Credit
Don S. Montgomery, USN · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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At a glance
AIM-54 Phoenixlarger figure on 3 of 3
Astra (missile)larger figure on 0 of 3
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single source12 ft 9 + 1 ⁄ 2 in (3.9 m)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | AIM-54 Phoenix | Astra (missile) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Long range BVR air-to-air missile[source] | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | India[source] |
| In service | 1974–present[source] | 2019 ( 2019 ) –present[source] |
| Used by | United States Navy (former) Iranian Air Force[source] | Indian Air Force Indian Navy |
3.84 m (12.6 ft)[source]
Wingspan
Single source2 ft 11 + 1 ⁄ 2 in (0.9 m)[source]
Maximum; AIM-54A/B - Mach 4.3 (
Single sourceMaximum; ) AIM-54C – Mach 5 (
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum speed · source measurement 3
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum speed · source measurement 4
Single sourceAIM-54A/B - Mach 4.3 (1,460 m/s; 4,800 ft/s) AIM-54C – Mach 5 (1,700 m/s; 5,600 ft/s)[source]
Mk-1: Mach 4.5[source]
Operational; AIM-54A/B
Single sourceOperational; AIM-54C
Single sourceAIM-54A/B - 72.9 nmi (135.0 km; 83.9 mi) AIM-54C – 99.4 nmi (184.1 km; 114.4 mi)[source]
Operational; Mk-1
Single sourceOperational; Mk-2
Single sourceBars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Designer | Hughes Aircraft Company[source] | Defence Research and Development Laboratory ( DRDO )[source] |
|---|
| Designed | 1960–1966[source] | — |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Hughes Aircraft Company Raytheon Corporation[source] | Bharat Dynamics Limited[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | US$ 477,131 (1974 FY)[source] | Mk-1: ₹ 7−8 crore (US$−830,000)[source] |
|---|
| Produced | 1966-1993[source] | 2017 − Present[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | AIM-54A/B - HE continuous rod AIM-54C – HE Mk 82; WDU‐29/B continuous rod[source] | High-explosive pre- fragmented HMX / PU[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | Proximity fuze[source] | Mk-1: Radio proximity fuze Mk-2: Optical proximity fuze[source] |
|---|
| Engine | Solid propellant rocket motor[source] | Mk-1: Solid-propellant rocket Mk-2: Dual-thrust pulsed rocket motor Mk-3: Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet[source] |
|---|
| Flight ceiling | 103,500 ft (31.5 km)[source] | 20 km (66,000 ft)[source] |
|---|
| Guidance system | Semi-active radar homing and terminal phase active radar homing[source] | Mid-course: FOG - INS + Mid-course update via datalink Terminal: ARH[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | Grumman F-14 Tomcat[source] | Su-30MKI MiG-29K Tejas Mk.1/1A MiG-29UPG (Trial-phase) HAL Tejas Mk2 (Planned) AMCA (Planned) TEDBF (Planned) Rafale Marine (Planned)[source] |
|---|
| References | Janes[source] | — |
|---|
| Wars | — | 2025 India–Pakistan conflict[source] |
|---|
| Variants | — | Mk-1 (Operational) Mk-2 (LSP) Mk-3 (Trial-phase) VL-SRSAM (Trial-phase)[source] |
|---|
| Propellant | — | Solid fuel[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
| — |
|---|
Operational; Mk-3
Single sourceMk-1: 110 km (68 mi) Mk-2: 240 km (150 mi) Mk-3: 350 km (220 mi)[source]