AIM-4 Falcon

The Hughes AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided <a href="/facts/Air-to-air_missile/82Dccmul">air-to-air missile</a> of the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">United States Air Force</a>. Development began in 1946; the weapon was first tested in 1949. The missile entered service with the USAF in 1956.
Produced in both heat-seeking and radar-guided versions, the missile served during the <a href="/facts/Vietnam_War/W0gfbGTE">Vietnam War</a> with USAF <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II/epGAnaxt">McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II</a> units. Designed to shoot down slow bombers with limited maneuverability, it was ineffective against maneuverable fighters over <a href="/facts/Vietnam_War/W0gfbGTE">Vietnam</a>. Lacking <a href="/facts/Proximity_fuze/hoHLIJxR">proximity fusing</a>, the missile would detonate only if a direct hit was scored. Only five kills were recorded.
With the AIM-4's poor kill record rendering the <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II/epGAnaxt">F-4D</a> ineffective at air-to-air combat, the fighters were modified to carry the <a href="/facts/AIM-9_Sidewinder/LPm7nQTT">AIM-9 Sidewinder</a> missile instead, which was already carried on USAF <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II/epGAnaxt">F-4Cs</a>, USN and USMC <a href="/facts/F-4_Phantom_II/epGAnaxt">F-4 Phantom II</a> and <a href="/facts/F-8_Crusader/u9NCDVJK">F-8 Crusader</a> jet fighters. The Sidewinder was more effective in the fighter vs fighter role on the F-4 platform, and improved versions continue to serve the armed forces of the United States and numerous allied nations to this day.

AIM-4 Falcon open-in-new

AIM-4 Falcon