AIM-9 Sidewinder

The AIM-9 Sidewinder is an air-to-air, short range, heat-seeking missile that was the first AAM to be used in aerial combat. It is named after a United States rattlesnake that detects prey by sensing body heat. It was developed in the 1950s by the Raytheon Corporation. It flies at a speed of Mach 2.5 and has a 20 lb warhead. Early models had to be fired from behind the target to home in on an enemy plane's exhaust, but newer models are "all-aspect," meaning they can home in from any angle. The Sidewinder is still in service today as the AIM-9L Super Sidewider.

Ford AreoSpace/Raytheon Sidewinder:

Powerplant: 1 Rocketdyne Mk 36 solid-propellant

Performance: Mach 3(1980 mph)

Weight: 186 lb.

Length: 9 ft. 4 in.

Width: 5 in.

Warhead:(AIM-9) 25 lb. high explosive (AIM-9L) 50 lb. high explosive

Operational History

The Sidewinder was first used in combat by F-86 Sabers of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in dogfights over the Taiwan Strait with MIGs from Communist China in 1958, and has seen use in almost every aerial conflict since then. It played a significant role in air combat in the Vietnam War, the Yom Kippur War, the Falkland Islands War, and the Gulf War.