The bomb release and rocket control systems
enable selecting, preparing, and delivering of the
air-to-ground stores. Weapons that can be carried on
stations
3R,
4R,
5R,
and
6R
range
from
general-purpose bombs of various sizes to CBU,
LAU-10, and GBUs.
M61A1 20-MM Automatic Gun Fire Control
System
The M61A1 20-mm automatic gunfire control
system enables selecting, arming, and firing of the gun.
Depending upon the mission objective, the gun fire
control system can be operated in an air-to-ground
(A/G), air-to-air (A/A), or air combat maneuver (ACM
encounter) mode. Two attack modes of operation are
available—computer pilot attack mode and manual
attack mode. The computer pilot attack mode operates
with the weapon control system, command signal
decoder system (CSDC), and the vertical display
indicator system to display target data. The manual
attack mode is used primarily as a backup mode to
provide a manually controlled sight reticule if a system
malfunction occurs.
GUN RATE SWITCH. The GUN RATE switch
(fig. 15-1) is located on the ACM panel.
It is a
two-position, push-button, indicator switch that selects
HIGH (6,000 rounds per minute) or LOW (4,000
rounds per minute) rate of fire. This switch is only
active in the A/G and A/A modes.
A/G GUN SWITCH. The A/G GUN switch (fig.
15-2) is located on the armament control indicator
panel. It is a two-position toggle switch that enables or
inhibits a mixed bomb and gun mode operation. The
MIXED position enables bomb and gun mode
operation while the OFF position inhibits it.
GUN CONTROL UNIT. The gun control unit,
located above the gun barrels, contains the BURST
selector switch.
This switch limits the number of
rounds that can be fired per burst (50, 100, or 200), or it
permits unrestricted firing (MAN position).
HOOK/GUN PANEL. The HOOK/GUN panel,
located on the forward cockpit vertical console,
contains the gun rounds counter. This counter provides
digital countdown readout of the rounds remaining.
Decoy Dispensing Systems
The F-14 aircraft uses the AN/ALE-39 decoy
dispensing system. The CHAFF/FLARE DISPENSE
panel is located on the aft cockpit right side console.
The MANUAL DISPENSE switch on the CHAFF/
FLARE DISPENSE panel is used to initiate rounds
from the aft cockpit. Rounds can also be initiated from
the forward cockpit by the decoy dispense push button
on the control stick.
Jettison System
The jettison system allows jettison of certain
external stores. There are four jettison modes:
1.
Emergency, which is pilot controlled
2.
ACM encounter, which is NFO selected and
pilot controlled
3.
Selective, which is NFO controlled
4.
Auxiliary, which is NFO controlled (BRU-32
air-ground weapons)
In all modes, arming and fuzing is disabled during
jettison operations. The landing gear handle must be
UP for ACM encounter, selective and auxiliary jettison
modes.
Aircraft Armament Configuration Capabilities
The basic armament configuration (fig. 15-3) of the
F-14
aircraft
consists
of
four
fuselage-mounted
LAU-92 missile launchers and an internally mounted
M61A1 20-mm gun. However, the aircraft has a total of
eight weapons stations that hold a variety of missile
launchers and weapons rails. Figure 15-4 shows the
location of weapons stations 1 through 8. Figures 15-5
through 15-12 show the various station and equipment
configurations.
For more information on the authorized con-
figurations of aircraft, you should refer to F-14 Tactical
Manual, NAVAIR 01-F14AAA-1T. If you want more
information on F-14 weapons systems, refer to
Airborne Weapons/Stores Loading Manual, NAVAIR
01-F14AAA-75.
REVIEW NUMBER 1
Q1.
What naval aircraft is a dual-mission,
fighter-bomber?
Q2.
The F-14 aircraft incorporates the ________
chaff dispensing system.
Q3.
When the landing gear handle is in the down
position on the F-14 aircraft, what switch is
used to bypass the open loading gear safety
circuit?
15-5
