AIM-9 Sidewinder

AIM-9 Sidewinder are a family of air-to-air missiles short-range guided by Infrarouge conceived and manufactured with the the United States. Its name comes from a snake, the sidewinder snake ( Crotalus cerastes , species of Crotale) which detects to him also its preys by heat. Particularly effective in brought closer Air-to-air combat, it is carried by many apparatuses, including Hélicoptère S.

Development

Initial versions, AIM-9 has and B

The history of what will become one of greatest successes of the Industrie of the armament, starts in 1950 with China Lake, center of tests of the US Navy. The idea was to adapt a guidance system and of control on an air-to-air rocket of 12.7 cm. An electric eye with sulphite of Plomb (PbS) sensitive to heat was thus installed behind a hemispherical pane in the nose of one of these rockets. Another great idea was to adapt " rollerons" on the empennage of the rocket, inducing a rotation on its longitudinal axis which caused to stabilize the vol. the first shootings of tests took place in 1951, and the September 11th 1953 a first target (a Grumman F6F Hellcat remote-controlled) was cut down under tests. Code XAAM-N-7 was selected to follow the development. The production of a first series of development of AAM-N-7 Sidewinder 1 starts in 1955 at General Electric which gained the contract. The following year, it returns in service within the US Navy. Only 240 specimens will be produced. Into 1963, designation changes and the AAM-N-7 Sidewinder 1 becomes AIM-9A Sidewinder while the AAM-N-7 Sidewinder 1A becomes AIM-9B Sidewinder, this last being the version of production.
The effectiveness of the guidance system is very low. It " voit" that a cone of 4 ° forwards, is very sensitive to all the sources of heat (sun, ground, friendly plane). The field of application thus is limited to the destruction of apparatuses not operating, in their back sector at a distance ranging between 900 [[meter m]] and 4.8 km.
The US Air Force had for its part adopted the Missile AIM-4B Falcon, but with the court of engagements simulated between planes of the Air Force and Navy, the AIM-9 appeared much higher. The US Air Force thus decided to be equipped some under the name of GAR-8. Until end 1962: 80000 AIM-9B were produced.

Evolutions

The weak performances of the AIM-9B pushed the US Navy with launching the development of the AIM-9C to guidance semi-active Radar and of the AIM-9D to guidance Infrarouge. A new engine also increased the range to 18 km. Version AIM-9C with guidance Radar was developed to give to the Vought F-8 Crusader a capacity any time without having to change its Radar by new compatible with AIM-7 Sparrow. Being not very effective, it will be built only to a one thousand of specimens. The version D did not have much more success in spite of its new electric eye cooled by liquid nitrogen. It was also built to a thousand of specimens between 1965 and 1969.
The US Air Force on its side, launches the development of version AIM-9E, equipped with a more advanced cooling system and a capacity to follow a quite higher target manouvrante (16,5°/s against 11°/s for the first versions). Outside, the difference compared to the AIM-9B is a nose slightly longer and conical. Surroundings: 5000 AIM-9B will be converted into AIM-9E. The allies also follow the development of the AIM-9 and the German BGT proposes version AIM-9F, equipped with a cooling system to the Carbon dioxide (CO2). Many European air forces will adopt it and: 15000 will be produits.
The AIM-9G is a version improved by the US Navy, coupling, for the acquisition of targets, the homing head of the Missile to the Radar of the plane. : 2120 AIM-9G will be produced between 1970 and 1972. Later, Navy will be equipped with version AIM-9H, with a homing head even faster (20°/s against 16,5°/s), posting an effectiveness quite higher than its predecessors. : 7700 weapons will be produced. The Air Force produces of sound with dimensions recognizable version AIM-9J with its front ailerons in double-delta. : 10000 will be produced by modification of the AIM-9B and E.

The Air Force and Navy join

The US Navy and the US Air Force decide to join for program AIM-9K, but this one will be little abandoned of time afterwards. Thereafter, version AIM-9L will be developed in collaboration. This new version must be frightening, able to follow an abruptly operating apparatus, and this, with all the distances from the field of vol. the homing head of the version H leaves the place to an/DSQ-29 and a InSb detector cools with the Argon and the engine with a solid engine Mk36. The system of release becomes with detection of proximity by Laser standard DSU-15/B AOTD. Lastly, the load becomes a load with fragmentation of 9.4 kg WDU-17/B. All the performances are improved. It is from now on possible to draw whatever the position from the target and its evolutions, and guidance and lethality are as well more effective. Approximately: 16000 weapons will be produced, in the USA, in Germany and with the Japan.

