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Line 1: − + − but the F-111 program was cancelled in 1969. Instead, it was adapted by the US Navy to be carried on their new fleet defense fighter, the Grumman [[F-14 Tomcat]]. The Phoenix was originally designed to kill, at long range, Soviet bombers, before they 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 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.
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The AIM-54 Phoenix missile is a long range, high speed missile. It was designed by Hughes as a missile to be carried by the General Dynamics [[F-111]],
The AIM-54 Phoenix missile is a long range, high speed missile. It was designed by Hughes as a missile to be carried by the General Dynamics [[F-111]],but the F-111 program was cancelled in 1969. Instead, it was adapted by the US Navy to be carried on their new fleet defense fighter, the Grumman [[F-14 Tomcat]]. The Phoenix was originally designed to kill, at long range, Soviet bombers, before they 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 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
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.
nearly Mach 4. The F-14 typically carried four Phoenixes and two AIM-9 [[Sidewinder]] missiles.