Phoenix AIM-54A (QUESTION)

"eXistenZ" wrote in message
...
Anyone who knows the answer to this Question Please help me in any way
possible,.

To The Nearest Tenth of a Mile, What is the Maximum Range of a AIM-54A
Phoenix Air to Air Missile?

The longest-ranged AIM-54A-shot I've ever heard so far was scored during
some kind of a testing, against a high+fast flying drone, in early 1979s.
The missile hit the target 204km from the launching point ( i.e. after
indeed crossing 204km).

The longest-ranged shot for a kill was scored in December 1981, when two
IRIAF F-14As engaged four incoming Iraqi Mirage F.1EQs. The Tomcats fired
several AIM-54As from a distance of some 140km+.

Their kills were confirmed by independent sources (including US, Iranian,
Iraqi, and Saudi).

Few years later there should've been an even more spectacular shot that
killed a fast accelerating-away (Soviet-flown) Iraqi MiG-25, but I don't
have all the details about that case, so can't call it a "confirmed" as of
yet.

most military websites claim 100 Nautical miles
while other sites say 110 nautical miles,.

Eventually, this should depend on the version: most of books from the 1980s
state the range of the AIM-54A was "100nm". Most of the books from the 1990s
state the range of the AIM-54C was "up to "110nm".

It was definitely never more than this: quite on the contrary, the usual
engagement ranges in combat were between 40 and 70km.

Tom Cooper
Freelance Aviation Journalist & Historian
Vienna, Austria

*************************************************

Author:
Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php

Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...hp/title=S6585

African MiGs
http://www.acig.org/afmig/

Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...=S6550~ser=COM

*************************************************

How's the book on Iranian F-14 units in combat coming Tom?

Tony

"Tom Cooper" wrote in message
...
"eXistenZ" wrote in message
...
Anyone who knows the answer to this Question Please help me in any way
possible,.

To The Nearest Tenth of a Mile, What is the Maximum Range of a AIM-54A
Phoenix Air to Air Missile?

The longest-ranged AIM-54A-shot I've ever heard so far was scored during
some kind of a testing, against a high+fast flying drone, in early 1979s.
The missile hit the target 204km from the launching point ( i.e. after
indeed crossing 204km).

The longest-ranged shot for a kill was scored in December 1981, when two
IRIAF F-14As engaged four incoming Iraqi Mirage F.1EQs. The Tomcats fired
several AIM-54As from a distance of some 140km+.

Their kills were confirmed by independent sources (including US, Iranian,
Iraqi, and Saudi).

Few years later there should've been an even more spectacular shot that
killed a fast accelerating-away (Soviet-flown) Iraqi MiG-25, but I don't
have all the details about that case, so can't call it a "confirmed" as of
yet.

most military websites claim 100 Nautical miles
while other sites say 110 nautical miles,.

Eventually, this should depend on the version: most of books from the
1980s
state the range of the AIM-54A was "100nm". Most of the books from the
1990s
state the range of the AIM-54C was "up to "110nm".

It was definitely never more than this: quite on the contrary, the usual
engagement ranges in combat were between 40 and 70km.

Tom Cooper
Freelance Aviation Journalist & Historian
Vienna, Austria

*************************************************

Author:
Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php

Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...hp/title=S6585

African MiGs
http://www.acig.org/afmig/

Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...=S6550~ser=COM

*************************************************

It's coming out in September this year, Tony.


Tom Cooper
Freelance Aviation Journalist & Historian
Vienna, Austria

*************************************************

Author:
Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php

Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...hp/title=S6585

African MiGs
http://www.acig.org/afmig/

Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...=S6550~ser=COM

*************************************************

I remember talking to a Tomcat backseater who was up for an exercise to try and
get a fireing solution against a overflying SR-71. He spent about 5 minutes
explaining the problems of getting within about 3 degree position off his each
others nose and the window to get a solution was mere seconds. Pretty
interesting stuff . He never got to the window but had a hell of a time trying
to get there.

I guess the Black bird turned around so they made multiple runs. The TALOS
shooter was also trying to get a position on him. I think the SM-2 er wasn't
even a player.
Sparky

Well, the MiG-25 were also a bitch to tackle, and the Iranians needed some
time to learn how to do the job.

The first problem was the lack of proper EW-radar support: Iraqis have got
the blueprints of the Iranian radar net and were using gaps in this net
extensivelly to penetrate into the enemy airspace (IRIAF F-14s were
forbidden to fly into Iraq). In the cases where a Foxbat was detected in
time there was always a question of the F-14 being in a proper position to
attempt an intercept - or not. Then, the Foxbat had a very good RWR (this
contrary to even to late-mark Mirage F.1EQs), sensitive enough to detect
AWG-9 emissions (if the radar was working in specific modes) from really
some very long ranges. Finally, Iraqi, Soviet and East German MiG-25 (and
other) pilots (there was even a single Belgian who was permitted to fly the
type) were advised to avoid engagements with F-14s at any price.

So, there was a highly elusive target, operating at extreme speeds and
levels: MiG-25RBs were usually flying at Mach 2.1-2.3 and levels between
65.000 and 70.000ft. MiG-25PD(export)s would often come down low, but on the
first sign of Iranian Tomcats anywhere nearby they would turn around and
accelerate away. When Iranians started using their F-4Es (with radar off,
and closing solely on the basis of Combat Tree data), the Iraqis reacted by
adding MiG-25PD-escorts, so such engagements usually ended with each side
firing SARH AAMs - and no kills, as everybody had to evade.

Eventually, it was a matter of much good luck to catch one of them: a total
of at least 12 Foxbats were splashed by Iranians during the war - at least
eight of these by F-14s, one by F-5Es, and one is shared by these two types
(damaged by AIM-54A then finished off by Sidewinders from a Tiger). The rest
was chopped out of the skies by MIM-23B I-HAWKs, further uprated by Iranians
to reach higher levels (approx 65.000ft). A (preliminary) list of air-to-air
confirmed so far on basis of cross-examining independent evidence can be
found he
http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_210.shtml

Tom Cooper
Freelance Aviation Journalist & Historian
Vienna, Austria

*************************************************

Author:
Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php

Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...hp/title=S6585

African MiGs
http://www.acig.org/afmig/

Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...=S6550~ser=COM

*************************************************