The Aardvark was the first airplane to incorporate specific design features to make it multirole capable.
When it comes to pioneering aircraft in the U.S. military’s history, the F-111 Aardvark arguably takes the cake. The now-retired supersonic, medium-range, multirole combat jet first took to the skies during the Cold War. After serving the Air Force for more than three decades, the unique platform certainly suffered from some growing pains but remains a fan favorite among aviation enthusiasts today. The “Aardvark,” named for its pig-like exterior design, represented the first airplane to incorporate specific design features to make it multirole capable. This game-changing function, coupled with the platform’s variable-sweep wing configuration which would become the norm down the line, made the F-111 a memorable aircraft.
The Origin Story of the Aardvark
Upon the conceptualization of then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara’s 1961 Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) program, a joint effort to produce a singular aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Air Force resulted in some of the most recognizable platforms. The Navy required a long-range, high-endurance interceptor aircraft to better protect carrier groups out at sea from the Soviet Navy’s advancing fleets. The Air Force desired a tandem-seat platform for low-level penetration ground attack. Ultimately, the two services agreed to green-light the development of swing-wing, two-seat, twin-engine prototypes. All the big-name manufacturers at the time submitted proposals for the joint aircraft endeavor. General Dynamics’ proposal beat out its Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed Martin, and North American competitors.
Although the Navy eventually canceled its program, the Air Force forged ahead with the F-111 design. The resulting platform featured a variable-sweep wing configuration which would become the basis for future aircraft. This layout enabled the jet to maneuver at low speeds of supersonic speeds depending on its mission. The F-111 also became the first aircraft to be powered by an afterburning turbofan engine, allowing it to fly supersonically to Europe without requiring tankers to refuel. Notably, the Aardvark set a world record for the longest low-level supersonic flight in 1966, when it flew approximately 172 miles at least than 1,000 feet of altitude.
When it came to its bomber prowess, the Aardvark was unmatched at the time. The formidable aircraft could fly low to the ground to evade detection until released bombs reached their targets, and then revert back to supersonic speeds at higher altitudes to embark on its return flight home. In total, the aircraft could carry bombs up to 31,000 pounds and fuel for missions up to 2,500 miles long. Initially, F-111s were equipped to lug the M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon within their internal weapons bays. However, this capability was nixed down the line.
Operational History
In the Vietnam War, several F-111s were lost due to a hydraulic control valve rod issue. Ultimately, forty-two other F-111s were discovered to possess this defect following a thorough investigation. Once this issue was rectified, however, the F-111s would be deployed again. The Airforce dispatched eighteen Aardvarks in 1986 to carry out air strikes against Libya during Operation El Dorado Canyon. Notably, the F-111s which participated made history when they took off from Royal Air Force Lakenheath and Royal Air Force Upper Heyford in the U.K. and flew round-trip to Libya, as this trip marked the longest fighter combat mission in history.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Wikipedia.
