Posted on 10/06/2004 4:56:12 PM PDT by csvset
For media backgrounder and chronology of events visit http://pao.navair.navy.mil/Press_Releases/
Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft, NAVAIR, Patuxent River, MD
After 30 years of highly accomplished service, the U.S. Navy is retiring its first long-range air-to-air missile, the AIM-54 Phoenix. The U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat is the only operational aircraft that carried 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. 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,” said Captain Scott "Stewie" Stewart, the Navy's Program Manager for Air-to-Air Missile Systems. "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. I am confident that our warfighters have the best warfighting capabilities in the world, even with the Phoenix retired."
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 twenty-four targets and firing six AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles engaging six different targets,” Stewart continued. “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 aircrews flying Badger, Bear and Backfire bombers feared the unprecedented capabilities of the Phoenix Missile.
A product of two US 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. On September 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.
November 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 US Navy in 1973 and became operational in 1974. The first F-14A Tomcat squadrons to use the Phoenix were VF-1 Wolfpack and the 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.
For more information about the Air-to-Air Missile program please contact Denise Deon Wilson, Public Affairs Officer for PEO(T) at 301-481-6263 or denise.deon@navy.mil.
# # #
cutline for photo #1:
Navy file photo Sep. 24, 2002 -- At sea with USS George Washington (CVN 73) the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103), test fire a Phoenix AIM-54 air to air missile as part of the annual proficiency test. The Phoenix missile was the Navy's only long-range air-to-air missile; it is an airborne weapons control system with multiple-target handling capabilities. The Phoenix missile was in service from 1974 until its retirement in September 2004.
U.S. Navy photo by Capt. Dana Potts.
Cutline for photo #2
Navy File photo 1988 - VF-2 Bounty Hunters carry a Phoenix Missile aboard an F-14 Tomcat from the USS Ranger (CV 61).
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Keep an eye on eBay. I'll sell some there.
Is this capability being replaced with something?
I guess if Kerry is elected the F-14s will carry some form of the long range spitball missle..
pong
Hmmmm... I think Iran still has some F-14s laying around....
Not for long...See Israeli bunkerbuster purchase...HEHEHEHHE!
They'll end up at a munitions depot site somewhere for safekeeping.
My question exactly. I'm sure there is some type of replacement. It may be a new technology that obsoleted the Phoenix. This was a true milestone missle. Tracking and firing on multiple targets in the air requires a great deal of calculation.
Yes, it is coded named 'HUMOR'.
The new plan is to defeat the enemy by making them laugh hysterically as Super Hornets run out of fuel on their way to long range intercepts. The hope is that raucous laughter will cause the enemy to neglect their targeting until the Aegis cruisers to lock them up.
I believe the radar-guided AIM-120 Sparrow has much of the functionality of the AIM-54 Phoenix, except maybe the range. I remember working on a second source proposal for the Phoenix in the 80s and it was dubbed the flying telephone pole. The thing was huge!
A few months before the first F-14 is to be flown, the Navy goes to Grumman with some concerns. It seems that they worry about spending $20 million a copy if all it can do is shoot down cruise missles. So, in typical Navy fashion, they decided that this $20 million, 20 ton aircraft must be capable of being a dogfighter.
Grumman didn't even blink. They installed a big red button on the pilot's instrument panel marked ACM JETT. When pushed, it makes the Tomcat light enough to dog fight...
... by blowing six $1 million dollar Phoenix missles into the sea.
Yes, a "more sensitive" missile to go along with the safer "Joycyln Elders" 20mm cannon shells.
They really screwed up, didn't they? The Tomcat had many years of service left in her with upgrades.
these are real old but have a long range - @ 90 miles +.....Different mission these days, these were built to shot down Soviet bombers approaching carrier groups during the cold war.....
Yes, both use an active guidance system.
Pilots like to dogfight up close. Its not fair to have a missile with such a range that the pilot can destroy targets over the horizon. We want those Korean war style up close and personal furballs where we give the enemy a chance.
Six Mil is a small price to pay for one live pilot and several downed MIGs.
Not quite true.
The Tomcat has four different jettison modes. Their is a pilot controlled emergency mode, but the specific ACM JETT that you describe can only be enabled by the RIO for the pilot's use.
The reason for that, is that it would be a very rare(never happened) occurrence where some aircraft would sneak up on a Tomcat with that big-ass radar, and I guarantee you that any Tomcat driver that let it happen deserved to get his ass blown up anyway.
Also, you could not land a Tomcat on a carrier holding 6 Phoenix missiles anyway, so one way or another, they were coming off that aircraft should one ever be loaded with 6. BARCAP cats, never carried more than one, if any -54s to begin with, and they would be responsible for ACM against that type of threat.
Intercepting missions would be handled by a Ready-aircraft outfitted for that role, after long range detection by AWACS or CAPs. At the time of the Tomcat's inception, the Russians had aircraft that could not go feet wet without detection, including their supersonic stuff.
Son, I was ready to pound you, until I finished your post and picked up the sarcasm. Stop teasing the Dog, huh?
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