Hughes Phoenix AIM-54A Air-to-Air Missile

The Phoenix is a long range guided missile designed as the primary fleet defense weapon for the Grumman F-14 Tomcat fighter. Its airframe contains the guidance system, warhead, solid-rocket motor, target detecting device, and flight control system. The missile is guided to the target by the Tomcat's Hughes AWG-9 fire control system which has a typical detection range of 212 kilometers (132 miles), Phoenix also has its own active radar system , which it uses for guidance to the target during the final phase of flight. It was the first missile capable of being launched in multiple numbers, each aimed at a different target. The Phoenix missile became operational in 1974. Production of an improved model, the AIM-54C, with greater range, accuracy, and reliability began in October 1981. The U.S Navy retired the Phoenix in 2004, though it is still in use by the Iranian Air Force.