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800px-AIM-54 Phoenix on plane cropped

Below an AIM-54 and an AIM-9M Sidewinder above

The AIM-54 Phoenix (AIM= Air Intercept Missile) was a long-range air-to-air missile, that was used by the US Navy. The missile entered service in the year 1974 and was retired in the year 2004 alongside with the retirement of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. It is a semi-active radar guided air-to-air missile. The missile’s range is one of the highest in the world and it can only be launched by the AN/AWG-9 Fire-control system of the F-14 Tomcat, its only launch platform. The missile was designed to be used against large bomber fleets. Only the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force still operates the AIM-54 with their Tomcats. 

The AIM-54 was upgraded during its service time; all in all three variants were made the AIM-54A, AIM-54C and AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed. The missile had a unit cost of about 1 million US-Dollars.

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