![]() There were several subvariants/improvements of the AIM-54A that are known specifically about what the exact improvements did in terms of performance. Sidenote: AIM-54As can be distinctly differentiated from AIM-54Cs because they’re all painted white compared to AIM-54Cs (which initially came in white but were later phased out with grey as their standard color). Initial AIM-54A production would eventually end in 1981. These were determined that if there were no hardware malfunctions, the missiles would have hit the targets. Most famously in 1973, an F-14A was able to fire 6 AIM-54As at various target drones within 37 seconds at ranges up to 43.19 nms (80 kms) with 4 scoring direct hits, 1 missing due to the target drone veering off course due to a malfunction, and 1 missing due to a hardware failure. AIM-54As during airborne testing had achieved a success rate of 88% during its test program. The first production AIM-54A missiles were delivered in 1973 and were ready for deployment with the first F-14A squadron (VF-1 Wolfpack on the USS Enterprise) in 1974 during the first F-14 deployment. Initially intended to be mounted on the F-111B, it was later mounted on the F-14 platform after the F-111B was cancelled. The missile was then optimized to face that threat along with fighter aircraft. The Phoenix was developed initially to face the ever growing threat of Soviet bombers carrying anti-ship missiles against US carriers. Without going into the history of the precursor systems that eventually led to the development of the AIM-54, the development of the AIM-54 Phoenix (AAM-N-11 Phoenix at the time) began in 1960 by Hughes with it being redesignated the AIM-54A in 1962.
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