khanrah@hubcap.UUCP (Kevin M. Hanrahan) (01/19/89)
After all this discussion about the various performance characteristics of the Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles, I began to wonder what happened to the Phoenix missile. The Phoenix, as I remember, was designed and deployed only with F-14's. It was an active radar guided missile with a 70+ mile range. A few years ago it was being promoted as super state of the art. Did this missile get scrapped, or if not, why were the F-14's off Libya not equipped with it? Kevin M. Hanrahan Clemson University 2LT, SC khanrah@hubcap.clemson.edu kmh@cs.clemson.edu
esco%tank@oddjob.uchicago.edu (ross paul weiner) (01/20/89)
>After all this discussion about the various performance characteristics >of the Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles, I began to wonder what happened >to the Phoenix missile. > LINES DELETED The first problem with the Phoenix is it's VERY expensive. > >Did this missile get scrapped, or if not, why were the F-14's off >Libya not equipped with it? > The Phoenix's mission is intercepting long range Soviet bombers (Backfire or Bear mostly) over the open ocean before they can launch missles at our aircraft carriers. This is of course quiet differant from intercepting fighters in the close quarters of the Med. Interestingly the prototype AWG-9 system - the Phoenix and associated fire control system - was first designed starting in the late 1950's, for what became the F-111. The Air Force realized they didn't need a long range fully active missile for the `Great Fur Ball in the Air over Europe'. Ross P. Weiner Occasional Naval Person esco@tank.uchicago.edu All disclaimers and then some apply