Special versions export and versions

Starting from the version L, the broad outlines being established, there will be no more major changes. Only some improvements will be made, such as an engine with reduced emissions of smoke, to make it less easy to locate visually and new counter-counter-measurements on the version Mr. This version M will be it even declined in several models, of AMIN-9M-1 with AIM-9M-10. This last version, for example, was developed for F/-18E/F Super Hornet. Surroundings: 70000 Missile S were produits.
The AIM-9N is a version of the AIM-9J to improved electronics, while the version P is intended to the customers not being able to be equipped with version L/M. Plus: 21000 were produced by it. The AIM-9Q is a version developed by the US Navy, no taken action pursuant.

Current versions… and future

In 1986 is launched the development of version AIM- 9R, but a budgetary reduction was right of this version which was to be equipped with a homing head WGU-19/B IIR more performant.
Version AIM-9S is a version export of the AIM-9M without the system of against-against-measurements. Only the Turkey ordered it. In the Years 1980, the Department off Defense sought to replace the AIM-9. The only missile of this type under development was European AIM-132 ASRAAM. Preferring a national solution, many tests will be carried out by all the partners of program AIM-9. In 1991 is decided to launch program AIM-9X to replace the abandoned AIM- 9R earlier five years. In 1996, Hugues Aircraft Co. is declared victorious contest and is seen allotted the contract of development. The first shootings of tests take place in 1998, and in 1999 the first flying target is cut down. In 2002 the first specimens are delivered to the US Navy and the US Air Force, whereas in 2004 is launched the production with large scales.

AIM-9X

The AIM-9X preserves the Mk.36 engine and load WDU-17/B of the AIM-9M, but all the remainder of the structure is improved. Outside, one notices above all more the small size of the ailerons. This change of size aims a reduction in the Traînée in order to accelerate more quickly but also to make it possible to place it in the compartments of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning. It is compatible all the same with the rails of launching of the previous models. Another important improvement is the adaptation to the sights of helmet JHMCS making it possible to the pilot to indicate a target while turning the head in the direction of this one.

The particular case of the AGM-122 anti-radar Sidearm

After the withdrawal of the Vought F-8 Crusader of the US Navy, missiles AIM-9C with guidance Radar were not used any more for nothing. It was decided to modify their guidance system with narrow band by a receiver with wide strip, doing those of the missiles anti-radar. Although much less powerful than AGM-88 HARM, this model transformed is very light and can be embarked on helicopters. 700 will be built on the basis of AIM-9C old.

The MIM-72A Ground-to-air Chaparral

Missile with to do everything, the AIM-9 will be also modified out of ground-to-air missile of air defense has short range. This version is very close to the AIM-9D, except for the empennage which comprises only two " rollerons".
The system consists of a tracked armoured tank (frame of M113) equipped with a mobile turret with four rails of launching.

Surface-to-air RIM-116 RAM

In 1993, a missile of self-defense at low cost for the protection of the warships, developed starting from Sidewinder with the participation of the Germany, was brought into service. In fact the RIM-116 RAM Rolling Airframe Missile , taking again the engine and the warhead of this one, accepted the homing device of FIM-92 Stinger.

Construction AIM-9M

Missile AIM-9M can be separate in four sections:

Guidance

Guidance is ensured by a homing head Infrarouge WGU-4/B made up of a receiver Infrarouge, of a swivelling mirror, one cooling system to the Argon, all that placed behind a dome out of transparent glass with the Infrarouge S. the mirror can be directed in all the directions and is able to follow a target moving at an angular velocity of 20°/s. If the missile detects that the target moves away, an order of firing of safety is transmitted to the warhead.

Control

The control system in flight of the weapon is directly brought under control of the homing head using two Servomoteur S which actuates the front ailerons. The ailerons postpones are motionless and are used only for stabilization of the trajectory, thanks to a device named " rollerons" who induces a rotation movement around the longitudinal axis.

