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Description
In 2017, Rosenthal Incorporated, having finally reentered the Osean government's good graces, was designated the steward of the Estovakian Air Force, taking on the majority of the duties of the air arm. To do so, the Oseans gave Rosenthal surplus aircraft taken from the Estovakians following the forced downsizing of the Estovakian armed forces.

This included a number of surplus F-14D Tomcats. The “new” F-14s were promptly stripped down and upgraded. The wiring was replaced by fiber optics, and the traditional controls were replaced by fly-by-wire systems, thus leading to serious weight savings. On the avionics front, after negotiations with Calverton Aerospace, the original manufacturer of the F-14, Rosenthal gained permission to unlock the aircraft’s avionics and upgrade it past the “Quickstrike” standard, making them functionally identical to later block F-15Es. The fire control system was made compatible with the Helmet Mounted Display System from the F-35. To improve survivability, the defensive electronics suite was upgraded to the ALQ-214 IDECM suite from the Block II Super Hornet and ALE-55 towed decoys, with a launcher being mounted in the beaver tail. Rosenthal also put considerable effort into expanding the aircraft's weapons delivery envelope, clearing it with a multitude of systems including the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-118 Brimstone, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-84 Harpoon family, and AGM-154 JSOW. The F-14D's M61A1 Vulcan was also replaced by the lighter-weight M61A2.

The aircraft passing through these upgrades were designated "Quickstrike Block 1." The company planned further upgrades, including replacing the traditional framed windscreen with a single-piece design from the ST-21, structural improvements to reduce maintenance requirements, composite paneling for further weight reduction, and new engines to increase thrust and fuel efficiency.

Additionally, due to the F-14's rather forgiving handling characteristics, the new Quickstrikes also became the lead platform for the company's testing of the AIM-154 Anaconda long range air to air missile.

The aircraft pictured above was dubbed "Leviathan" by her crew, Sarathi "Sharky" Sarkar and Samya "Shamu" Suara, further solidifying the theme of aquatic creatures they seemed to have developed.

Leviathan is shown here in the aftermath of her Block 1 upgrade, taking part in RIMPAC 2018. She is armed with a quartet of AGM-84 Harpoons, 2 AGM-88E AARGMs, and 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders to take part in a live fire exercise to test anti-ship tactics. She has not yet received the dark disruptive three-tone paint scheme that Rosenthal Tomcats grew famous for, instead being painted in a modification of the standard Tactical Paint Scheme.

The owners of the properties depicted herein and I maintain our respective rights.

This artwork may not be used without my express permission.

Description
In 2017, Rosenthal Incorporated, having finally reentered the Osean government's good graces, was designated the steward of the Estovakian Air Force, taking on the majority of the duties of the air arm. To do so, the Oseans gave Rosenthal surplus aircraft taken from the Estovakians following the forced downsizing of the Estovakian armed forces.

This included a number of surplus F-14D Tomcats. The “new” F-14s were promptly stripped down and upgraded. The wiring was replaced by fiber optics, and the traditional controls were replaced by fly-by-wire systems, thus leading to serious weight savings. On the avionics front, after negotiations with Calverton Aerospace, the original manufacturer of the F-14, Rosenthal gained permission to unlock the aircraft’s avionics and upgrade it past the “Quickstrike” standard, making them functionally identical to later block F-15Es. The fire control system was made compatible with the Helmet Mounted Display System from the F-35. To improve survivability, the defensive electronics suite was upgraded to the ALQ-214 IDECM suite from the Block II Super Hornet and ALE-55 towed decoys, with a launcher being mounted in the beaver tail. Rosenthal also put considerable effort into expanding the aircraft's weapons delivery envelope, clearing it with a multitude of systems including the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-118 Brimstone, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-84 Harpoon family, and AGM-154 JSOW. The F-14D's M61A1 Vulcan was also replaced by the lighter-weight M61A2.

The aircraft passing through these upgrades were designated "Quickstrike Block 1." The company planned further upgrades, including replacing the traditional framed windscreen with a single-piece design from the ST-21, structural improvements to reduce maintenance requirements, composite paneling for further weight reduction, and new engines to increase thrust and fuel efficiency.

Additionally, due to the F-14's rather forgiving handling characteristics, the new Quickstrikes also became the lead platform for the company's testing of the AIM-154 Anaconda long range air to air missile.

The aircraft pictured above was dubbed "Leviathan" by her crew, Sarathi "Sharky" Sarkar and Samya "Shamu" Suara, further solidifying the theme of aquatic creatures they seemed to have developed.

Leviathan is shown here in the aftermath of her Block 1 upgrade, taking part in RIMPAC 2018. She is armed with a quartet of AGM-84 Harpoons, 2 AGM-88E AARGMs, and 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders to take part in a live fire exercise to test anti-ship tactics. She has not yet received the dark disruptive three-tone paint scheme that Rosenthal Tomcats grew famous for, instead being painted in a modification of the standard Tactical Paint Scheme.

The owners of the properties depicted herein and I maintain our respective rights.

This artwork may not be used without my express permission.