AIM-9 Sidewinder missile

Also known as

AIM-9
AIM-9L
AIM-9L Sidewinder
AIM-9L/I
AIM-9L/I Sidewinder
AIM-9L/I-1
AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder
AIM-9L(I)-1
AIM-9LI
AIM-9M
AIM-9M Sidewinder
Sidewinder
Sidewinder missile
AAM-N-7 Sidewinder
GAR-8

The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile family that began at Naval Ordnance Test Station China Lake and entered service in the 1950s. The family spans early rear-aspect missiles, all-aspect AIM-9L/M models, German AIM-9L/I modernization, export P-series rounds, and the modern AIM-9X branch, with documented use from Vietnam and Middle East air wars to Falklands, Gulf War, Ukraine air-defense aid, and Red Sea operations.

AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, Short-range air-to-air missile family, Munitions

Image source: AIM-9 Sidewinder on AMX.JPG

Role in Conflicts

Side: United States and South Vietnam

U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft used early AIM-9 Sidewinder variants in air-to-air combat over North Vietnam, including Rolling Thunder and Linebacker-era engagements.

Side: Israel

Israeli Mirage III and F-4 Phantom II fighters entered the Yom Kippur War equipped with Sidewinder missiles alongside Israeli-made Shafrir heat-seeking missiles.

Side: United Kingdom

Royal Navy Sea Harriers used AIM-9L Sidewinders in Falklands air combat, including missile engagements against Argentine aircraft.

Side: Israel

Israeli F-15 and F-16 fighters used AIM-9L Sidewinders during the 1982 Lebanon air campaign against Syrian aircraft.

Side: Coalition forces

Coalition aircraft used AIM-9M Sidewinders in Gulf War air-to-air combat against Iraqi aircraft.

Role details

Side: Ukraine

Canada, the United States, and Germany documented AIM-9-family missile transfers for Ukrainian air defense, and Ukrainian military intelligence later credited Magura V7 drone boats armed with AIM-9 Sidewinders with shooting down two Russian Su-30 fighters; that shootdown claim remains publicly attributed rather than independently verified.

Role details

Side: United States-led coalition

U.S. F-16 operations against Houthi forces in the ongoing Red Sea and Yemen campaign used older AIM-9M Sidewinders for aerial intercepts during a 2024-2025 deployment.

AIM-9M Ukraine Context

AIM-9M-specific public evidence connects the Sidewinder family to Ukraine through air-defense aid and later launcher-adaptation reporting. The strongest public support is transfer and integration context; specific Ukrainian firing events remain less transparent than the official aid announcements.

Aid package

The August 29, 2023 Department of Defense release listed AIM-9M missiles for air defense in a Ukraine presidential drawdown package.

Launcher adaptation

AP reported in October 2023 that a FrankenSAM launcher built from contributed parts would be able to launch AIM-9M Sidewinders for Ukraine.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: RaytheonDiehl Defence
Built in: United StatesGermany
Type: Short-range air-to-air missile family
Service note: Cold War-present
Designer: Naval Ordnance Test Station / Naval Weapons Center China Lake team led by Dr. William B. McLean
Designed: Development began in 1950; the AIM-9A prototype was first fired successfully in September 1953.
Produced: Low-rate production began in 1955, U.S. Navy service began in May 1956, and modern AIM-9X-family production continues.
Number built: More than 80,000 AIM-9B missiles, more than 16,000 AIM-9L missiles, and more than 21,000 AIM-9P-family missiles are separately reported; no single family-wide total is used here.

Specifications

Primary function: Short-range air-to-air missile
Guidance: Infrared homing; AIM-9X uses imaging infrared guidance
AIM-9L/I-1 upgrade: German-refurbished AIM-9L branch with upgraded infrared counter-countermeasures
AIM-9L/I dimensions: 2.87 m length, 12.7 cm diameter, 63 cm span, and 84 kg weight in Bundeswehr service
Launch weight: About 190 lb for AIM-9M; 186 lb for AIM-9X
Length: 9 ft 5 in for AIM-9M; 9.9 ft for AIM-9X
Diameter: 5 in
AIM-9M wingspan: 2 ft 3/4 in
Warhead: Annular blast-fragmentation warhead on AIM-9L/M and AIM-9X branches
AIM-9M components: Infrared homing guidance section, active optical target detector, high-explosive warhead, and rocket motor
Propulsion: Solid-propellant rocket motor; Mk 36 on AIM-9M and Mk 139 on AIM-9X
Speed: Supersonic; AIM-9M is listed by NAVAIR as Mach 2.5
Range: AIM-9M is listed by NAVAIR as 10-18 miles; AIM-9X range is classified by NAVAIR
Launch platforms: Compatible fighter, attack aircraft, helicopter, and surface-launch integrations vary by variant and launcher

AIM-9L/I Modernization

The AIM-9L/I designation belongs inside the AIM-9L branch rather than a separate missile family. Public Diehl and Diehl-Raytheon material ties the branch to German AIM-9L refurbishment, legacy AIM-9L support, and improved infrared counter-countermeasures for the AIM-9L/I-1 configuration.