The warhead

The warhead consists of an annular unit WDU-17B. This one consists of 4 kg PBXN-3 tritonol and of ropes steel wire rolled up in spiral, that is to say a total mass of 9.4 kg. These cables, during the explosion, will create glares which will damage the target if the missile does not touch it directly. The firing is started either in contact with the target, or by a system of detection of proximity to Laser. The load is started after five seconds with the acceleration of 20 [[gravity G]].

Propulsion

The propulsion is ensured by a rocket engine Bermite Mk.36 Mod.71 solid Carburant. The push of this one is classified secret.

Versions

  • XAAM-N-7 : name given to the initial development program
  • AAM-N-7 1: version of preproduction
  • AAM-N-7 1A: version of series
  • AIM-9A: name given to version AAM-N-7 1 by the nomenclature of 1963. Version of preproduction
  • AIM-9B: name given to version AAM-N-7 1A by the nomenclature of 1963. Version of series, Propellent Thiokol MK.17
  • GAR-8: name given by the US Air Force to the AIM-9B
  • AIM-9C: electromagnetic homing head and Radar semi credit. Embarked exclusively on F-8 Crusader
  • AIM-9D: US Navy only, guidance improved propulsion Rocketdyne MK.86
  • AIM-9E: USAF only, fuselage of 3m and propulsion Thiokol MK.17
  • AIM-9F: version produced in Germany, homing head cooled by CO2, 15000 e.g. produced.
  • AIM-9G: new system of acquisition, propellent Rocketdyne MK.86
  • AIM-9H: US Navy only, version with semiconductors, new homing head, propellent Rocketdyne MK.86
  • AIM-9J: USAF only, front aileron in double-delta, tapered point
  • AIM-9K: very improved version, given up for budgetary restrictions
  • AIM-9L: very improved version, new homing head AN/DSQ-29, propulsion Bermite Mk.36, load WDU-17/B.
  • AIM-9M: version improved of the AIM-9L by addition of an engine with weak emission of smoke and anti-against-measurements
  • AIM-9N: electronics of updated version AIM-9J
  • AIM-9P: version export of the AIM-9L. Many systems are less powerful
  • AIM-9Q: study of the US Navy. Without continuation.
  • AIM- 9R: new homing head, increasing the distance from acquisition, abandoned.
  • AIM-9S: version export of the AIM-9M. Many systems are less powerful, only the Turkey employs it.
  • AIM-9X: new cell, new homing head compatible with the sights of helmet. Ailerons of lower dimension. Capable of being put on board out of compartment for the planes F-22 and F-35 of new generation.
  • Rb-24: version produced under license in Sweden
  • AGM-122 Sidearm: version anti-radar developed from the AIM-9C
  • MIM-72A Chaparral: ground-to-air version embarked on armoured tanks.
  • RIM-116 RAM: surface-to-air version embarked on ships.

Vectors

It can be used of origin on all the types of hunters conceived in the United States, the vast majority of the fighters of Europe and East Asia (except Popular republic of China), and, with some modifications, by hunters of Soviet origin and Russian the such Mig-29 or Hélicoptère S.

A version Ground-to-air missile for an armored vehicle exists and another version is also embarked on Warship S for their self-defense.

Weapons of the same type

With the combat

The AIM-9B was the first operational version: the first air victory obtained by a Missile intervened when a AIM-9B drawn by a F-86 Saber Air force from the Republic of China cut down a MiG -15 of the popular Armée with popular release of China on September 24th, 1958.

The AIM-9B was useful in particular at the time of the Guerre of Vietnam, but remained of a limited effectiveness. The US Air Force asserts 28 air victories with this weapon, for an effectiveness of 16% with versions AIM-9B and AIM-9E. The US Navy for its part had more success with versions AIM-9D and AIM-9G. On the whole, lasting this conflict, 82 victories would be due to AIM-9. The later versions introduced various improvements and were used successfully in many conflicts, the such Guerre of the Falklands by the two belligerents, the Guerre Iran-Iraq by the Iran, the wars Indo-Pakistani by the Pakistan, the wars of the Gulf by the coalition and the conflicts Israeli-Arab.

Approximately 270 air victories of share the world are due to AIM-9 Sidewinder, all confused versions.

Internal bond

  • Factory Raytheon de Tucson, one of the principal production sites of the missile

External bonds

  • historical and technical Page on the AIM-9
  • File on the AIM-9
  • File on RIM-116 RAM

Simple: AIM-9 Sidewinder

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