F-111B Aardvark History

The F-111B, stands as a very unique aircraft with only seven ever produced, known endearingly as the Navy Aardvark and disparagingly as the Sea Pig. This remarkable rare prototype aircraft was the result of a collaboration between General Dynamics and Grumman, designed to serve as a fleet defense interceptor. Its purpose was to deploy from an aircraft carrier and launch Aim-54 Phoenix missiles against incoming enemy bombers and cruise missiles.

The F-111 was a trailblazer in its own right, being the first aircraft to employ the use of a sweep wing design and ejection capsule instead of standard ejection seats. General Dynamics spearheaded the manufacturing of the Air Force F-111 models while Grumman stepped in to augment the naval aspect of the F-111B Aardvark. 

Robert McNamara harbored ambitions to integrate the F-111B into the Navy to economize and reduce government expenditure, and thus spurred on the joint Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) project with the United States Air Force. This was done so that the Navy and the Air Force could share a similar aircraft and cut the cost of the F-111 program. Despite McNamara’s efforts, after several years of testing, the Navy decided to abandon the Aardvark project citing the aircraft was too heavy for carrier operations and later opted for development of the F-14 Tomcat.

In a few years time after the F-111B experiments, the renowned F-14 Tomcat was developed in lieu of the F-111B. Lessons learned from the swing wing design, avionics, radar, and missile testing of the F-111B were instrumental in shaping the development of the F-14 Tomcat, reflecting Grumman's adaptability and innovation.

Following the cancellation of the Navy's F-111B, the U.S. and Australian Air Forces established a remarkable legacy with their fleet of F-111s. The USAF F111s played a crucial role in numerous conflicts, notably in Vietnam, Libya, and even outperforming the renowned A-10 Warthog in Iraq by achieving a higher number of tank kills. The U.S. Air Force bid farewell to its final EF-111s in 1998, while Australia retired their fleet in 2010, symbolizing the end of an era.