Key Points and Summary: The F-111 Aardvark, a Cold War-era U.S. Air Force fighter-bomber, was a groundbreaking aircraft with variable-sweep wings, terrain-following radar, and high-speed, low-altitude strike capabilities.
Key Point #1 – It excelled in Vietnam, conducting over 4,000 missions with minimal losses, and played a key role in Operation El Dorado Canyon’s long-range strike on Libya. Capable of carrying nuclear and conventional weapons, the F-111’s versatility made it a formidable strike aircraft.
Key Point #2 – Despite its effectiveness, the Aardvark was retired in favor of the B-1 bomber. While no longer in service, its innovative design and combat record cement its place in military aviation history.
The F-111 Aardvark: The Supersonic Strike Jet That Changed Warfare
The US Air Force F-111, known as the Aardvark, was born in the Cold War under the Tactical Fighter Experimental Program (TFX) when Robert McNamara was the Secretary of Defense.
When it was first operational, it was an outstanding platform capable of performing multiple roles to fly the skies. The “Aardvark” also represented the first production airframe with a variable-sweep wing configuration that the pilot could change in flight.
Background of the F-111
During the height of the Cold War, the US was not aware of how advanced the Soviet Union’s anti-aircraft defenses were until Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 spy plane was shot down over the skies of Russia.
McNamara ordered a jet to meet the Navy’s and Air Force’s needs. Initially, the Secretary was looking for a high-altitude jet. General Dynamics built the aircraft from the ground up. Designers developed the platform with two-seat and twin-engine features.
Powered by two powerful Pratt & Whitney TF30 afterburning turbofan engines with 25,100 pounds of thrust, the F-111’s top speed was 1,452 mph. The pilot and weapons officer sat side-by-side in the cockpit. The variable-sweep wings span in full forward and full sweep varies from 16° to 72.5°.
The sweep wings extended and swept to reach supersonic speeds at high and low altitudes, allowing for shorter take-off and landing distances.
The F-111 aircraft conducted its maiden flight in December 1964 and entered service with the Air Force in 1967. Production ceased in 1976 after 566 aircraft were built in different versions. The F-111 variants were in service with the Air Force until 1998.
The F-111, Aardvark
The FB-111A was a strategic bomber variant developed for the USAF Strategic Air Command. It had increased load-carrying capacity and range and used the SAC Mark IIB avionics suite. It had Triple Plow II intakes and a TF30-P-7 engine. The main armament of FB-111A was the Boeing AGM-69 short-range attack missile.
The internal bay could carry Mk 117 type (340kg) bombs, and up to Mk 118 (1,400kg) was cleared. The F-111 could carry various free-fall nuclear weapons such as B43, B57, and B61 bombs. The F-111C can launch AGM-142 Popeye stand-off missile, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile, and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile.
The avionics systems included communications, navigation, terrain following, target acquisition and attack, and enemy air defense systems suppression.
The F-111’s automatic terrain-following radar system flew the aircraft at a constant altitude above the ground, following the Earth’s contours, called the Nap of the Earth. It allowed the aircraft to fly in valleys and over mountains, day or night, regardless of weather conditions. A fail-safe automatic climb was initiated during any system malfunction.
The radar bombing system was synchronized with a laser spotting system to deliver weapons precisely at night or in bad weather.
Long, Distinguished Combat Record
The Aardvark flew over 4,000 missions in Vietnam with only six losses, one of the lowest loss rates of the war. During the 1972 Linebacker raids, the F-111 Aardvark finally demonstrated its potential. Flying beneath North Vietnam’s extensive radar network at night, F-111s blasted North Vietnamese airfields and air defense batteries, weakening the resistance to incoming B-52 raids.
Aardvarks didn’t require the fighter escort, electronic warfare support, or midair refueling that other bombers required and could operate in inclement weather.
In 1986, troubles with Libya rose with the United States after the bombing of the La Belle nightclub perpetrated by Libyan agents in Berlin killed two US servicemen. President Reagan ordered an attack on Libyan dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi’s personal compound near Tripoli, codenamed Operation El Dorado Canyon.
Because the United States couldn’t get approval from mainland European countries (France) for the raid, the Aardvarks took off from the UK and had to circumnavigate Spain, increasing total flight time to thirteen hours. In all, they needed to be refueled six times on the roundtrip. It was the most extended fighter mission in history. Qaddafi escaped because the Prime Minister of Italy tipped off Qaddafi at the last minute.
The Aardvark could land and take off from shorter runways, which also helped its efficacy during Vietnam, the Cold War, and Operation Desert Storm. The US sold the F-111 to Australia, whose pilots affectionately called it “the Pig.”
Unfortunately, the Air Force decided not to extend its service life as they have done to many of their great aircraft platforms. It was a great aircraft. It could fly low and unobservable to enemy radar, and she was fast and maneuverable.
However, the B-1 Bomber was ready to fly, and the F-111 was retired.
F-111: All The Photos
F-111. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
RAAF A8-134 General Dynamics RF-111C Aardvark c/n D1-10. Farewell F-111 Aerial Display – Australian International Airshow 10-15 March 2009. File: A8-134_YMAV_20090314_5871
An air-to-air left front view of an F-111 aircraft during a refueling mission over the North Sea.
F-111
F-111. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
F-111. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
F-111. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
