AIM-4D Falcon missile

Also known as

GAR-2B
Rb 28

The AIM-4D Falcon was Hughes Aircraft's infrared-homing final Falcon variant, a compact U.S. short-range air-to-air missile introduced in 1963 with the improved seeker and motor of later Falcon development.

AIM-4D Falcon missile, Short-range air-to-air missile, Munitions

Image source: Falcon AIM.jpg | Wikimedia Commons

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Hughes Aircraft Company
Type: Short-range air-to-air missile
Service note: Cold War
Unit cost: $386,000

air-to-air guided missile infrared homingshort-range

Specifications

Guidance: Infrared homing
Length: 79.5 in
Diameter: 6.4 in
Weight: 135 lb
Range: About 6 mi
Warhead: 7.6 lb high explosive

Carrier Aircraft

A National Museum photo caption documents the missile in an F-4E Phantom II loadout.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

F-4 Phantom II, Twin-engine, two-seat supersonic fighter-bomber, Aircraft & UAVs

Fighter-bomber aircraft

The museum caption identifies an F-4E with four AIM-4D Falcon missiles.

Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4E | National Museum of the United States Air Force

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Introduced in 1963.

Media

AIM-4D Falcon missile Images

AIM-4D Falcon missile, Short-range air-to-air missile, Munitions - view 1 — Source: Missilefalcon-Bagotville.jpg | Wikimedia Commons

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Sources

AIM-4 Falcon - WikipediaPublisher: Wikipedia | Note: Supports AIM-4D variant specifications, guidance, and designation history. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Hughes AIM-4 Falcon | Estrella Warbird MuseumPublisher: Estrella Warbird Museum | Note: Supports AIM-4D history, museum-reported unit cost, and Hughes manufacturer/background context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 McDonnell Douglas F-4E | National Museum of the United States Air ForcePublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Supports the F-4E photo caption identifying four AIM-4D Falcon missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Falcon AIM.jpg | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an AIM-4 Falcon missile image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Missilefalcon-Bagotville.jpg | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a second AIM-4 Falcon missile image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27