This is one thing that i just don't get. The navy decides to retire our fastest (mach 2.5 or so) fighter which is the only fighter that can carry our only truely long range missle (the AIM-54 Phoniex) and expect it to be OK? GET REAL!! the only other carrier based fighter is the F-18 that can't even hit Mach 2 (mach 1.8 to be precise) and can only carry the AIM 120 As its longest range missle, which is still outmatched by Russia's R-27. who else here agrees that Retireing the F-14, the Navie's, and the worlds, fastest long range intercepter should not be retired?!