Previously Held AFSC/MOS 27330-Apprentice Aircraft Control and Warning Operator
27350-Aircraft Control and Warning Operator
27350B-Aircraft Control and Warning Operator
27350A-Aircraft Control and Warning Operator
27370-Aircraft Control and Warning Operator
Aircraft/Missile Information
The USAF deployed AIM-4 during the Vietnam War on F-4D Phantom II, which carried it on the inner wing pylons. The missile's combat performance was very poor. The Falcon was designed to be used against bombers and its slow seeker cooling times requiring as much as 6 to 7 seconds to obtain a lock on a target rendered it largely ineffective against maneuvering fighters. Limited coolant supply meant that once cooled, the missile would expend its supply of liquid nitrogen in two minutes, making it useless. The missile also had a small warhead, and lacked proximity fusing. As a result, only five kills were scored, all with the AIM-4D version [1]. The Falcon was also experimentally fired by the F-102 Delta Dagger against ground targets at night using its infrared seeker. The weapon was unpopular with pilots and was withdrawn in 1969, to be replaced by the Navy-designed AIM-9 Sidewinder.
An effort to address the limitations of AIM-4D led to the development in 1970 of the XAIM-4H, which had a laser proximity fuze, new warhead, and better maneuverability. It was cancelled the following year without entering service.
The AIM-4F/AIM-4G Super Falcon remained in USAF and ANG service, primarily with F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptors, until the final retirement of the F-106 in 1988.
Specifications AIM-4C/D
* Length: 78 in (1.98 m) / 79.5 in (2.02 m) * Wingspan: 20 in (508 mm) * Diameter: 6.4 in (163 mm) * Weight: 119 lb (54 kg) / 135 lb (61 kg) * Speed: Mach 3 * Range 6 miles (9.7 km) * Guidance: semi-active radar homing / rear-aspect infrared * Warhead: 7.6 lb (3.4 kg) high explosive
