Tomcat in The Drink - Soviets Salvage an F-14

On September 14, 1976, one F14A Tomcat crashed into waters 100 miles northwest of Scapa Flow, Scotland; after a malfunction during preparation for launch. It's crew, pilot, Lt. J. L. Kosich, and his radar intercept officer, Lt. (jg) L. E. Seymour safely ejected. A search an recovery mission was launched and succeeded in securing the plane and missile system.

/////"On board the F-14A Tomcat was America’s new and top secret AIM-54 Phoenix missile as well as its revolutionary fire control radar system, the AN/AWG-9."\\\\\

Source article - http://fly.historicwings.com/2012/09/tomcat-deep/


In this what if, the Soviets succeed in first recovering parts of the plane before the Americans; or at least vital parts of the missile/radar systems (doubt they could get away with the whole plane or just parts without being discovered and run-off).

What might the impact be on the development of their aircraft and doctrine?

How might this impact relations between the East and West?

What would the West actions be in response?

Anyone know of possible scenarios this might realistically happen without summoning the Queen of the Alien Space Bats? XD

What are your thoughts?
Thank you, and with much deep respect.
 
They lack the ability to make the transistors necessary for the electronics. The Russians still lack the ability and its not as if Intel processors are top secret.
 
From Wiki

Hughes delivered enough AWG-9 systems and spares to equip approximately 600 F-14A/B aircraft for the Navy, and an additional 78 aircraft for the Iranian Air Force. All of the Navy systems have been retired; the status of the Iranian systems is unknown, but it is believed that they are still in service.
 
As soon as the Soviets figured out the frequencies, they would start building hammers and decoys and chaff to counter Tomcat's advantage.
 
Any clues how the Navy might react to having a state of the art system in enemy hands and now possibly compromised?

Just change the radar on subsequent models of AIM-54 and F-14-it's what everyone did already when stuff like that happened.
 
In this what if, the Soviets succeed in first recovering parts of the plane before the Americans; or at least vital parts of the missile/radar systems (doubt they could get away with the whole plane or just parts without being discovered and run-off).

I'd say the Sovs getting away with that given the amount of locally available US and RN submarine and ASW assets is practically nil.
 
From Wiki

Hughes delivered enough AWG-9 systems and spares to equip approximately 600 F-14A/B aircraft for the Navy, and an additional 78 aircraft for the Iranian Air Force. All of the Navy systems have been retired; the status of the Iranian systems is unknown, but it is believed that they are still in service.

Iranian F-14's are still flying, presumably with operational radars, some of them adapted to mount the Hawk SAM in place of the Phoenix.

Feature article from a few months ago:
http://www.jetsmag.co.uk/central/images/covers/large/6214.jpg
 
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