Supersonic AIM-7 Launch at a Supersonic Target

Normal ops in a Navy fighter squadron were exciting enough...but there were also special events like MISSILEXes that raised the bar further.

December 1982, NAS Miramar - As part of the normal program of training aircrews and verifying weapon system effectiveness, Lieutenant Commander Steve "Drifty" Smith and I were selected to launch an AIM-7 "Sparrow" missile at a target over the Pacific Ocean off Southern California. This would be the second time I shot an actual AIM-7 at a target drone since I joined the VF-24 Fighting Renegades. (Note: As explained in the book, in our dogfight training events we simply called missile shots over the radio.) Our aircraft would carry two AIM-7 missiles, in case there was a problem with one, as well as two AIM-9 Sidewinders to finish-off the target if necessary – all standard procedure.

I was excited to be scheduled for a MISSILEX (missile exercise), with its challenge of using the F-14's weapon system from end-to-end: from radar preparation by aviation fire control technicians and missile loading by aviation ordnancemen, to our performance as a pilot and RIO putting our aircraft into the correct missile launch zone, with a radar lock that would guide the 12-foot long Sparrow to the target. But this shot would include extra challenges, as it was a "test and evaluation" (T&E) profile, requiring that we and the target both fly supersonic, and also requiring us to launch at a specific range and approach angle to the target. Instead of the explosive warhead found on missiles destined for combat, this missile had a telemetry package sending information to engineers on the ground. We would approach the target about twice as fast as on most training intercepts, so I had to closely watch the radar and carefully control the run. If you've never run supersonic intercepts, let me tell you that things move much faster than they do during typical training intercepts, when both fighter and target are flying at 350 knots or so (400 mph). Even though I had been in a front-line squadron more than eighteen months, we practiced for the shoot with a few runs in the F-14 simulator. No one wanted us to mess this up.

The firing run happened about 4 pm on a Wednesday afternoon, in designated airspace over the ocean 100 miles west of Los Angeles. We were scheduled to shoot at an AQM-37 target drone launched from an A-6 Intruder operated by the Pacific Missile Test Center. Drifty and I waited a few minutes at an assigned station at the southern end of the range, at an altitude of 23,000 feet, and when everything was ready we headed north. I detected the A-6 at around 80 miles, which agreed with the calls we received from our controller, and started to feel comfortable. AQM-37 supersonic target drone carried by an A-6 Intruder (US Navy photo)

As we approached the planned launch range, Drifty went to max burner and we accelerated through Mach 1. I thought about how little drama there was: if I was not looking at the airspeed indicator I wouldn't know when we went supersonic. The A-6 reported launching the drone, which was powered by a rocket engine, and seconds later I detected it as a new target when it accelerated out ahead. The A-6 made a hard 180-degree turn to leave the area and we commenced the firing run – our range to the target at this time was 30 miles. It may sound like a long distance, but the range decreased by more than 2,000 feet each second (the combined speeds of the F-14 and target). Flying in afterburner at this altitude, we were burning 1,000 lbs of jet fuel every minute.

I was working with Drifty to carefully manage our approach: "Come right 10 degrees." "Now back to 350 (degrees)." "Climb to 28 thousand." He was also helping by reading the info available on his repeat display up front. Even though RIOs were responsible for intercept control, pilots knew how to run intercepts, and Drifty had been a RAG instructor so he was great in a tough situation. One minute after the start we were at the planned range and angle to launch the Sparrow, and I pushed the red "missile launch" button in the rear cockpit. The 500-lb weapon came off the jet with a strong thump – explosive charges ensured it cleared the plane – and rocketed out ahead of us. I told Drifty to make a hard right turn. I had hesitated for a second or two, and I knew I'd be in trouble.

As we made our turn I looked at the small scope in front of my face and watched the target blip drift toward the left side. As it neared the edge of the screen I told Drifty to come back left in a hard turn. I had been running intercepts since Pensacola, but at these speeds things were happening fast. Drifty rolled the jet left to 90º and put on a good pull as we sliced through the evening sky. We were doing Mach 1.1 and pulling about 5 g. With our wings purposefully swept all the way back at 68º and the burners ablaze, I'm sure it would have looked cool if there had been anyone around to see us.

I sweated the radar picture. I had two small green lights indicating the radar was still locked on the drone, but the track was near the edge of my scope and if it went off the scope that meant the radar antenna physically could not follow the target. If that happened our radar would break lock, the AIM-7 would "go stupid," and I would have to try to find that little drone again. That was hard enough when fighter and target were going 300 knots or less; at over 600 knots...I didn’t want to think about it.
Halfway through the turn my "radar lock" lights went out. With sincere disappointment – thinking I had messed up the intercept – I told Drifty, "Broke lock, going to search." I didn't have to say dammit!

Drifty drawled, "Bio, relax, it was a direct hit. We broke lock because the target is gone. We just blew it out of the sky."

The AIM-7 had scored a direct hit and destroyed the target. Even without an explosive warhead, the Mach 3 Sparrow hit the drone and created a small explosion in the afternoon sky. I didn’t see it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

The photo shows our jet before this exact mission. We brought the extra Sparrow and Sidewinders back to Miramar. As soon as we landed – about 5 pm – I completed a quick debrief and went into another brief, then flew to NAS Lemoore that evening to participate in a strike training mission with other air wing squadrons the next day.

Our F-14 on the ramp at Miramar before this missile shoot, with two AIM-7s and two AIM-9s.