So, it seems not really as a perfect weapon as advertised - good for
large and relatively slow targets like Bears and Badgers, or dumb and
not very manoeuvrable like cruise missiles (even if they are coming in
numbers), but not the best against fighters?

Best regards,

Jacek Zemlo


awg9tech wrote:
Well, I found a these two comments in this group (after I posted the
question, sorry)

"Just once by the U.S. on 05 Jan 99 at two Iraqi MiG-25s. Two F-14Ds
from
VF-32 fired one AIM-54C each. As soon as they were fired on, the MiGs
turned
tail and ran (nothing runs like a MiG-25 when it wants to+ADs- so
what
if it
needs new engines after that flight). Also of note here is that in a
separate incident on the same day, three AIM-120s and one AIM-7M
missed
their targets under very similar circumstances. I have no confirmed
information that the Iranians used it."

"Here is some of the information I recall reading about the incident
in
which the Phoenix had its first US use in combat. Just after the end
of
Desert Fox two VF-213 Blacklions F-14Ds were patrolling in the
Southern
no fly zone over Iraq. They were informed of a number (most likely
two)
MiG-25s entering the zone (I don't know whether the Iraqis painted
them
with thier radars, the F-14s noticed them themselves or were informed
by
an AWACS). The Tomcats turned north, towards the Iraqis, and fired
one
Phoenix each, still at long range. The MiG-25s retreated and the
Tomcats
turned back south to avoid flying into a trap. Both missiles missed
their targets. Apparently the Phoenixes hadn't gone active yet or
were
launched at such a long distance that they could no longer catch up
with
the retreating MiGs."

I have only found these and one other comment on globalsecurity.org
about the AIM-54 in combat. I'm just surprised to not have found more
info to collaborate (some say VF-32 others VF-213).