IRANIAN AIM-54 AGAINST Su-22

In late January 1981 two F-14's from Khatami Air Force Base were on
combat
patrol over the southwest region of the Persian Gulf. At around noon,
Iranian ground
radar picked up a target approximately 100 to 200 feet above sea level
in the southern region of the Gulf, moving at a high rate of speed
toward Bushehr. The ground radar operator directed the F-14's to the
incoming object. At this time the lead F-14 radar picked up the same
aircraft and secured a radar lock on the target. After confirming the
target was definitely hostile, and flying at a very low altitude and
only a little over 30 miles away, the lead F-14 fired an AIM-54A
Phoenix missile. The Phoenix hit the Iraqi SU-22 in the middle of the
fuselage, cutting it in half.
Later the Radar Interception Officer in the lead F-14 reported seeing a
fireball followed
by an immediate splash down in the ocean, confirming the very low
altitude of the Iraqi SU-22. The RIO also observed a second SU-22 at
this time, which was not picked up by radar earlier.
However the second SU-22 managed to evade the scene.


Submitted by IRANIAN F-14 RIO