- Side
- Iran
Iranian F-14 crews deployed and fired AIM-54 Phoenix missiles during the Iran-Iraq War, including documented in-war shots against Iraqi aircraft.
Munitions
AIM-54 Phoenix missile
Also known as
- AIM-54
- Phoenix
- AAM-N-11
- AIM-54A Phoenix
- AIM-54C Phoenix
- AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed
- AIM-54C+ High Power Phoenix
The Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix was a long-range radar-guided air-to-air missile built around the F-14 Tomcat's fleet-defense mission and AWG-9 fire-control system. U.S. Navy sources describe the Phoenix as an all-weather, multiple-target weapon carried operationally only by the F-14, while conflict records tie its combat use to Iranian Tomcats in the Iran-Iraq War and U.S. Tomcats enforcing Iraqi no-fly zones.
Role in Conflicts
U.S. Navy F-14Ds fired AIM-54C Phoenix missiles at Iraqi aircraft during no-fly-zone enforcement in 1999; the documented shots did not score confirmed kills.
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Type
- Air-to-air missile
- Service note
- Cold War and post-Cold War service
- Unit cost
- $477,131
- Produced
- 1970-1993
Specifications
- Role
- Long-range air-to-air missile
- Guidance
- Semi-active radar homing with terminal active radar homing
- Range
- More than 100 nautical miles
- Speed
- In excess of 3,000 mph
- Length
- 13 ft
- Weight
- 1,024 lb
- Diameter
- 15 in
- Wingspan
- 3 ft
- Warhead
- 135 lb high-explosive warhead with proximity fuze
- Power plant
- Hercules solid-propellant rocket motor
Variants
NAVAIR traces the Phoenix family from the original AAM-N-11 designation through AIM-54A production and later AIM-54C digital/ECCM upgrades.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| AAM-N-11 | Original Navy designation | Early designation for the missile program derived from long-range Falcon-family technology before the AIM-54A redesignation. Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR |
| AIM-54A | First production model | The F-14A production model used analog electronics, liquid cooling and a continuous-rod high-explosive warhead. Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR |
| AIM-54B | Unproduced interim model | NAVAIR lists the AIM-54B as a simpler non-liquid-cooled interim model that was not produced. Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR |
| AIM-54C | Digital improved Phoenix | The AIM-54C replaced analog electronics with a reprogrammable-memory digital processor and added improvements for discrimination, reliability and ECM resistance. Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR |
| AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed | ECCM sealed-service variant | The ECCM/Sealed missile entered service in 1988 and is identified by NAVAIR as the improved ECCM version of the AIM-54C. Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR |
| AIM-54C+ High Power Phoenix | High-power upgrade | The high-power upgrade added internal heaters, a traveling-wave-tube transmitter adapted from AMRAAM technology and faster reprogrammable-memory computers. Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR |
Carrier Aircraft
The Phoenix was designed as part of the Tomcat fleet-defense weapon system, with NAVAIR identifying the F-14 as its only operational carrier.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Carrier-based fighter | The F-14 carried and controlled Phoenix launches through the Tomcat weapon system; U.S. Navy retirement material describes the F-14 as the only operational aircraft to carry the missile. Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR, Navy Retires AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR |
Fleet-Defense Weapon System
The Phoenix was a missile-and-aircraft weapon system rather than a stand-alone round. NAVAIR describes the weapon as a multiple-target airborne system, and the retirement release ties that capability to the F-14 Tomcat and its Hughes AWG-9 fire-control system.
Engagement concept
Long-range air interception against aircraft or cruise-missile threats, including heavy-jamming and all-weather conditions.
Missile load
The F-14/AWG-9 combination was advertised around tracking many contacts and launching up to six Phoenix missiles against separate targets.
Operational carrier
The F-14 Tomcat was the only operational aircraft documented by NAVAIR as carrying the Phoenix missile.
Timeline
AIM-54 Phoenix missile Key Events
Phoenix program selected
Hughes was selected to develop, fabricate, and test the Phoenix missile system for the F-111B program.
Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR
F-14 contract awarded
Grumman received the contract for the F-14A fighter and the Phoenix missile carriage system.
Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR
AIM-54A production contract
The production contract for the AIM-54A was awarded to Hughes.
Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR
First F-14 launch
The AIM-54A made its first launch from an F-14A.
Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR
Fleet service begins
The AIM-54A entered U.S. Navy service and the missile became operational with the F-14 fleet.
Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR
AIM-54C enters service
The AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed version entered service.
Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR
Phoenix divestment completed
The Phoenix missile was fully divested from U.S. Navy inventory.
Sources: AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIR
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIRPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports AIM-54 Phoenix background, Hughes and Raytheon contractor context, development chronology, guidance, range, service dates, and the F-14 Tomcat as the only operational carrier. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Navy Retires AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - NAVAIRPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports U.S. Navy retirement context, the F-14 as the only operational Phoenix carrier, and AWG-9/Phoenix multiple-target engagement context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AIM-54A Phoenix - National Air and Space MuseumPublisher: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Note: Supports AIM-54A museum object context, Hughes manufacturer attribution, F-14 carriage, six-missile simultaneous firing context, speed, and range. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Trends in Air-to-Air Combat - CSBAPublisher: Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments | Note: Supports 1980 Iran-Iraq War direct-use context by crediting IRIAF F-14 crews with AIM-54 Phoenix missile kills during the conflict, while noting source limitations for that air war. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Persian Cats - Smithsonian Air & Space MagazinePublisher: Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine | Note: Supports Iranian F-14 and AIM-54 Phoenix procurement, source limitations for Iran-Iraq air-war records, and direct AIM-54 deployment and firing during the 1980 Iran-Iraq War. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Meet the AIM-54 Phoenix - The National InterestPublisher: The National Interest | Note: Supports Iranian AIM-54 use in the 1980 Iran-Iraq War and supports 1991 Iraqi No-Fly-Zone Conflict direct use by noting U.S. F-14 crews fired AIM-54 missiles during Iraqi no-fly-zone enforcement. | Accessed: 2026-07-04F-14 Pilot on AIM-54 No-Fly-Zone Shot - The Aviation Geek ClubPublisher: The Aviation Geek Club | Note: Supports 1991 Iraqi No-Fly-Zone Conflict direct-use context for a U.S. Navy F-14D AIM-54C launch at Iraqi MiG aircraft during no-fly-zone enforcement. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AIM-54 6 Pack - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Navy image provenance for the gallery image showing an F-14A carrying six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AIM-54 Phoenix in flight - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the AIM-54 Phoenix in flight file used on the entry. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AIM-54 Phoenix on plane - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the AIM-54 Phoenix on plane file used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Phoenix missile at Grumman Memorial Park - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the museum display image of the Phoenix missile used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-04