The AIM-54 Phoenix was a long-range air to air missile that was developed in the 60's and was primarily used by the US navy on the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet.

The long range and active radar guidance of the Phoenix in combination with AWG-9 radar of the F-14 A (APG-71 for F-14 D) was quite a force to reckon with in its days as it allowed for multiple track and launch capability for the Tomcat in all weather conditions and heavy electronic warfare environment which was decades ahead of any of its peers.

The missile was retired in 2004, a couple of years before the Tomcat itself.

-Nietzsche