AIM-54 Phoenix: the missile that turned the F-14 Tomcat into an “air killer”

AIM-54 Phoenix — one of the famous weapons formerly used by the US Navy and now the Iranian Air Force.

The AIM-54 Phoenix was a long-range air-to-air missile used by the US Navy from 1974 to 2004, including on an F-14 Tomcat fighter. Originally developed for the ultimately canceled F-111B Aardvark project, the missile became an integral part of the F-14 arsenal. The National Interest writes about it.

A lot of attention is paid to the characteristics of modern fighters. But the fighter — it's just a weapon delivery system.

AIM-54 Phoenix — one of the well-known types of weapons that used to be used by the US Navy and now by the Iranian Air Force. Launched from the F-14 Tomcat, the AIM-54 is a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile first launched in 1966. It implemented a semi-active radar homing system and an active radar system, which made the AIM-54 “smart”.

AIM-54 Phoenix missile

The AIM-54 was placed on the external pylon of the F-14 in clusters of six and could be launched against other aircraft. With a top speed of Mach five or 1,707 meters per second, the AIM-54 quickly approached its targets.

However, although the AIM-54 project was launched exclusively with the F-14, it was developed for the F -111B Aardvark, which was supposed to be the deck version of the F-111A of the US Air Force. In the end, the F-111B project was canceled. But the F-111 was supposed to serve as a long-range interceptor with a distinctive feature: the swept wings that the F-14 also had.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

The F-111B was eventually retired, but the platform's BVR missile system continued to exist. She was assigned to the Navy's fighter development program known as VFX. It later became the F-14 Tomcat.

The completed AIM-54 project was an effective weapon. It was possible to launch up to six missiles simultaneously in any weather conditions, which made the AIM-54 a universal and reliable missile system. The missile was launched using a “catapult launch,” in which a pyrotechnic charge ejects the missile from the F-14's external launch system before the AIM-54 solid-propellant rocket engine ignites. The AIM-54 was a heavy weapon.

A group of six AIM-54s weighed over four tons. Due to strict weight restrictions for landing on an aircraft carrier, the F-14 could not land with a full load of six AIM-54s. Therefore, in some cases, it was necessary to launch simply to reduce the weight of the F-14 before landing.

• each AIM-54 cost about half a million dollars;
• the actual range of the AIM- 54 was classified, but was more than 100 nautical miles (185 km);
• the length of the missile — 4 meters;
• diameter — 33 cm;
• wingspan — 90 cm;
• weight of the warhead — 61 kg, used a non-contact detonator that went off when the AIM-54 approached a target at a set distance.

The AIM-54 served the Navy faithfully from 1974 to 2004 before it was finally retired from service. weapons in favor of upgraded missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM.