AIM-9
Sidewinder
Unofficial
names/slang: Winder, Heater
Function:
Air-to-Air Missile
Date
deployed: Mar. 1956
Contractor:
unavailable
Unit cost:
approx. $84,000
Length:
9' - 5" (2.87m)
Wingspan:
2' - 1" (0.64m)
Diameter:
0' - 5" (0.13m)
Speed:
Mach 2.5+
Weight at
launch: AIM-9B - 76 kg; AIM-9D - 90 kg; AIM-9L/M
- 87 kg; AIM-9R - 87 kg; AIM-9S - 86 kg
Guidance:
Infrared homing
Range: 10
- 18 mi max.
Engine:
Hercules and
Bermite MK 36 MOD 71 solid propellant rocket motor
Warhead:
AIM-9B - 4.5 kg High Explosive (HE) fragmentation;
AIM-9D - 9.0 kg Continuous Rod; AIM-9L/M - 9.5 kg HE
fragmentation; AIM-9R - 9.5 kg HE fragmentation;
AIM-9S - 10.15 kg HE fragmentation |
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Mission:
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking,
air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. It
has a high-explosive warhead and an active infrared
guidance system. The Sidewinder was developed by the
U.S. Navy for fleet air defense and was adapted by
the U.S. Air Force for fighter aircraft use. Early
versions of the missile were extensively used in the
Southeast Asia conflict.
Features: The AIM-9 has a cylindrical
body with a roll-stabilizing rear wing/rolleron
assembly. Also, it has detachable, double-delta
control surfaces behind the nose that improve the
missile's maneuverability. Both rollerons and
control surfaces are in a cross-like arrangement.
The missile's main components are an infrared homing
guidance section, an active optical target
detector, a high-explosive warhead and a rocket
motor. The infrared guidance head enables the
missile to home in on target aircraft engine
exhaust. An infrared unit costs less than other
types of guidance systems, and can be used in
day/night and electronic countermeasures conditions.
The infrared seeker also permits the pilot to
launch the missile, then leave the area or take
evasive action while the missile guides itself to
the target.
Background: The AIM-9A, a prototype of
the Sidewinder, was first fired successfully in
September 1953. The initial production version,
designated AIM-9B, entered the Air Force inventory
in 1956 and was effective only at close range. It
could not engage targets close to the ground, nor
did it have nighttime or head-on attack capability.
These shortcomings were eliminated on subsequent
versions.
The AIM-9J, a conversion of the AIM-B and E
models, has maneuvering capability for dogfighting,
and greater speed and range, giving it greater
enhanced aerial combat capability. Deliveries began
in 1977 to equip the F-15 and other
Sidewinder-compatible aircraft.
The AIM-9L added a more powerful
solid-propellant rocket motor as well as tracking
maneuvering ability. An improved active optical fuse
increased the missile's lethality and resistance to
electronic countermeasures. A conical scan seeker
increased seeker sensitivity and improved tracking
stability. The L model was the first Sidewinder with
the ability to attack from all angles, including
head-on. Production and delivery of the AIM-9L began
in 1976.
The AIM-9P, an improved version of the J
model, has greater engagement boundaries, enabling
it to be launched farther from the target. The more
maneuverable P model also incorporated improved
solid-state electronics that increased reliability
and maintainability. Deliveries began in 1978.
The AIM-9P-1 has an active optical target
detector instead of the infrared influence fuse; the
AIM-9P-2 added a reduced-smoke motor. The most
recently developed version, the AIM-9P-3, combined
both the active optical target detector and the
reduced-smoke motor. It also has added mechanical
strengthening to the warhead as well as the guidance
and control section. The improved warhead uses new
explosive material that is less sensitive to high
temperature and has a longer shelf life.
The AIM-9M, currently the only operational
variant, has the all-aspect capability of the L
model, but provides all-around higher performance.
The M model has improved defense against infrared
countermeasures, enhanced background discrimination
capability, and a reduced-smoke rocket motor. These
modifications increase ability to locate and lock-on
a target and decrease the missile's chances for
detection. Deliveries of the M model began in 1983.
The AIM-9M-9 has expanded infrared
countermeasures detection circuitry. AIM-9X is a
future variant currently under development.
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