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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]],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.  The main drawback to the Phoenix was it was incredibly expensive--each missile costing about $500,000.

The '''AIM-54 Phoenix''' missile is a long range, high speed, air-to-air 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 [[United States Navy|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.  The main drawback to the Phoenix was that it was incredibly expensive--each missile costing about $500,000.<ref>[http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navyfacts/blphoenix.htm US Navy Fact File--AIM-54 Phoenix]]</ref>

 

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.  

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|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]].<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_210.shtml Iranian Air-to-Air Victories, 1976-82]</ref>  The Iranian Air Force still operates the AIM-54.   

Besides the US Navy, [[Iran]] is the only other operator of the Phoenix.  In 1976, the [[Grumman|Grumman Corporation]] sold Iran 80 Tomcats and 633 Phoenix missiles.  The missile performed with great renown in the Iranian Air Force.  It shot down many Iraqi aircraft in the [[Iran-Iraq War]], including eleven [[MiG-25]]s and five Tu-22 bombers.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_210.shtml Iranian Air-to-Air Victories, 1976-81]</ref><ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_211.shtml Iranian Air-to-Air Victories, 1982-Today]</ref>  Approximately half of the victories credited to F-14s in the war fell to Phoenixes. The Iranian Air Force still operates the AIM-54.   

The missile is known to [[NATO]] forces under the code name "Fox 3."

The missile is known to [[NATO]] forces under the code name "Fox 3."

==References==

==References==

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[[category:Missiles]]

[[category:Missiles]]

[[Category:United States Navy]]

[[Category:United States Navy]]