AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missile

Also known as

AIM-9P-4

The AIM-9P4 Sidewinder is a U.S. short-range air-to-air missile variant in the AIM-9 family. Designation-Systems describes it as an AIM-9P upgrade with an ALASCA seeker that uses AIM-9L/M technology and an airframe externally almost identical to the AIM-9J/N, and the Republic of China Air Force lists it among the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo's armament options.

AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missile, Short-range air-to-air missile, Munitions

Image source: An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft fires an AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missile at an MQM-107 target drone DF-SC-90-00302.jpg

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Raytheon
Type: Short-range air-to-air missile
Service note: Cold War
Number built: 21,000+ AIM-9P family missiles

air-to-air infrared homing

Specifications

Guidance: Infrared homing
Seeker: ALASCA seeker with AIM-9L/M technology
Airframe: Externally almost identical to the AIM-9J/N
Production: 21,000+ AIM-9P family missiles built

Carrier Aircraft

The Republic of China Air Force weapons page lists the F-CK-1 Ching-kuo's armament as including AIM-9P4 missiles.

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, Lightweight supersonic twin-engine multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVs

AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo

Multirole fighter

The ROCAF weapons page lists AIM-9P4 missiles among the F-CK-1's armament options.

Sources: IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MND

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Export variant of the AIM-9P family; carried by aircraft such as the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo.

Media

AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missile Images

AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missile, Short-range air-to-air missile, Munitions - view 1 — Source: AIM-9P - Side View (RTAF Museum).JPG

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Sources

AIM-9 Sidewinder | U.S. Air Force Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports AIM-9 Sidewinder origin and general short-range infrared-guided missile background. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder - Designation-Systems.NetPublisher: Designation-Systems.Net | Note: Supports AIM-9P4 variant background, seeker details, AIM-9J/N similarity, and family production context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft fires an AIM-9P4 Sidewinder missile at an MQM-107 target drone DF-SC-90-00302.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain licensing for the primary AIM-9P4 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 AIM-9P - Side View (RTAF Museum).JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the gallery side-view image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 IDF - Fighters - AIR FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, MNDPublisher: Republic of China Air Force | Note: Supports the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo armament list, including AIM-9P4 missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-27