AIM-54 Phoenix the ACWAS killer?

Oh I know data links had been developed, just not sure if there was one small enough to fit into a F-117.
They fit into supersonic interceptors such as the F106 in the 1960's I expect they were smaller and lighter in the 1980's.
 
True enough, if the USAF wanted this capability they would have gone through with the project to mount Phoenix on the F-15.

Instead it seems they were pretty confident with a combination of jamming and high speed interceptors with existing medium AAMs.
I wonder if the Standard ARM (that ISTR was based on the standard Naval Sam) might have been useful as a air launched anti AWACS (type aircraft) weapon ?
 
True enough, if the USAF wanted this capability they would have gone through with the project to mount Phoenix on the F-15.

Instead it seems they were pretty confident with a combination of jamming and high speed interceptors with existing medium AAMs.
I seem to recall there was a late Cold War program for a long range USAF AAM (the Advanced Air to Air missile or AAAM ?) It is also worth rembering that AMRAAM stood for Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile and their was also a ASRAAM so I suspect there was a doctrinal requirement for a long range air to air missile as well.
 
Talos is also 32' long. And the ram jet is just a sustainer engine. It can't accelerate the missile. The Eagle would have to be doing Mach 2.5 or better to launch it.

Subtract the length of the booster. As you say, you don't need it, since the scenario would have the Eagles dashing in anyway
 

Wimble Toot

Banned
While the certainty of the poster is incorrect the sentiment is not - the MOSS was a very limited AWACS aircraft.

About as limited as the dozen RAF Shackleton AEW.2 which formed part of NATO/UKADGE until 1991

Oh I know data links had been developed, just not sure if there was one small enough to fit into a F-117.

No datalinks of any kind aboard the F-117A - which would have compromised its role, considering it would be broadcasting its position to any advanced SIGINT platform.

One would have been installed in the projected, but not built RF-117A.

Any AIM-54s could only be launched from a F-14 (only AN/AWG-9 and AN/APG-71 radars were compatible with the Phoenix).

Any launch aircraft would have to have AN/AWG-9 and AN/APG-71 on board.

.
 

SsgtC

Banned
Subtract the length of the booster. As you say, you don't need it, since the scenario would have the Eagles dashing in anyway

You might still need the booster. For the ram jet to work, the Eagle will be at the extreme upper edge of it's performance
 
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