Missile AIM-54 Phoenix

The AIM-54 Phoenix emerged from the U.S. Navy's Cold War imperative to develop a long-range air-to-air weapon system capable of defending carrier battle groups against anticipated waves of Soviet bombers armed with anti-ship missiles. Its design, undertaken by Hughes Aircraft Company between 1960 and 1966, drew from the earlier AIM-47 Falcon. Initially conceived for the F-111B, the missile program, along with its AN/AWG-9 radar system, was subsequently adapted for the Grumman F-14 Tomcat after the F-111B project was cancelled. Production by Hughes and later Raytheon Corporation commenced in 1966. A significantly improved variant, the AIM-54C, was developed in 1977, offering enhanced capabilities against modern threats through upgraded digital electronics and improved electronic counter-countermeasures. The missile's lineage also includes a proposed ship-launched version, the Sea Phoenix, which underwent successful testing in the 1970s but was not ultimately pursued, and an Iranian-developed missile, the Fakour-90, reported to be a reverse-engineered and upgraded Phoenix.

The AIM-54 Phoenix is characterized by its long-range engagement capability, employing a solid propellant rocket motor for propulsion. Its guidance system integrates semi-active radar homing for the initial and mid-course phases, relying on the launching F-14's radar for target illumination and updates, before transitioning to its own active radar seeker for terminal guidance. This enabled a "fire-and-forget" capability in the final attack phase. A key operational tactic involved lofting the missile to high altitudes, thereby reducing atmospheric drag and maximizing its effective range. Coupled with the F-14 Tomcat's AN/AWG-9 radar, the Phoenix system was pioneering in its capacity to simultaneously track up to twenty-four targets and guide missiles towards six of them concurrently. The missile carried a high-explosive continuous-rod warhead designed to destroy aerial targets via a proximity fuse. The later AIM-54C model introduced digital processing, enhancing its performance against low-altitude targets and improving overall reliability and its ability to operate in sophisticated electronic warfare environments.

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat served as the exclusive operational launch platform for the AIM-54 Phoenix. The missile entered service with the United States Navy in 1974 and was also exported to the Imperial Iranian Air Force prior to the 1979 revolution. In U.S. Navy service, despite its advanced capabilities, the Phoenix saw very limited combat employment, with only a few firings recorded and no confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed during U.S. operations; its use was often constrained by rules of engagement and the availability of other air assets. The U.S. Navy retired the AIM-54 in 2004. Conversely, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force reportedly utilized the Phoenix extensively and with significant success during the Iran-Iraq War. Iran has since continued to operate and maintain its stockpile of Phoenix missiles, developing indigenous support capabilities and, according to reports, producing its own version, the Fakour-90.