Editing AIM-54 Phoenix (section)

==Variants==
[[File:Phoenix missile at Grumman Memorial Park.jpg|thumb|An AIM-54A "Phoenix" missile on display at [[Grumman Memorial Park]] in New York State]]

;{{vanchor |AIM-54A}}: Original model that became operational with the [[U.S. Navy]] in about 1974, and it was also exported to Iran before the [[Iran hostage crisis]] beginning in 1979.
;{{vanchor |AIM-54B}}: Also known as the 'Dry' missile. A version with simplified construction and no coolant conditioning. Did not enter series production. Developmental work started in January 1972. 7 X-AIM-54B missiles were created for testing, 6 of them by modifying pilot production IVE/PIP rounds. After two successful test firings, the 'Dry' missile effort was cancelled for being "not cost effective".<ref name= DeptNav_FY83>{{Citation | publisher = Department of the Navy | title = Supporting data for fiscal year 1983 | contribution = Budget estimates descriptive summaries}}.</ref>
;{{vanchor |AIM-54C}}: The only improved model that was ever produced. It used [[digital electronics]] in the place of the analog electronics of the AIM-54A. This model had better abilities to shoot down low and high-altitude [[anti-ship missile]]s. It was designed for greater service life, reliability, and utilized less parts. It also included a [[Built-in self-test|built in self-test]] (BIST/BIT) and missile on-aircraft test capability.<ref name=":0" /> This model took over from the AIM-54A beginning in 1986.
;{{vanchor |AIM-54 ECCM}}/[[sealed round]]: More capabilities in [[electronic counter-countermeasure]]s. It did not require coolant during flight. The Missile was deployed from 1988 onwards. Because the AIM-54 ECCM/Sealed received no coolant, F-14s carrying this version of the missile could not exceed a specified airspeed.

There were also test, evaluation, ground training, and captive air training versions of the missile; designated ATM-54, AEM-54, DATM-54A, and CATM-54. The flight versions had A and C versions. The DATM-54 was not made in a C version as there was no change in the ground handling characteristics.

;{{vanchor |Sea Phoenix}}: A 1970s proposal for a ship launched version of the Phoenix as an alternative/replacement for the [[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow|Sea Sparrow]] point defense system. It would also have provided a medium-range SAM capability for smaller and/or non-Aegis equipped vessels (such as the [[Aircraft Carrier (Medium)|CVV]]). The Sea Phoenix system would have included a modified shipborne version of the [[AN/AWG-9]] radar. Hughes Aircraft touted the fact that 27 out of 29 major elements of the standard (airborne) AN/AWG-9 could be used in the shipborne version with little modification. Each system would have consisted of one AWG-9 radar, with associated controls and displays, and a fixed 12-cell launcher for the Phoenix missiles. In the case of an aircraft carrier, for example, at least three systems would have been fitted in order to give overlapping coverage throughout the full 360°.<ref name=JanesWS76>{{Citation | publisher = Jane's | title = Weapon Systems | year = 1977}}.</ref>{{Page needed | date = January 2014}} Both land and ship based tests of modified Phoenix (AIM-54A) missiles and a containerised AWG-9 (originally the 14th example off the AN/AWG-9 production line) were successfully carried out from 1974 onwards.<ref name =Tarpgaard>{{Citation | first = PT | last = Tarpgaard | title = The Sea Phoenix—A Warship Design Study | journal = ASNE | volume = 88 | number = 2 | pages = 31–44 | year = 1976}}.</ref> 
;AIM-54B: A land based version for the [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] was also proposed. It has been suggested that the AIM-54B would have been used in operational Sea Phoenix systems, although that version had been cancelled by the second half of the 1970s. Ultimately, a mix of budgetary and political issues meant that, despite being technically and operationally attractive, further development of the Sea Phoenix did not proceed.
;{{vanchor |Fakour 90}}: In February 2013 Iran reportedly tested an indigenous long-range air-to-air missile.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} In September 2013 it displayed the [[Fakour-90]] on a military parade. It looked almost identical to the AIM-54 Phoenix.<ref>{{Citation | title = Farouk missile | date = Sep 26, 2013 | url = http://theaviationist.com/2013/09/26/farouk-missile/ | newspaper = The Avionist}}.</ref> In July 2018 as reported by Jane's, Iran started mass production of the Fakour-90.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.janes.com/article/81942/iran-announces-mass-production-of-fakour-air-to-air-missile| title = Janes {{!}} Latest defence and security news}}</ref>