RIP......AIM-54

[MKSheppard]

NOOOOOO

Navy Retires AIM-54 Phoenix Missile
Story Number: NNS041007-08
Release Date: 10/7/2004 4:24:00 PM

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- After 30 years of highly accomplished service, the U.S. Navy retired its first long-range air-to-air missile, the AIM-54 Phoenix, Sept. 30.

One of the world's most technologically advanced tactical missiles, the AIM-54 Phoenix was the first operational radar-guided air-to-air missile that could be launched in multiple numbers against different targets from an aircraft, making the Phoenix the Navy's main fleet air defense long-range weapon.

“The heart of the F-14 Tomcat (soon also to retire) weapons system is the Hughes AWG-9 fire control system, capable of tracking 24 targets and firing six AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles engaging six different targets,” said Capt. Scott Stewart, the Navy's program manager for Air-to-Air Missile Systems. “With a range of over 100 miles, the AIM-54 gave the F-14 the greatest stand-off engagement capability of any fighter in the world. For years, Soviet air crews flying Badger, Bear and Backfire bombers feared the unprecedented capabilities of the Phoenix Missile."

"As we retire the AIM-54 Phoenix missile, we pay tribute to the men and women of Naval Aviation, Grumman and Hughes who designed, tested and operationally employed the Phoenix for over 30 years," added Stewart. "Since the earliest days of carrier aviation, air superiority fighters have been called upon to provide air cover for the fleet. None have been more formidable in performing this mission than F-14 Tomcats armed with AIM-54 Phoenix Missiles.

"I know I'm just one of many that will miss the Phoenix, but I'm also fortunate to be involved with the development of transformational missile technologies," he added. "I am confident that our warfighters have the best warfighting capabilities in the world, even with the Phoenix retired."

A product of two U.S. missile programs – the Navy’s Bendix AAM-N-10 Eagle and the Air Force’s Hughes GAR-9, Phoenix long-range intercept concept development began in 1960. The Hughes Aircraft Company was first selected to develop the Phoenix in 1962, with the Raytheon Company joining later in 1988.

After five years of research and development, the first prototype flight tests were conducted in 1965. Sept. 8, 1966, an A-3A Skywarrior performed the first successful full-scale test using all missile control system functions over the Navy Pacific Missile Range near San Nicholas Island, Calif.

Nov. 21, 1973, marked a milestone for Phoenix with the first full arsenal testing on an F-14 operating over the Pacific Missile Sea Test Range. Within 38 seconds, the Tomcat launched and simultaneously guided six Phoenix missiles, at six separate targets 50 miles away, scoring four direct hits.

The AIM-54A entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1973 and became operational in 1974. The first F-14A Tomcat squadrons to use the Phoenix were Strike Fighter Squadron (VF) 1 "Wolfpack" and VF-2 "Bounty Hunters."

After several variants, the long-range concept ultimately evolved, providing Phoenix the capability to initially guide itself using the semi-active radar mode and the Tomcat’s AWG-9 weapon control system, and when close enough to its target, assume guidance control using the active radar system. The C variant incorporated a new active radar fuse and higher-thrust motor. Combining these upgrades improved its overall effectiveness and intercept capabilities. The AIM-54C was introduced to the fleet in 1981, and entered full-rate production in January 1984.

[Tsyroc]

"Anytime Baby"

Have they fully retired the F-14 yet? I figured they'd both go at about the same time, although the F-14 could hang around a little bit longer if necessary.

[J]

Have they fully retired the F-14 yet? I figured they'd both go at about the same time, although the F-14 could hang around a little bit longer if necessary.

From what they said at the Toronto airshow, the F-14 will be gone within a year or two. I'm just happy I got to see one fly this year before they're all retired.

[Drooling Iguana]

All I know is that the Phoenix was pretty much useless in US Navy Fighters. Couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. I'd usually just forget about them and close in until I could use my AIM-120s.

Not sure how accurate that game was, though.

