UI
A lot more of that good stuff in the link! No replacement for the chromecat spotted yet, though.