Designation

AIM-9L/I and AIM-9L/I-1 are treated here as German-modernized AIM-9L Sidewinder designations.

Industrial context

Diehl Retrofit Missile Systeme markets and supports legacy AIM-9L series missiles, while Diehl-Raytheon Missile Systeme announced AIM-9L/I-1 sales using refurbished German AIM-9L rounds.

Variants

The Sidewinder name covers a long-running missile family rather than one fixed configuration. Earlier rear-aspect models, the all-aspect L/M branch, German AIM-9L/I modernization, export P-series rounds, and AIM-9X share the AIM-9 lineage but differ in seeker, motor, launch integration, and conflict record.

Variant	Configuration	Designation notes
AIM-9B	Early production Sidewinder	Initial production family member after the AIM-9A/AAM-N-7 prototype lineage, with close-range rear-aspect engagement limits. Sources: Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder - Designation-Systems.Net, AIM-9 Sidewinder \| U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
AIM-9D	Improved Navy infrared variant	Navy branch with a nitrogen-cooled seeker and Hercules Mk 36 motor improvements over the early B model. Sources: Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder - Designation-Systems.Net
AIM-9E	USAF improved AIM-9B branch	USAF branch that improved seeker cooling and tracking rate over the earlier AIM-9B configuration. Sources: Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder - Designation-Systems.Net
AIM-9L	All-aspect Sidewinder	Joint USAF/USN model that added all-aspect engagement capability and a WDU-17/B annular blast-fragmentation warhead. Sources: Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder - Designation-Systems.Net, AIM-9 Sidewinder \| U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
AIM-9L/I-1	German-modernized AIM-9L branch	Diehl-Raytheon Missile Systeme described AIM-9L/I-1 as a tactical Sidewinder sale built around refurbished German AIM-9L missiles, with the L/I-1 upgrade adding improved infrared counter-countermeasures. Sources: Diehl-Raytheon AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder Sale, Diehl Defence Organization
AIM-9M	Improved all-aspect production model	AIM-9M deliveries began in 1983 with the AIM-9L all-aspect capability plus counter-countermeasure, background-discrimination, and reduced-smoke improvements; NAVAIR lists the model with a Mk 36 motor, 190 lb launch weight, Mach 2.5 speed, and 10-18 mile range. Sources: AIM-9 Sidewinder \| U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet, AIM-9M Sidewinder \| NAVAIR
AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missile	Export P-series variant	The linked record covers the AIM-9P4 export-family branch as a focused relationship page. Sources: Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder - Designation-Systems.Net
AIM-9X Sidewinder missile	Modern AIM-9X branch	The linked record covers the AIM-9X family, including imaging-infrared guidance, off-boresight engagement, and modern aircraft and surface-launch integrations. Sources: AIM-9X Sidewinder \| NAVAIR, AIM-9X SIDEWINDER Missile \| Raytheon - RTX

Carrier Aircraft

Sidewinder carriage varies by missile variant, launcher, and aircraft integration. The examples below are limited to cataloged aircraft with source-backed AIM-9 carriage, captive-training carriage, or live-fire context.