[Stormbringer]

Have they fully retired the F-14 yet? I figured they'd both go at about the same time, although the F-14 could hang around a little bit longer if necessary.

From what they said at the Toronto airshow, the F-14 will be gone within a year or two. I'm just happy I got to see one fly this year before they're all retired.

Not till 2010, maybe later. The Tomcats will be around till at least the end of the decade. According the the Demo pilot I talked to they're simply culling the demo teams; there's only one or two of them now in this last season. After all, why use them as recruiting tools when they're pretty much set for F-14 pilots for the forseeable remaining career of the aircraft?

[Sea Skimmer]

All I know is that the Phoenix was pretty much useless in US Navy Fighters. Couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. I'd usually just forget about them and close in until I could use my AIM-120s.

Not sure how accurate that game was, though.

Not at all it would seem, the Phoenix was a highly accurate weapon, though it wasn't the best thing for hitting an evasive fighter at long range (Massive missile flying diving down at high mach=poor turning) . But that wasn't ever the mission and in any case, the long-range attrition inflicted by missiles of the Phoenix class, a capability basically nothing but a MiG-31 could reply too, would easily be decisive even in a pure fighter to fighter battle. In air combat just breaking up your enimies formation is generally a huge advantage.

[Warspite]

Too big, too expensive, too platform-dependant... An advanced weapon for a different time.

Throughout the missile life, has there been any firings except in trials and training?

[Sea Skimmer]

Too big, too expensive, too platform-dependant... An advanced weapon for a different time.

Throughout the missile life, has there been any firings except in trials and training?

Iran fired off just about all of its 275-ish Phoenix missiles in the Iran Iraq war, where they proved very effective. The only USN usage though, that I'm aware of was an incident a few years ago in which two F-14's both fired Phoenix's at an Iraq MiG-25. It was a long-range shot and the MiG outran the missiles at mach 2.6+.

During the years between Desert Fox and Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraq sent up a lot of MiG-25 sorties, and the aircraft always proved impossible to shoot down by virtue of its high speed and altitude. Though of course, the MiG-25's also failed to score on anything but reconnaissance drones, and generally couldn't even bring down one of those before being chased away.

[Loner]

The AIM-54 was primarily designed to take down Russian sea-skimming missiles fired from Russian bombers, if I remember correctly. Though what irritates me is that the Superhornet doesn't outperform the F-14 in some aspects.

[Sea Skimmer]

The AIM-54 was primarily designed to take down Russian sea-skimming missiles fired from Russian bombers, if I remember correctly.

Not quite, sea skimming missiles where uncommon when it was designe,d and the Soviet bomber fleet was alwaays armed with heavy missiles that flew fast and high. The result was that they dived onto there targets at mach 3-4 from around 70,000 feet. They also had 2000 pound warheads. All of that made them very lethal, and made fighter interception of the bombers before launch, and any missiles they fired very important.

Though what irritates me is that the Superhornet doesn't outperform the F-14 in some aspects.

The Superhornet is inferior is just about every way except some more advanced ground attack features, which is not surprising since it is a much lighter aircraft and thus cannot support as large a bomb load or range. It also wasn't designed to be mach 2 capable, though for the F-14, just like almost every other mach 2 fighter, that speed is a theoretical capability only. The reason for all this is that the F/A-18 was meant to replace aircraft like the A-7 Corsair II, it was not meant to be a heavy, uncompromising fleet defence interceptor like the F-14 was. A lack of funding, and the cancling of new and much more advanced F-14 models ( lookup the 'Super Tomcat 21 if you want to know about the planned capabilities) has however now forced it into that role.

Lucky the world isn't offering up too many heavy anti shipping aircraft or bombers for battle, and that likely won't change any time soon. Course, the lack of a heavy fleet defence interceptor also won't change, proubabbly forever, its F/A-18's and F-35's so far as planning sees, with undefined aircraft of similar weight prrojected as replacements. But by then USN carriers might well be shielded by airborne laser planes or somthing similar..