The AIM-54 “Phoenix” was the only American BVR (beyond-visual-range) long-range air-to-air missile ever developed. With multiple-track and launch capability it was conceived as a fleet defender/bomber interceptor in combination with its unique launch platform the F-14 Tomcat. When the Soviet long range bomber threat collapsed in the 1990s, the Tomcat/Phoenix combination was hardly needed anymore as the Hornet with Slammers can give it a decent punch up to about 50-60 miles out. Some details of the 'Phoenix' remain classified decades later, but according to one blogger "..one fact remains and will forever shadow the legacy of an otherwise monumental piece of technology - it never hit a target in combat.." Unit cost for the several thousand missiles manufactured was over $400,000 but the only missiles ever fired in anger by American fighters either failed or missed the target. However some 274 AIM-54s were sold to the Iranians and in Tom Cooper's “Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat” - the only western account of the F-14 in combat in Iran - Iranian pilots claim they used the “Phoenix” to score 60-70 kills in the Iran-Iraq war. Cooper writes that the Iranian F-14s were used to protect Iranian Air Force tankers and to engage Iraqi fighters, including MiG 25s and Mirage F.1s at beyond visual range with the AIM-54. Iran subsequently claimed via its state-run English-language news service to have developed an improved and updated version of the AIM-54, the Fakour 90.
Given the weight of the 'Phoenix' missile the most common load out for the F-14 was 2 'Phoenix', 2 AIM-7, and 2 AIM-9. An F-14 could not land on a carrier with more than 4 Phoenix because of their weight..
Below; IRIAF RIOs pictured during the Iraq war against Iran 1980-1988.
From right ' standing : Mohammad Ali Sal Afzoon , Mohammad Rostam Pour , Martyr Gholamreza Khorshidi , Hussien Nikanjam .
From right ' sitting : Rip.Gholamreza Bagheri , Mohammad Reza Fereydooni , Ibrahim Ansarin .
During late 1981 Iranian Tomcats started to encounter new opponents. On the morning of 24 November 1981 north of Ahvaz, Khorshidi became the first IRIAF RIO to pick up and lock-on and fire the first AIM-54A Phoenix missiles against a two ship formation of Iraqi Mirage F-1 EQ's. The first target was completely destroyed. This was the first confirmed shooting down of an Iraqi Mirage F-1 - according to one source " the second Mirage was hit by splash parts from the leader's plane and was heavily damaged.." The second Mirage possibly failed to return home but a second kill was never confirmed.
The leader of the Iraqi Mirage F-1's ejected safely and was captured by Iranian ground forces near Ahvaz. He subsequently providing the Iranians with good intel on the combat capabilities of the Iraqi Mirage F.1s. The F-14 pilot was the leading ace of the 'Persian Cat Riders' (now Ret.Gen.) Fazlollah Javidnia ( with 12 air to air kills, the most successful IRIAF F-14A Tomcat pilot with AIM-54's ).
