The AIM-4 Falcon was an air-to-air missile used by the US Air Force and NATO countries during the Cold War. It was developed and manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company. It was the first guided air-to-air missile and it was fired in anger for the first time during the Vietnam War from a McDonnell F-101 Voodoo fighter aircraft. It was also the main armament of the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptors. However, it would be replaced by the AIM-9 Sidewinders.
The development of the AIM-4 Falcon had begun in 1947, when works on an air-to-air semi-active radar homing missile was set in motion by Hughes. This early prototype was known as the GAR-1. It would be improved after many tests and a first batch of 12,000 GAR-1D missiles were ordered. The GAR-1D would be redesignated AIM-4 Falcon, from which several versions would be produced, with the AIM-4D being the most massively built. It also had infrared homing guidance system.
Under a 1969 US Air Force's contract, Hughes developed the AIM-4H, which featured a new warhead, incorporating an active optical target detection device (AOTDD). A solid-state laser device built in in the AOTDD detonated the warhead without requiring a direct hit. Thus, the AIM-4H would become better suited for close air combat.
Technical Characteristics
The AIM-4 Falcon had a cylindrical body, with a tapered and rounded glass-tipped nose. Aft of the nose, it had a set of four cruciform vanes, which was indexed in line with the long chord cruciform delta wings. On the rear portion of body, it had four cruciform tail wings, which were fitted with mobile control surfaces that worked in the manner of an aircraft tail fin rudder. The missile was powered by on Thiokol M58-E4 solid-fuel rocket motor.
Specifications (AIM-4D)
Type: guided air-to-air missile
Warhead: High Explosive
Length: 2.02 m (6 feet, 7 inches)
Body Diameter: 16.3 cm (6.4 inches)
Wing Span: 51 cm (1 foot, 8 inches)
Launch Weight: 61 kg (134 lb)
Maximum Speed: Mach 4
Range: 9 km (6 miles)
Guidance System: Semi active radar homing; infrared Homing.
Power Plant: solid propellant rocket motor.
Below, two AIM-4D, with US Air Force pilots in the 1960s.
