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Congress’ Maverick Act
On May 1, 2026, the US Senate unanimously passed the companion bill to Congressman Abe Hamadeh’s Maverick Act of 2026. Congressman Hamadeh’s bill will preserve the last three F-14 Tomcats for public display and educational purposes.
The Maverick Act 2026 was proudly introduced in April by Hamadeh.
The Maverick Act of 2026 creates a narrow exception to the post-retirement restrictions that have destroyed nearly all F-14s, ensuring that its legacy is preserved; the Maverick Act allows three of the world’s final Tomcats to be demilitarized and transferred for public display and education under strict national security safeguards. It does not restore combat capability or reopen foreign transfer.
“As a young man, I was inspired by the popular Tom Cruise movie Top Gun, which featured the F-14, one of the most iconic aircraft ever flown,” stated Congressman Hamadeh in a press release appeared on his website.
“I want to thank Senator Sheehy and his colleagues for passing this legislation aimed at preserving for history one of the most iconic aircraft ever flown. As a former U.S. Army officer, I know that many of the men and women I served with felt the same way. That is why I proudly introduced this legislation,” he continued.
“I am also grateful to the cosponsors of the bill in the House, who have already offered their enthusiastic support,” stated Congressman Hamadeh.
F-14D Tomcat back to the skies
According to S.4161 – Maverick Act appeared on Congress website, ‘the Secretary of the Navy may convey, without consideration, to the US Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 3 surplus F-14D Tomcat aircraft (Bureau Numbers 164341, 164602 and 159437 that is actually an F-14A), which are excess to the operational requirements of the Navy.
‘The aircraft do not have any capability for use as a platform for launching or releasing munitions or any other combat capability that it was designed to have.
‘The Secretary shall provide excess spare parts to make one of the F-14D aircraft flyable or able to complete a static display, provided that any part transferred is from existing Navy stock, with no items being procured on behalf of the Commission.’
The first of the American teen-series fighters
The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy’s Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program following the collapse of the F-111B project. The F-14 was the first of the American teen-series fighters, which were designed incorporating the experience of air combat against MiG fighters during the Vietnam War. The F-14A with TF30 engines first flew in December 1970 and made its first deployment in 1974 with the U.S. Navy aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65), replacing the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The F-14 served as the U.S. Navy’s primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet interceptor and tactical aerial reconnaissance platform.
Upgraded F-14A (plus) and F-14Ds came into service in the late1980s and early 1990s, boasting enhanced avionics and more powerful F110-GE-400 turbofans. The aircraft also proved an outstanding air-to-ground platform employing a capability present from the initial design work, but rarely employed.
The Navy elected to retire the F-14 and chose the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to fill the roles of fleet defense and strike. The last two F-14D squadrons, the VF-31 Tomcatters and the VF-213 Black Lions conducted their last fly-in at Naval Air Station Oceana on Mar. 10, 2006.
As already explained, in 1973-1974, Iran ordered 80 Tomcats. 79 were delivered by early 1978: one was kept in the US for further testing and never delivered. The Tomcat had been used by Iran in combat against Iraq in its intended air superiority mission in the early 1980s.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Mar. 8 that it destroyed a number of Iranian F-14 Tomcat fighter jets in strikes at Isfahan airport on Mar. 7, during the 2026 war against Iran.
Photo credit: PH1(AW) Willie Davis / U.S. Navy
