Thanks for the info. Just looking at some specs, it seems the F-14 is of similar length to the ADV but was blessed with a wing area twice as large. Also surprisingly, the range of the ADV seems to be substantially greater than the F-14. Was manoeuvrability a requirement for the Northern QRA task or endurance more important? Would the roe have allowed Phoenix to be used?
It would be interesting to know the difference in price/cost between the two a/c.
I believe it took a fair few years for the F3 to become potent, but for how many years was it substandard?