AIM-54 Phoenix, two additional Phoenix missiles were planned to be fired but due to technical difficulties this was aborted. VF-201 also dropped 17,000 lb of bombs. In July 1996 VF-201 deployed to NAS Key West in Florida to provide dissimilar air training for VFA-106 Gladiators, the U.S. East Coast F/A-18 training squadron. In August and September the same year, VF-201 deployed to NAS Oceana and got to fire two Phoenix missiles as well as participating in the SFARP (Strike Fighter Air Readiness Program) course. In November 1996 VF-201 deployed to NAS Fallon where they provided Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) for Carrier Air Wing Two. After this deployment to NAS Fallon, VF-201 moved to NAS Fort Worth. In 1997 the Hunters deployed for three days with six aircraft to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska for Exercise "Arctic Express 1-97". Originally this deployment had been scheduled for an active F-14 squadron, but they were unable to attend and so VF-201 filled the slot. Less than two weeks later. In late January, VF-201 took part in a scheduled deployment to NAS Fallon and the squadron dropped 195,000 lb of ordnance and shoot 3500 rounds of 20 mm cannon ammo. In March, VF-201 deployed to NAS Key West for a two-week detachment providing training to new F-14 crews from VF-101. In January 1999 the Hunters transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet because the F-14 Tomcat was out of production and the Navy senior leadership wanted the F-14As in the Naval Air Reserve reassigned back to active duty F-14 squadrons. VF-201 was re-designated VFA-201 to signify its new multi-mission capability as a strike fighter squadron. Some of their deployments included: Carrier detachments: USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS John F. Kennedy, USS Kitty Hawk, and the USS John C. Stennis. Tours of Duty locations: Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, Sigonella Airbase, Sicily, Key West NAS, FL., Fallon, NV., Oceana, VA., Point Magu, CA., and Eglin AFB, FL. 2003 combat deployment VFA-201 was the seventh tactical Navy reserve squadron mobilized since the Korean War (three East Coast based and three West Coast based USNR squadrons were activated during the Vietnam war on 28 January 1968), and were one of three reserve squadrons to deploy for combat operations (the other two were HCS-4 and HCS-5). After completing the Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program (SFARP) from their home base in Fort Worth and the Carrier Air Wing Eight coordinated strike