Changes

  could fire short range cruise missiles at the aircraft carrier or its escorts.  With that in mind, the Hughes designers gave it a range of 128 miles.  The Tomcat's radar, which could reach

  could fire short range cruise missiles at the aircraft carrier or its escorts.  With that in mind, the Hughes designers gave it a range of 128 miles.  The Tomcat's radar, which could reach

  133 miles ahead of the fighter and 174 wide, can track up to 20 targets at one time and pick

  133 miles ahead of the fighter and 174 wide, can track up to 20 targets at one time and pick

  out four or six of them as targets for the Phoenix missiles.  The Tomcat fired the missile, and from then on the missile's own radar took over, accelerating it at Mach 3.5 toward it's target.  It was very difficult to avoid a Phoenix, because the guidance system was programmed to take the missile up high, out of range of the target's radar, and then send it down at nearly Mach 4.  The F-14 typically carried four Phoenixes and two AIM-9 [[Sidewinder]] missiles.  

  out four or six of them as targets for the Phoenix missiles.  The Tomcat fired the missile,  

and from then on the missile's own radar took over, accelerating it at Mach 3.5 toward it's

target.  It was very difficult to avoid a Phoenix, because the guidance system was programmed

to take the missile up high, out of range of the target's radar, and then send it down at

nearly Mach 4.  The F-14 typically carried four Phoenixes and two AIM-9 [[Sidewinder]]

missiles.  

     Besides the US Navy, Iran is the only other operator of the Phoenix.  In 1986, the [[Grumman Corporation]] sold Iran 80 Tomcats and 633 Phoenixes.  The missile performed with great renown in the Iranian Air Force.  It shot down many Iraqi aircraft in the [[Iran-Iraq War]].  The Iranian Air Force still operates the AIM-54.   

     Besides the US Navy, Iran is the only other operator of the Phoenix.  In 1986, the

[[Grumman Corporation]] sold Iran 80 Tomcats and 633 Phoenixes.  The missile performed with  

great renown in the Iranian Air Force.  It shot down many Iraqi aircraft in the [[Iran-Iraq War]].  

  The Iranian Air Force still operates the AIM-54.   

        

        

     Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix  

     Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix