War and Military Atlas

How Battles Were Fought
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AIM-4 Falcon

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The AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided air to air missile fielded by the United States Air Force, developed by Hughes Aircraft beginning in 1946 and entering service in 1956. It was built in both infrared and radar guided versions and saw combat over Vietnam aboard McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighters. Its performance against maneuverable enemy aircraft proved poor, credited with only about five confirmed kills, and it was eventually replaced by the AIM-9 Sidewinder, which remained in service for decades afterward.

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