Difference between revisions of "AIM-54 Phoenix"
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The AIM-54 Phoenix missile is a long range, high speed missile. It was designed by Hughes as | 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]], | a missile to be carried by the General Dynamics [[F-111]], | ||
| − | |||
but the F-111 program was cancelled | 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 | in 1969. Instead, it was adapted by the US Navy to be carried on their new fleet defense | ||
fighter, the Grumman [[F-14 Tomcat]]. | fighter, the Grumman [[F-14 Tomcat]]. | ||
The Phoenix was originally designed to kill, at long range, Soviet bombers, before they | 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 | + | 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, |
| − | 133 miles ahead of the fighter and 174 wide, can track up to 20 targets at one time and pick | + | which could reach |
| − | out four or six of them as targets for the Phoenix missiles. The Tomcat fired the missile, | + | 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 | 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 | target. It was very difficult to avoid a Phoenix, because the guidance system was programmed | ||
Revision as of 02:00, March 6, 2008
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 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.
Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix
Range: 128 miles
Warhead: High explosive, 132
Weight: 975 pounds
Engine: Rocketdyne Mk 47 solid-propellant rocket
Speed: (cruising) Mach 3.5
Present operators: Iran
Previous operators: US Navy