The story of the US Navy F-14 Tomcat that intercepted a Concorde during Operation Desert Shield

US Navy F-14 Tomcat RIO tells the story of when he and his pilot intercepted a Concorde during Operation Desert Shield

By Dario Leone
Jan 3 2023
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‘As we swung our nose in the direction of the vector we got, I got an immediate lock on an extremely fast and high-flying aircraft,’ David ‘Hey Joe’ Parsons, F-14 Tomcat RIO.

On May 17, 1987, the guided missile frigate USS Stark was hit by a pair of French Made Exocet Missiles fired from a French made Dassault 50 Business jet (code-named Suzanna) modified with the nose radar of a Mirage F1 and guidance systems for those combat proven anti-ship weapons. Initially thought to be a Mirage F1EQ, this experimental missile firing platform was modified to provide a rapid anti shipping capability for the Iraqi Air Force (IrAF) during the latter stages of its war with Iran. During this attack 37 US Navy sailors were killed, while the Stark’s anti-aircraft radar systems and anti-air Standard Missile Battery was unable to respond.

 As explained by Tom Cooper in his book In the Claws of the Tomcat: US Navy F-14 Tomcats in Air Combat against Iran and Iraq, although the Falcon 50 in question was never deployed in combat again and although officials in Washington made repeated statements that the attack on the USS Stark was flown by an ‘Iraqi Mirage’, henceforth, the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) was on alert and ‘very aware’ of the jet’s existence and capabilities.

Falcon 50 Suzanna
A poor quality but highly interesting still from a video showing the pointy end of ‘Suzanna’ as of 1990: this covered the Cyrano IVQ-C5 radar. The jet included not only the weapons system of the Mirage F.1EQ-5 but had the full instrumentation of that type installed in the right side of the cockpit. By 1990, it was further modified through the addition of an estra fuel tank inside the cabin, and the capability to carry either a Raphael-TH pod with SLAR (visible under the fuselage) or an RP.35 drop tank with capacity of 1,500 litres of fuel. (via Tom Cooper)

Suzanna caused serious concerns that the Iraqis might deploy it via Jordan and into the northern Red Sea, and attack one of the US Navy’s warships there: the threat that the modified business jet emanated was constantly on the minds of everybody embarked aboard the CVBGs operating in the Red Sea. It was for this reason that ever since the first US Navy CVBGs arrived on station in that area, in August 1990, its Tomcats flew rigorous CAPs above the carriers, 24/7, and aggressively intercepted whatever came their way. The patrols in question were continued all through operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, from August 1990 until March 1991, and – regardless of so many other urgencies — the USAF supported them by providing at least one KC-135 around the clock.

How tense such CAPs could get became clear in August 1990, when one of the Aegis cruisers deployed in the northern Red Sea detected a high-speed aircraft approaching from the north, and a pair of Tomcats kept on alert was scrambled to inspect. By accident, David ‘Hey Joe’ Parsons, a RIO serving with the VF-32, was in the rear cockpit of one of two F-14As returning from a training sortie over Saudi Arabia:

VF-32 F-14Bs print
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. Farewell to the Tomcat, VF-32 Swordsmen, 2005

“Our mission that day took us into Saudi Arabia and out of the Kennedy’s control. However, as we switched back into the Red Sea control frequency, we could hear excited dialogue about a high-speed flying and alert aircraft being launched and ships going on general quarters. We were well to the north-east of the ships and, from what I could tell, in the best position to execute an intercept. Thus, I checked in [and] advised the controller that we were ready, willing and able to do so.

“The TAO’s voice was several octaves higher than normal and they were going into “warning red, weapons tight”. As we swung our nose in the direction of the vector we got, I got an immediate lock on an extremely fast and high-flying aircraft. The TCS could not resolve the identification, but I had a 300mm camera lens in my bag and broke it out. The AWG-9 was giving us a huge lead via the steering cue, so I was looking out the starboard side — as we spotted a white contrail high above us. As I twisted the lens, the beautiful silhouette of the Concorde came into focus…”

The unknown story of the US Navy F-14 Tomcat crew that intercepted a Concorde during Operation Desert Shield
Aèrospatiale-BAC Concorde, the only supersonic passenger aircraft to ever enter regular service, caught by the 300mm zoom of David Parson’s camera during the interception high above the Red Sea in August 1990. (Photo by CDR David Parsons, US Navy, ret.)

Identified as a supersonic airliner, the jet was left to continue its voyage. After the end of the Second Persian Gulf War it became known that the Iraqis had evacuated Suzanna to Iran in late January 1991 — but without her weapons system: ever since, the jet has been used for VIP-transport in Iran.

In the Claws of the Tomcat: US Navy F-14 Tomcats in Air Combat against Iran and Iraq, 1987-2000 is published by Helion & Company and is available to order here.

Photo credit: CDR David Parsons / US Navy, Tom Cooper and Adrian Meredith / Crown Copyright

F-14 model
This model is available from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS

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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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  1. Bob Graham says:

    I was an E5 Personnel PO in VF-1 throughout Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I kept a diary including many interactions with O’s and Sound Powered Phone Watch in the VF-1 Ready Room aboard USS Ranger. I recorded an impromptu debrief by the CO (CDR McElraft) on video as he related the shootdown of a Russian helo, mentioned in the Wikipedia reference to VF-1. While my original book, Military Secret, is at the Naval War College and Naval Academy (and Harvard) libraries, you can get the “somewhat tamer” version at Amazon, etc., titled GULF in the WAR STORY. Best wishes, warm regards.

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