Carrier	Carrier type	Carriage evidence
BAE Hawk	Lead-in fighter trainer	The Hawk 127 armament table lists captive-training AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles among the aircraft stores. Sources: A27 - BAE Systems Hawk - pp518-521
AV-8B Harrier II	V/STOL attack aircraft	The AV-8B fact file lists Sidewinder missiles among the Harrier II air-to-air weapons. Sources: NHHC AV-8B PDF Fact File
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly	Light attack aircraft	The OA-37B Dragonfly fact sheet lists Sidewinder missiles among external-store loadout options. Sources: OA-37B Dragonfly - Hurlburt Field
A-4 Skyhawk	Carrier-based attack aircraft	The Skyhawk Association ordnance page lists Sidewinder among A-4 weapons provisions. Sources: Skyhawk Ordnance \| The Skyhawk Association
Aermacchi MB-339	Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft	The Jane's-derived MB-339 page lists AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on the aircraft outer stations. Sources: AERMACCHI MB-339 - All the World's Aircraft
AMX International AMX	Attack and reconnaissance aircraft	Aeronautica Militare lists AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles among AMX external stores. Sources: AMX - Aeronautica Militare
Eurofighter Typhoon	Multirole fighter aircraft	Bundeswehr identifies the AIM-9L/I Sidewinder as a German Air Force missile used on the EF 2000 Eurofighter. Sources: Bundeswehr AIM-9L/I Sidewinder
F-14 Tomcat	Carrier-based fighter	Naval History and Heritage Command lists the F-14A Tomcat armament as four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Sources: F-14A Tomcat - NHHC
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet	Carrier-capable multirole strike fighter	NAVAIR lists AIM-9 Sidewinder among the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet armament. Sources: F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (NAVAIR)
FA-50PH	Supersonic light combat aircraft	Philippine News Agency reporting identifies AIM-9 missiles as FA-50PH primary armament in launcher-maintenance training context. Sources: PAF technicians train on AIM-9 missile launcher maintenance
F-15 family fighter aircraft	Fighter aircraft family	Boeing F-15 weapons-inventory material lists AIM-9L, AIM-9M, and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles in the family weapons matrix. Sources: Advanced F-15 Weapons Inventory
F-15EX Eagle II	Multirole fighter aircraft	Air Force Materiel Command reported F-15EX air-to-air testing that included AIM-9X launch activity. Sources: F-15EX proves out full air-to-air capability
F-16 Fighting Falcon	Multirole fighter aircraft	U.S. Air Force reporting describes F-16 guided launch testing with the AIM-9X Sidewinder. Sources: F-16 test team conducts first guided launch of AIM-9X
F-22 Raptor	Stealth air-superiority fighter	Edwards Air Force Base imagery documents an F-22 firing an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile. Sources: F-22 fires AIM-9X Sidewinder missile
F-35 Lightning II	Stealth multirole fighter family	U.S. Air Force reporting documents the first AIM-9X missile launch from an F-35. Sources: F-35 fires first AIM-9X missile
Panavia Tornado	Variable-sweep combat aircraft	Bundeswehr identifies the AIM-9L/I Sidewinder as used on the PA-200 Tornado, and its Tornado page lists AIM-9L Sidewinder armament across IDS, ECR, and reconnaissance versions. Sources: Bundeswehr AIM-9L/I Sidewinder, Bundeswehr PA-200 Tornado

Timeline

AIM-9 Sidewinder missile Key Events

Jan 1, 1950
Sidewinder development begins at China Lake
Designation-Systems places Sidewinder development at the Naval Ordnance Test Station, later Naval Weapons Center China Lake, in 1950.
Sources: Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder - Designation-Systems.Net
Sep 1, 1953
AIM-9A prototype successfully fired
The U.S. Air Force fact sheet records the AIM-9A prototype first successful firing in September 1953.
Sources: AIM-9 Sidewinder | U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
May 1, 1956
Sidewinder enters U.S. Navy service
Designation-Systems records AAM-N-7 Sidewinder I entering U.S. Navy service in May 1956.
Sources: Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder - Designation-Systems.Net
Jan 1, 1976
AIM-9L production and delivery begin
The U.S. Air Force fact sheet identifies AIM-9L as the first all-aspect Sidewinder and places production and delivery in 1976.
Sources: AIM-9 Sidewinder | U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
Jan 1, 1983
AIM-9M deliveries begin
The U.S. Air Force fact sheet says AIM-9M deliveries began in 1983, adding counter-countermeasure and reduced-smoke improvements over AIM-9L.
Sources: AIM-9 Sidewinder | U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
Aug 17, 2015
AIM-9X Block II full-rate production
NAVAIR reported that AIM-9X Block II reached full-rate production on August 17, 2015.
Sources: Air-to-air missile reaches production milestone - NAVAIR
Dec 20, 2013
AIM-9L/I-1 international sale announced
Diehl-Raytheon Missile Systeme announced a direct commercial sale of AIM-9L/I-1 tactical Sidewinders, training missiles, and support equipment, with Diehl refurbishing German AIM-9L missiles for the order.
Sources: Diehl-Raytheon AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder Sale
Aug 29, 2023
United States lists AIM-9M missiles for Ukraine
A Department of Defense Ukraine security-assistance release listed AIM-9M missiles for air defense in a presidential drawdown package during the Russia-Ukraine War.
Sources: Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine
Oct 12, 2023
FrankenSAM AIM-9M launcher reported
Associated Press reporting described a U.S.-supported improvised launcher for Ukraine able to fire AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles as part of the FrankenSAM air-defense effort.
Sources: Pentagon's FrankenSAM program cobbles together air defense weapons for Ukraine