Phoenix Missile

The tactical AIM-54C Phoenix (fig. 3-11) is an air-launched, air-to-air guided missile that employs active, semiactive, and passive homing capabilities. The AIM-54C is used as a long-range, air-intercept missile launched from the F-14 aircraft. It is equipped with the AWG-9 Airborne Missile Control System

Figure 3-11.-AIM-54 Phoenix guided missile (typical). 3-14

(AMCS). The missile can be launched in multiple missile attacks, as required, against hostile forces. A maximum of six AIM-54C Phoenix missiles can be launched from a single aircraft, with simultaneous guidance against widely separated targets. In addition, the missile has dogfight, electronic countercountermeasures (ECCM), and anticruise missile capabilities.

The physical description of the Phoenix missile is extremely brief because it is classified as Secret. The overall length of the missile is 13 feet with a diameter of 15 inches. It weighs approximately 1,020 pounds. The missile consists of the guidance section, the armament section, the propulsion section, and the control section. The missile is an AUR. The wings and fins can be mounted or removed to facilitate handling.

Maverick Missile

The tactical AGM-65E Maverick (fig. 3-12) is a laser-guided, rocket-propelled, air-to-ground missile. It is used against fortified ground installations, armored vehicles, and surface combatants. The Maverick missile is compatible with the A-4M, A-6E, and F/A-18 aircraft.

The AGM-65E missile has two major sections-the guidance and control section and the center/aft section. Four fixed wings are an integral part of the center/aft section, and four movable control surfaces (fins) are located at the aft section. These fins are installed or removed to aid in handling. The missile is issued to the fleet as an AUR. Installation of the fins is the only assembly required at the organizational maintenance level.

The AGM-65E missile system has all the laser missile features, including automatic terminal homing on laser energy reflected from the target, which is illuminated by a laser designator. The laser designator can be a ground device, either hand-held or tripod mounted It can also be a stabilized airborne device, mounted either on a separate aircraft or on the launching aircraft. Additionally, the warhead provides kinetic penetration into earth-barricaded or concrete fortifications and ships. The fuzing system allows a selectable detonation delay to optimize kill capability.

For further information on the AGM-65E Maverick, you should refer to User-Guided Missile AGM-65E (Maverick), NAVAIR 11-120-58.

Figure 3-12.-AGM-65E Maverick missile. 3-15

HARM Missile

The AGM-88A high-speed antiradiation missile (HARM) (fig. 3-13) offers performance improvements over the existing Shrike and Standard ARM missiles when used for defense suppression and similar operations.

The HARM missile, in conjunction with the launching aircraft's avionics, detects, identifies, and locates enemy radars, displays threat information, and computes target parameters. The HARM missile is 10 inches in diameter, 194 inches long, and weighs 780 pounds. The missile operates in three basic modes: (1) self-protect (which attacks targets that pose immediate threat to the aircraft), (2) target of opportunity (which attacks discrete targets important to the tactical situation), and (3) prebrief (missile programmed to the vicinity of known or expected targets, and to attack when lock-on is achieved).

Launch aircraft for the HARM are the A-6E, EA-6B, and F/A-18.