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 Unique to the F-14 Tomcat, the AIM-54 Phoenix missile was designed to provide a long-range strike capability against Soviet bombers armed with stank-off missiles. Given that the bombers could attack from over the horizon, the carrier battle group required an interceptor coupled with an air-to-air missile of unparalleled range.
Originally, the Phoenix was to arm the F-111. However, when the aircraft failed to become the Navy's newest interceptor, the missile was left without a suitable aircraft to carry it aloft. When Grumman began work on the F-14, the AIM-54 became one of the cornerstones of the Tomcat's design.
The F-14 is capable of carrying a total of 6 AIM-54 missiles. However, the weight of six such missiles creates a great deal of stress to the airframe upon striking the deck on touchdown at sea. After approximately 30 years in the Navy's inventory, the AIM-54 has nearly reached the end of its life span along with the F-14. With the end of the cold war, the threat to the carrier by long-range bombers has disappeared and with it, the very reason for the AIM-54's existence. In light of this event, the Tomcat's replacement will not include the Phoenix in its arsenal. Soon after the turn of the century, the F-14s along with their Phoenix missiles will gradually vanish from carrier decks, replaced by the F/A-18E/F. |
With its half million dollar plus price tag, jettisoning some of the missiles upon return is not an option. As a result, the total carried is usually restricted to four.
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