“AIM-54 is a very long-range airborne intercept missile. It was designed as the primary weapon for the Navy’s F-14 fighter aircraft. The prime mission of the F-14 is defense against multiple aircraft threats attacking a fleet. Because of the expected large number of enemy aircraft attacking the fleet, it was necessary to design the weapon system so that it could shoot down as many targets as possible at a distance from the fleet. Then, with the threat thinned out, closer-range systems could cope with the problem of a large number of targets with little time to react.

This requirement to deal with many targets at long range translated to the weapon control system, which included the radar, a requirement for long-range detection of targets, together with the capability of tracking multiple targets with the antenna scanning. This continuous scanning of the radar made guidance of multiple missiles in the air at one time difficult.

The Hughes part of the F-14 Weapon System was the weapon control system (AWG-9), which consisted of a radar, a computer, displays for the pilot and the Weapons Control Officer and weapon interface equipment, and the Phoenix missile (AIM-54). In addition to the Phoenix, the F-14 was armed with another radar missile (the Sparrow), an IR missile, guns and air to ground weapons. The AWG-9 controlled them all.

My part in the program was with the radar, and its shipborne test stations, and the guidance part of the Phoenix. Because of the mission requirements, the missile and the radar had to be closely designed.

I started in late 1962 as part of a very small group to do some preliminary design before the Request for Proposals came out. After it was issued by the Navy in early 1963, I was in charge of those portions of the proposal dealing with the radar and the guidance parts of the missile. The proposal went to the Navy on Friday the thirteenth of March. We won! The total for Hughes was about $190 million. Of this the radar was about $40 million; I don’t remember what my missile and test equipment portions were.

I became the project manager for the above portions of the contract. Most of the work was within the Radar Division but as organizations changed, the work was divided up differently. Eventually, the missile belonged to the Canoga Park Missile Division.

Walt Maguire was head of the system design operation for all of the Hughes work. He was part of the Program Management organization.”

Written by: Robert D. Barker

Hughes Aircraft Company 1953 - 1981

Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair) 1947 - 1953

United States Navy 1943 - 1946

Stanford University AB Electrical Engineering 1943, MS Electrical Engineering 1947

Eagle Scout

Born 1921, San Jose, California

Detail of photo from: Hughes News, July 14, 1967