AIM-4 Falcon

The Hughes AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided air-to-air missile of the United States Air Force. Development began in 1946; the weapon was first tested in 1949. The missile entered service with the USAF in 1956. Produced in both infrared and radar-guided variants, the missile served during the Vietnam War with USAF McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II units. Designed to shoot down slow bombers with limited maneuverability, it was ineffective against maneuverable fighters over Vietnam. Lacking proximity fusing, the missile would detonate only on direct impact. Only five kills were recorded. With the AIM-4's poor kill record rendering the F-4D ineffective in air-to-air combat, the fighters were modified to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile instead, which was already carried by USAF F-4Cs, USN and USMC F-4 Phantom II, and F-8 Crusader 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 nations to this day.